Music: Composition - Bachelor of Music 2024-25 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps & Advising

Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

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Bulletin or Catalog Year

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2024-25 Bulletin. Bulletin or Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present)

DARS System

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

How to Run a DARS

First Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors	5	First Year Inquiry or Honors	5	First Year Inquiry or Honors	5
MUS 111	3	MUS 112	3	MUS 113	3
MUS 114	1	MUS 115	1	MUS 116	1
MUP 190	2	MUP 190	2	MUP 190	2
MUS 195, 196, 197 or 198	1	MUS 195, 196, 197 or 198	1	MUS 195, 196, 197 or 198	1
MUS Elective or MUS 191	2	MUS Elective or MUS 192	2	MUS elective or MUS 193	2
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
MUS 046	0			Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement	3-4
Total Fall Credits	14	Total Winter Credits	14	Total Spring Credits	17-18

First Year Milestone: Pass MUS 046 (Piano Proficiency) in Fall or enroll in MUS 191-193. Complete MUS 111-116, 6 credits of MUP 190 (by end of Spring term).

Second Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors	4	Sophomore Inquiry or Honors	4	Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement	3-4
MUS 211	3	MUS 212	3	MUS 213	3
MUS 214	1	MUS 215	1	MUS 216	1
MUS 240	2	MUS 241	2	MUS 242	2
MUP 290	2	MUP 290	2	MUP 290	2
MUS 291	2	MUS 292	2	MUS 293	2
MUS 195, 196, 197 or 198	1	MUS 195, 196, 197 or 198	1	MUS 195, 196, 197 or 198	1
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
		MUS 205	1	MUS 243	2
Total Fall Credits	15	Total Winter Credits	16	Total Spring Credits	16-17

Second Year Milestones: Complete MUS 211-216, 6 credits of MUP 290 (by end of Spring term). Submit composition portfolio for admission to Composition Program (by end of Spring term).

Third Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors	4	Upper Division Cluster or Honors	4	Upper Division Cluster or Honors	4
MUS 304	4	MUS 305	4	MUS 306	2
MUS 311	3	MUS 312	3	MUS 313	3
MUS 394, 395, 396, 397 or 398	1	MUS 394, 395, 396, 397 or 398	1	MUS 394	1
MUP 390 (Composition)	2	MUP 390 (Composition)	2	MUP 390 (Composition)	2
MUS 320	2	MUS Elective	2	MUS 307	2
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
				MUS 048	0
Total Fall Credits	16	Total Winter Credits	16	Total Spring Credits	14

Third Year Milestone: Complete MUS 306, MUS 048, 6 credits of MUP 390 (by end of Spring term).

Fourth Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis	6	MUS 374U, 375U, 377U or 378	4	MUS 470 or 482	2
MUP 490 (Composition)	2	MUP 490 (Composition)	2	MUP 490 (Composition)	2
MUS 421	3	MUS 482	2	MUS 476	3
MUS Elective	1	MUS Elective	4	MUS Elective	4
General Elective	1	General Elective	3	General Elective	2
				MUS 049	0
Total Fall Credits	13	Total Winter Credits	14	Total Spring Credits	13

Fourth Year Milestone: Complete World Music Elective(MUS 374U, 375U, 377U or 378); MUS 049, 6 credits of MUP 490 (by end of Spring term), MUS 049.

Additional Map Notes:

Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BST), Chicanx/Latinx Studies (CHLA), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
MUS 046: Students must pass piano proficiency (MUS 046) or take MUS 191/192/193. Courses count as lower division music (MUS) electives.
MUS 374U, 375U, 377U or 378: World Music elective. Choose one.
MUS 470 or 482: Two Topics courses required; one must be MUS 482, the other can be either MUS 470 or MUS 482 (different topic if taken twice).
You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Music: Composition

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