Theory and Composition (Theory), BMUS
Cultivate your curiosity about how music works by exploring interdisciplinary approaches to understanding musical structure and experience. With skills in analysis, research and critical thinking, you'll be equipped to excel in music-focused jobs across diverse career fields.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
or any math course that meets the MATH designation.
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
When you pursue the Bachelor of Music program in theory and composition, you choose a concentration in either theory or composition.
The theory concentration provides opportunities for you to dive into the science behind how people perceive and understand music while developing fluency with the theoretical foundations of musical analysis. You collaborate with expert faculty members and peers who share your curiosity for how music interacts with critical aspects of human experience, such as memory, emotion, culture and meaning. Through coursework, you learn techniques to analyze form, melody, harmony, rhythm and timbre across diverse styles of music, and you develop research skills to generate new insights about musical experience.
If you are interested in the composition concentration, you can look into the BMus in theory and composition with a concentration in composition program for more information.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| MHL 140 Sounds and Cultures |
| MTC 125 Music Theory I |
| MTC 221 Music Theory II |
| MTC 222 Music Theory III |
| MTC 425 Studies in 20th- and 21st-Century Theory |
| MUP 131 Class Piano |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
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If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Analyze key creative and artistic processes from at least two musical styles and historical periods.
- Critique specific musical products within the context of a specific historic or cultural tradition.
- Conduct scholarly research on topics in music theory resulting in scholarly papers and/or presentations.
Analyze key creative and artistic processes from at least two musical styles and historical periods.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
Important: Applicants must submit an ASU application for undergraduate admission in addition to a separate School of Music, Dance and Theatre application. Admission to the School of Music, Dance and Theatre is based on an audition. Auditions take place in November (spring admission) and in January and February (fall admission) of each year. Admission to the music program is highly selective and based on the audition process. Students are admitted as music audition students and must successfully complete the audition before enrolling in music major courses. Upon admission to both ASU and the School of Music, Dance and Theatre, the applicant's major is changed to music. If a student is admitted to ASU but not to the School of Music, Dance and Theatre or misses the audition deadline, the student remains a music audition major and must successfully pass the music audition milestone in the first semester to gain admission into the program. Application Deadlines: Students should review the complete music deadline information. Spring admission: The deadline to apply for admission to this program is October 15. Fall admission: The deadline to apply for admission to this program is January 5.
Transfer admission requirements:
Transfer applicants: Transfer of courses from other accredited institutions is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio and class piano courses with respect to performance standards. Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the institute must complete a minimum of 15 resident credit hours in the major as approved by the faculty. Application deadlines: Students should review the complete music deadline information. Spring admission: The deadline to apply for admission to this program is October 15. Fall admission: The deadline to apply for admission to this program is January 5.
An ASU student who would like to change majors to this program should reference the audition requirements listed in the admission requirements section above.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Students may deepen their understanding of music theory through ASU's study abroad experiences. They gain an enhanced understanding of how music affects culture and how they can communicate globally through music.
With more than 300 programs around the world available to them, students can build the experience most suited to their personal goals and skill sets.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Professor | 2.2% | $78,620 | Learn more |
| Music Producer | 1.2% | $73,710 | Learn more |
| Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners | 1.9% | $46,420 | Learn more |
| Musician/Singer | 0.3% | Not available | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Graduates find work in many fields, such as arts administration, media production, music technology, music business, publishing and marketing.
Graduates are prepared to work in various professional capacities, including:
- arranging and composing
- music research and data analysis
- performing in ensembles in a variety of styles and traditions
- teaching in a private studio or community program
- teaching music theory
Many graduates pursue a master's degree or doctorate in music or another related professional field (e.g., psychology, musicology, music business).
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Music, Dance and Theatre
|
MUSIC E167
MDTAdmissions@asu.edu
480-965-5069
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
