Music: Composition - Bachelor of Music 2023-24 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps show how you can earn a degree in four years. It has been created under the assumption that most PSU courses are 4 credits. However, the BA and BS requirements on the map can be satisfied with fewer credits, but this may require you to take additional general elective courses to reach the 180 total credits required for a degree. Speak with an academic advisor to develop your own personalized plan.

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This guide outlines the requirements in the 2023-24 catalog. 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 eligible for an earlier catalog. You should talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

First Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Freshman Inquiry or Honors	5	Freshman Inquiry or Honors	5	Freshman 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	1	MUS Elective	1	MUS Elective	1
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	13	Total Spring Credits	16-17

First Year Milestone: Complete MUS 113/116, 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 206	1
Total Fall Credits	16	Total Winter Credits	16	Total Spring Credits	14-15

Second Year Milestones: Complete MUS 213/216, 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	4
MUS 311	3	MUS 312	3	MUS 313	3
MUS 394, 395, 396, or 397	1	MUS 394, 395, 396, or 397	1	MUS 394, 395, 396, or 397	1
MUP 390 (Composition)	2	MUP 390 (Composition)	2	MUP 390 (Composition)	2
MUS 320	2	MUS Elective	2	MUS Elective	2
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
				MUS 048	0
Total Fall Credits	16	Total Winter Credits	16	Total Spring Credits	16

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 374, 375 or 377	4	MUS 470	2
MUP 490 (Composition)	2	MUP 490 (Composition)	2	MUP 490 (Composition)	2
MUS 421	3	MUS 243	2	Upper-Division Music Elective	2
General Elective	4	MUS Elective	3	MUS 476	3
		MUS Elective	3	MUS 049	0
		General Elective	3	General Elective	1
Total Fall Credits	15	Total Winter Credits	17	Total Spring Credits	10

Fourth Year Milestone: Complete World Music History Elective, MUS 049, 6 credits of MUP 490 (by end of Spring term).

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), Chicano/Latino 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 394, 395, 396, or 397: Piano majors may take MUS 351 in lieu of 2 credits of MUS 395, 396, or 397.
MUS 374, 375 or 377: World Music elective.
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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