1. University of Wisconsin–Madison
  2. Music: Composition (BA or BS)

Student guide

Music: Composition (BA or BS)

The Music: Composition (BA or BS): what it asks for, in what order, and who teaches it. This guide was started from the catalog; its own introduction is still to be written.

  • 44credits in the major
  • 120credits in all

What the degree asks for, group by group. The map sets out every course by how many must come before it; open a course there to see what it needs and what it opens.

All of these · 14 credits

Music core

Musica Practica 1 and 2 with their aural skills, and the two-semester survey of Western music history: in every undergraduate music program the Guide lists.

  • MUSIC-121MUSICA PRACTICA 13
  • MUSIC-171MUSICA PRACTICA: AURAL SKILLS 11
  • MUSIC-122MUSICA PRACTICA 23
  • MUSIC-172MUSICA PRACTICA: AURAL SKILLS 21
  • MUSIC-211SURVEY OF THE HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC3
  • MUSIC-212SURVEY OF THE HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC3
Choose one · 8 credits

Composition study

Four semesters, of MUS PERF 249 or 449.

  • MUSPERF-249INTERMEDIATE COMPOSITION2-4
  • MUSPERF-449ADVANCED COMPOSITION2-4
Required · 6 credits

Advanced composition study

Three semesters.

  • MUSPERF-449ADVANCED COMPOSITION2-4
All of these · 11 credits

Additional music theory

  • MUSIC-221MUSICA PRACTICA 33
  • MUSIC-271MUSICA PRACTICA: AURAL SKILLS 31
  • MUSIC-222MUSICA PRACTICA 43
  • MUSIC-272MUSICA PRACTICA: AURAL SKILLS 41
  • MUSIC-523ORCHESTRATION I3
Required · 2 credits

Piano proficiency

Or a proficiency exam in piano, with elective credit to make up the total.

  • MUSPERF-104INTERMEDIATE CLASS PIANO2
Choose one · 3 credits

Composition electives

At least one course for at least 3 credits, and enough to reach 30 in the option.

  • MUSIC-621RENAISSANCE POLYPHONY3
  • MUSIC-622BAROQUE COUNTERPOINT3
  • MUSIC-623FORM AND ANALYSIS2-3
  • MUSIC-624FORM AND ANALYSIS II2-3
  • MUSIC-40WIND ENSEMBLE1
  • MUSIC-41CONCERT BAND1
  • MUSIC-52TREBLE CHOIR1
  • MUSIC-56CHORALE1
  • MUSIC-58MADRIGAL SINGERS1
  • MUSIC-62UNIVERSITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA1
  • MUSIC-252INTRODUCTION TO CONDUCTING AND PEDAGOGY2
  • MUSIC-253CONDUCTING2
  • MUSIC-254CONDUCTING2
  • MUSPERF-200ELEMENTARY/INTERMEDIATE PIANO FOR NON-PIANO MAJORS2

Meet your instructors

Everyone teaching a course in this degree this term, by the part of the degree they teach in. Expand an area to see who is in it; someone teaching in two areas appears in both, with that area’s courses on each card. A Full-time band on a photo means that instructor is full-time faculty. Every email here works; use it.