Certificate in Composition (Music Majors/Minors) - 12 Hours

The Certificate in Composition offers music majors and minors an opportunity to focus their studies on composition and arranging. Students will gain practical experience in creating original works for various ensembles, furthering their understanding of musical form, orchestration, and contemporary techniques. This certificate provides individual composition lessons, ensemble experience, and the study of advanced compositional methods, making it an ideal complement to a traditional music degree.

By earning this certificate, students will expand their career possibilities in fields such as composing for film, media, or concert music. The program also prepares students for graduate studies in composition or music theory. Additionally, students can gain hands-on experience with different instruments through elective lessons, enriching their compositional skills and encouraging collaboration within various performance ensembles.

Music majors and minors may add this certificate with approval from their advisor and the department chair.

Courses in the Certificate

MUS 302 / MUS 303 Orchestration and Choral Arranging* 2 credits
MUS 392 - Topics in Music Credit(s): 2
MUEN 391 - Contemporary Music Group Credit(s): 1
MUS 420 - Form and Analysis Credit(s): 2
*Students will take whichever class is not a part of their primary degree requirements.

**Two semesters of MUAP 427 (Upper division applied lessons in Composition) may be substituted for MUS 392.

Lessons

4 semesters of composition lessons

MUAP 225 - Composition Credit(s): 1