Music Major
Major Requirements
The Music major consists of a minimum of 11 course credits.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| Core | |
| MUS 210 | Classical Music in Western Culture |
| MUS 212 | How Music Performs Culture: Introduction to Ethnomusicology |
| MUS 231 | Western Music Theory I |
| MUS 232 | Western Music Theory II |
| MUS 331 | Western Music Theory III |
| Cultural Musicology | |
| Complete at least one course from the following: | |
| History of Jazz | |
| Music in Contemporary Popular Culture | |
| African American Popular Music | |
| Miles Davis | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Complete at least one course from the following: | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Senior Thesis | |
| Additional Courses | |
| The remaining courses are chosen in consultation with the thesis advisor. 1 | |
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 Western Music Theory I. If exempted from Western Music 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.
Declaration Restrictions
Students who have declared the Music major may not declare the following:
- Music minor
- Music and Culture (C080) concentration
Starting with the class of 2030, students may not declare this major any later than March 1 of the Junior year.
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.