Yearly Program Study Plan; B.Mus. Composition

Use this 4-year guide to plan your studies and graduate from your Bachelor of Music (Composition) program on time.

If you're a transfer student or a CEGEP graduate, you may be able to complete the program in 3 years instead of 4.

Which courses to take each year

This is a basic 4-year plan for students from high school with no advanced standing.

Program audit

You will receive a summary of exemption credits from placement exams, transfer credits, Advanced Placements (AP), etc, before you begin your first semester at the Schulich School of Music. You can access this information via a Program Audit (PA) customized for you. Visit the PA web page to learn more about how you can view your personalized program plan.

Meet with your academic advisor to review your program plan at least once a year.

Course load

You should normally register for 15-18 credits per term.

  • Full-time course load: 12 credits or more
  • Part-time course load: 11 credits or less

Practical instruction

  • For practical instruction registration details, visit Registration

Sample year 1 course plan (with no course exemptions)

  • You have the option to take placement exams in theory, musicianship and keyboard proficiency before school starts. Depending on the basis of admission and the placement test results, you may be exempt from music history (MUHL 186), first year theory (courses with MUTH prefixes) or musicianship/keyboard proficiency (courses with MUSP prefixes). To learn more about the course exemption criteria, see Placement Exams.
  • If you choose not to write the placement tests, you will register for courses as presented in this sample first year course plan.
  • If you are exempt from MUHL 186, you may consider taking an elective in the first semester.
  • You must be proficient in English for all courses, especially Music History. Non-anglophone students should defer MUHL 186 until their second year and register for an English as Second Language (ESL) course in year 1. ESL courses can be accepted as non-music electives. Contact the Writing Centre for information on ESL course registration.

Fall term

MUTH 150 Theory and Analysis 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 140 Musicianship Training 1 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 170 Musicianship (Keyboard) 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUPD 135 Music as a Profession 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 180 BMus Practical Lessons 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

MUHL 186 Western Musical Traditions 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Winter term

MUTH 151 Theory and Analysis 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 141 Musicianship Training 2 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 171 Musicianship (Keyboard) 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 181 BMus Practical Lessons 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One non-music elective (preferably a course to develop critical thinking and writing skills, such as psychology, philosophy, history, etc. before taking MUHL 286 in your 2nd or 3rd year)

Year 2 course plan

If you want to add a minor or second major to your program, apply in year 2.

Fall term

MUCO 241 Tonal Composition 1A 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 245 Composition 1A 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 261 Orchestration 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUHL 286 Critical Thinking About Music 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 240 Musicianship Training 3 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 280 BMus Practical Lessons 3 2.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Winter term

MUCO 242 Tonal Composition 1B 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 246 Composition 1B 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 360 Orchestration 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUTH 251 Theory and Analysis 4 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

  • You will be exempt from the MUTH 251 prerequisite,  MUTH 250, when you successfully complete MUCO 241 and 242. studentaffairs.music [at] mcgill.ca (Email Student Affairs) to request an override so that you can take MUCO 242 and MUTH 251 during the same term.

MUSP 241 Musicianship Training 4 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 281 BMus Practical Lessons 4 2.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 283 BMus Concentration Final Exam 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

 

Year 3 course plan

Fall term

MUCO 340D1 Composition 2 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 341 Digital Studio Composition 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 460 Orchestration 3 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUHL 3xx upper-level music history

MUSP 346 Post-Tonal Musicianship 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One free elective

Winter term

MUPD 235 Music as a Profession 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 340D2 Composition 2 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 342 Digital Studio Composition 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUTH 350 Theory and Analysis 5 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One non-music elective

One free elective

Year 4 course plan

Fall term

MUCO 440D1 Composition 3 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 541 Adv Digital Studio Comp 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUHL 3xx upper-level music history

Two free electives

Winter term

MUCO 440D2 Composition 3 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUCO 575 Topics in Composition 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUTH 202 Modal Counterpoint 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

or

MUTH 204 Tonal Counterpoint 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One non-music elective

One free elective

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