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Nov 15, 2024
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2024-2025 Binghamton University Academic Guide
Music, BA
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 Return to: Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
The Bachelor of Arts in Music is designed for students who are planning careers in a wide range of musical and other fields; many students complete it in music as part of a double major. Three tracks allow students to specialize in Performance, Composition, or Musicology. It is a Liberal Arts-oriented degree and suitable as preparation for graduate study in music and related disciplines.
The BA requires 52 credits in music, including an academic core of music theory, musicology and ethnomusicology, studio lessons, and ensemble performance. Students who cannot yet read music or have little performing experience may need remedial coursework to prepare for the core curriculum in music.
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Admission Requirements
Students who wish to become music majors in the BA program should make an appointment with the Undergraduate Director for advising and formal declaration after completing MUS 215 and 216. The department urges all prospective BA majors to begin the major core as early as possible during their college residence to permit sufficient time for the sequence of courses.
University General Education Requirements
All Binghamton University undergraduate students are required to fulfill this set of university-wide requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of a SUNY university undergraduate education. Please refer to the General Education page for more information.
Harpur College Requirements
All students in Harpur College must fulfill additional requirements designated by Harpur College to complement and extend the general education requirements. Please refer to the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences page for more information.
Restrictions on Double Majors
Music BA majors may not double major with MusB due to considerable overlap within the majors.
Major Requirements
Below are the requirements for the Music BA and each of the three tracks.
Music Core Course Requirements:
The following courses are required for all major tracks as part of a basis for a liberal-arts program in music:
Theory and Musicianship (to be taken in sequence)
Musicology and Ethnomusicology
Performance
- Two semesters of large ensemble or piano accompanying, taken for one credit each semester.
- Two semesters of studio lessons in a single instrument or voice, taken for at least one credit per semester. Placement in ensembles and studio lessons is by auditions, held at the beginning of each semester. Returning students re-audition in the fall semester only.
Performance Track
Students should audition to enter the Performance Track no later than by the end of the third semester of Studio Lessons. End-of-semester juries for Studio Lessons courses can serve as the audition. Students must fulfill the following requirements for the Performance Track:
- One additional 300- or 400-level MUS course, which may include MUS 400 Senior Honors Project
- Four additional credits of Studio Lessons (1 or 2 credits each semester) beyond the Core Requirement
- Two additional semesters of Large Ensemble beyond the Core Requirement
- Two additional credits of Music Performance (MUSP) courses that are not Studio Lessons or Large Ensembles
Composition Track
Students must apply to enter the Composition Track by submitting a portfolio of at least two pieces for contrasting media or performing forces. Portfolio applications should be submitted upon completing MUS 331 or earlier. Students must fulfill the following requirements for the Composition Track:
- MUS 331 Introduction to Composition
- Four credits of Composition Lessons taken from MUSP 458B, 458C, and/or 458D (1 or 2 credits each semester)
- Four credits of upper-level composition electives
Musicology Track
No specialized application or audition is required for this track. All students in good standing in Harpur College can pursue this degree path. Students must fulfill the following requirements for the Musicology Track:
- Students must fill their core ethnomusicology requirement with MUS 304 Introduction to Ethnomusicology.
- 3 upper-level MUS courses (4 credits each) in music history, ethnomusicology, and/or music theory. For Musicology Track students with double majors this requirement is reduced to two. With special approval, students without a second major may count one non-music course on a closely related topic from another department towards this track
Additional Information About the Program
The department views the grade of D as passing but unsatisfactory. Therefore, a course in which a grade of D was received may not be used to fulfill the requirements for the major in music. No course taken Pass/Fail counts toward the minimum requirements for the major.
Students considering transferring to Binghamton from another university are advised to begin taking courses in music theory prior to transferring.
Residency Requirement: Music majors in the BA program are required to complete at least 14 credits toward the major in residence at Binghamton University, comprising two semesters of studio lessons and ensemble participation and all 12 credits in their chosen track.
For more information on the Music BA program, please refer to the Music website. To apply to the Music BA program, please visit the University Admissions website.
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Return to: Harpur College of Arts and Sciences
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