Major Requirements

The Music major consists of a minimum of 11 course credits.

Course List

Code	Title
Core
MUS 210	Classical Music in Western Culture
MUS 212	How Music Performs Culture: Introduction to Ethnomusicology
MUS 231	Music Theory I
MUS 232	Music Theory II
MUS 331	Music Theory III
Cultural Musicology
Complete at least one course from the following:
MUS 247	History of Jazz
MUS 249	African American Popular Music
Senior Thesis
Complete at least one course from the following:
MUS 457	Senior Thesis
MUS 458	Senior Thesis
Additional Courses
The remaining courses are chosen in consultation with the thesis advisor. 1

¹

 No more than a total of 2 credits of applied music (MUS 270 Applied Music) and/or ensemble performance (MUS 290 Musical Ensemble Performance) may be counted toward the major.

Courses Taken Outside of Bates

No more than two one-credit College-level courses, completed at institutions in the United States or abroad, may be applied toward the major. Students seeking to receive credits toward the major for summer courses should obtain permission from the program chair before enrolling in such a course. The department does not generally grant credit for online courses to fulfill its requirements.  

Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB) credit in Music Theory does not count towards the major, but students with AP/IB credit are encouraged to take a placement exam which may lead to a course waiver for Theory I.  If exempted from Theory I, students must fulfill the credit requirement with an additional course offered by the Music Department.

Pass/Fail Policy

Pass/Fail grading may be elected for one course applied toward the major.

Restricted Declarations

Students who have declared the Music major may not declare the following:

• Music minor
• Music and Culture (C080) GEC

Other Considerations

If exempted from Theory I by placement exam, students must fulfill the credit requirement with an additional course offered by the Music Department.