Degrees offered: B.M., M.M., D.M.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Bachelor of Music in Composition
Entrance Requirements
Admittance to the program is highly competitive and is limited to approximately eight new students per year. The Composition Department admits only those applicants with strong academic backgrounds, including high GPA and SAT scores, plus experience in composing music for the concert stage and familiarity with 20th century repertoire. Knowledge of basic musical materials such as scales, intervals and chords by sight and sound is required as is a reasonable keyboard facility. Composition majors must submit three original compositions with performance tape if available and a copy of their academic transcripts to the School of Music. The bachelor of music in composition is a four-year program; transfer students are rarely accepted into the program.
Professor of Theory and Composition
Frank Ticheli with his counterpoint class
*Transfer credit may not fulfill the large ensemble requirement.
Curriculum Requirements Units General education requirements 6 courses Writing 2 courses MUCD 340 (2), 343 (2) 4 Large ensemble* 4 Ensemble electives 2 MUHL 280ab (6), 385ab (6) 12 MUPF 250ab (4), 350ab (4), 401P (4) ** 12 MUEA 474a or 474b or MUPF 490 2 MUTC 132ab (2), 133ab (6), 137ab (4), 220 (2), 232ab (2), 233ab (6), 235ab (4), 237ab (8), 320 (2), 332ab (2), 334ab (4), 336ab (4), 337ab (4), 420 (2), 435 (2), 436a (2), 437ab (4) 60 Electives in music 4 Senior recital 0 132
** Requirement may be fulfilled with MUPF 201P and MUPF 401P if proficiency level equivalent to MUPF 350b is demonstrated by examination.In addition to the above curricular requirements, B.M. candidates in composition (including film scoring emphasis) must take departmental comprehensive examinations in six areas:
Students must pass in at least four areas to continue on to the senior year of the major and, in order to graduate, must pass in all six areas.
- instrumental performance at an intermediate level;
- theory and analysis;
- aural skills;
- instrumentation;
- music literature;
- elementary score-reading.
Bachelor of Music in Composition (Film Scoring)
Entrance Requirements
The entrance requirements are identical to those of the bachelor of music in composition degree.
* Transfer credit may not fulfill the large ensemble requirement.
Curriculum Requirements Units General education requirements 6 courses Writing 2 courses MUCD 343 (2) and 442 (2) 4 Large ensemble* 4 Ensemble electives 2 MUHL 280ab (6), 385ab (6) 12 MUPF 250ab (4), 350ab (4)** 8 MUTC 132ab (2), 133ab (6), 137ab (4), 220 (2), 232ab (2), 233ab (6), 235ab (4), 237ab (8), 320 (2), 332ab (2), 334ab (4), 336ab (4), 337ab (4), 436ab (4), 437ab (4), 440ab (4), 442ab (4), 443ab (4), 470 (2) 72 Senior recital 0 134
** Requirement may be fulfilled with MUPF 201P and MUPF 401P if proficiency level equivalent to MUPF 350b is demonstrated by examination.
Graduate Degrees
Entrance Requirements
Admittance to the graduate degree program in composition is highly competitive and is limited to approximately six new students each year. Three carefully prepared scores and performance tapes of recent works and a copy of all undergraduate transcripts must be submitted with the application for admission to the School of Music.
Master of Music in Composition
Prerequisite-applicants must hold a bachelor of music degree with a major in composition or theory.
Thesis Requirements for Composition Majors
The thesis will consist of a chamber music work in three or more movements for four or more instruments.
Curriculum Requirements Units Ensemble 2 MUHL 570 (2), 578 (2), electives at the 500 level (4) 8 MUPF 401, 453 or 553 in any performance medium 4 MUTC 537 (8), 592 (2), 594ab (4) 14 Electives in music or letters, arts and sciences 2 Graduate recital 0 30
Master of Arts - Theory
Prerequisite-for information regarding the requirements for this degree, please contact the department chair.
Curriculum Requirements Units MUTC 533ab (4), 534ab (4), 540 (2), 550 (2) 12 MUHL 570 (2) and one 500-level MUHL elective (2) 4 Music electives 4 Electives in letters, arts and sciences 4 MUTC 594ab (4) 4 28
Doctor of Musical Arts
Curriculum Requirements Units Basic D.M.A. curriculum 24 MUTC 536 (4), 592 (4), 637 (4), 737 (4), 794ab (4) 20 Graduate recital 0
Doctor of Philosophy
Music Theory Emphasis
The Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in music is granted by the Graduate School. Candidates for the Ph.D. in music should also refer to the Graduate School section of the USC Catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.A substantial background in music and liberal arts is required. Two emphases are available: historical musicology and theory. The appropriate master of arts curriculum is basic to each Ph.D. emphasis. Graduate course requirements for the Ph.D. are adapted to the needs and research interests of the individual student. A minimum of 60 post-baccalaureate units is required.
For information regarding the requirements for this degree, please contact the department chair.
