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Academic Catalog 2021-2022

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Music, BA

2021-2022 Edition

  • Undergraduate
    • Admission
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    • University Academics
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
      • School of Architecture
      • Art + Design
      • Communication Studies
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      • Music
        • Music, BA
        • Music with Concentration in Music Industry, BS
        • Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Computer Science and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Electrical Engineering and Music with concentration in Music Technology, BSEE
        • Game Design and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Music and Communication Studies with Concentration in Music Industry, BS
        • Physics and Music with Concentration in Music Technology, BS
        • Psychology and Music, BS
        • Ethnomusicology, Minor
        • Music, Minor
        • Music Composition, Minor
        • Music Industry, Minor
        • Music Performance, Minor
        • Music Recording, Minor
        • Music Technology, Minor
        • Musical Theatre, Minor
        • Performing Arts Administration, Minor
        • Songwriting, Minor
      • Theatre
      • Interdisciplinary
      • Accelerated Bachelor/​Graduate Degree Programs
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
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    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Program Requirements
  • Plan of Study

The Bachelor of Arts in Music at Northeastern engages students in the study of how music works and the many contexts in which it is created and received. 

Students encounter a wide range of musical repertories, theoretical approaches, and research strategies. While many students opt to major in music alone, many others enroll as part of a double major. This is especially true of young scholars who are aiming for careers in engineering, sciences, business, and fields in the humanities and social sciences who still want to pursue their interests in music. Students in the BA concentration take a variety of classes in history, theory, and ethnomusicology, and they may be active performers, participating in our many ensembles and taking private lessons. Students also participate in a wide array of co-ops and are encouraged to explore opportunities that conform to their interests. 

Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

University-Wide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the University-Wide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA language requirements.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

  • NUpath requirements Creative Expression/Innovation (EI) and Interpreting Culture (IC) are met through the major course requirements. 
  • NUpath requirements Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), Societies and Institutions (SI), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), Difference and Diversity (DD), and Ethical Reasoning (ER) may be met through electives in the major.
  • NUpath requirements Natural and Designed World (ND) must be met through general electives.

Introduction to College

Course List
Code Title Hours
MUSC 1000Music at Northeastern1

Music Theory and Musicianship

Course List
Code Title Hours
Music Theory Placement
All students must take a music theory placement exam. Students who do not place into MUSC 1201 must first take the following course:
MUSC 1119
Fundamentals of Western Music Theory
Required Music Theory
A grade of C or higher is required in each course:
MUSC 1201Music Theory 14
Choose two courses from the following list:8
MUSC 1119
Fundamentals of Western Music Theory
MUSC 1202
Music Theory 2
MUSC 2111
Algebra and Geometry of Music
MUSC 2208
Jazz Improvisation
MUSC 2350
Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Music
MUSC 3541
Music Analysis Seminar
MUSI 1204
Analyzing Popular Genres

Music in Context

Choose one from each category below. From the categories "Western Art Music," "Global Music / Ethnomusicology," and "Contemporary / Popular Music," at least two must be at the 2000-level or higher. Courses may not double-count across the five areas. Many, but not all, Music in Context courses at the 2000-level or higher fulfill the Writing Intensive in the discipline requirement.  Please check Writing Intensive status of courses as needed.

Course List
Code Title Hours
Introductory Class
MUSC 1001Music in Everyday Life4
Western Art Music
Complete one of the following:4
MUSC 1100
Topics in Western Music
MUSC 1116
Beethoven
MUSC 1144
Music and Technology: Stone Age to Digital Age
MUSC 2107
Introduction to Opera
MUSC 2312
Historical Traditions: Classical
MUSC 2320
40,000 Years of Music Technology
MUSC 2340
Divas, DJs, and Double Standards
MUSC 2380
The World of Choral Music
MUSC 3352
Sounding Human
Global Music / Ethnomusicology
Complete one of the following:4
MUSC 1131
Music of Latin America and the Caribbean
MUSC 2101
Black Popular Music
MUSC 2130
Music of Asia
MUSC 2313
Topics in World Music
MUSC 2330
Musical Communities of Boston
MUSC 3353
Music and the Racial Imagination
MUSI 3351
Music and Social Justice
MUSI 3360
Global Music Industries in Context
MUSI 3401
Hip Hop in the Music Industry
MUSI 5900
Ethnography in Creative Industries
Contemporary / Popular Music
Complete one of the following:4
MUSC 1112
Jazz
MUSC 1113
Film Music
MUSC 2101
Black Popular Music
MUSC 2150
Making a Musical: Analysis, Craft, and Creation
MUSC 2310
Popular Music Since 1945
MUSC 2311
Topics in American Music
MUSC 2317
Punk Rock
MUSC 2320
40,000 Years of Music Technology
MUSC 2340
Divas, DJs, and Double Standards
MUSC 2351
Music, Sound, and the Screen
MUSC 2380
The World of Choral Music
MUSC 3352
Sounding Human
MUSC 3353
Music and the Racial Imagination
MUSC 3560
Topics in Music since 1900
MUSI 3360
Global Music Industries in Context
MUSI 3401
Hip Hop in the Music Industry
Creative
Complete one of the following 4-semester-hour courses or choose four 1-semester-hour ensembles and/or lessons from the list below:4
MUST 1220
Introduction to Music Technology
MUST 1301
Introduction to Composition
MUST 2320
Sound Design
MUSC 2150
Making a Musical: Analysis, Craft, and Creation
MUSC 2208
Jazz Improvisation
MUSC 2209
Conducting
MUSC 2210
Introduction to Songwriting
Ensembles and Lessons
MUSC 1901
Music Lessons 1
MUSC 1902
Music Lessons 2
MUSC 1904
Chorus
MUSC 1905
Concert Band
MUSC 1906
Orchestra
MUSC 1907
Wind Ensemble
MUSC 1911
Jazz Ensemble
MUSC 1912
Rock Ensemble
MUSC 1913
Blues/Rock Ensemble
MUSC 1914
Create Your Own Music
MUSC 1915
Chamber Ensemble
MUSC 1917
Jazz Choir and Combo
MUSC 1918
World Music Ensemble
MUSC 1919
Fusion Ensemble
MUSC 1920
Pep Band

Capstone

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete one of the following:4
MUSC 4651
Music Research Capstone
MUSI 4601
Seminar in Music Industry
MUSI 5900
Ethnography in Creative Industries
MUST 4611
Music Technology Capstone/Senior Recital

Music Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete three additional courses in music (MUSC, MUSI, or MUST). At least two must be at the 2000-level or higher.12

Major Credit Requirement

Complete 49 semester hours in the major.

Major GPA Requirement

Students must maintain at least a 2.667 GPA (B- average) in the requirements of the major and also complete all required music courses with grades of at least C. Students who fail to meet the above standards will be placed on departmental probation; those who remain on probation for two consecutive semesters will be dropped from the major.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Four Years, No Co-op

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHours
MUSC 10014Music theory course4
MUSC 12014Music in context course4
ENGW 11114Music elective4
MUSC 10001Elective4
Elective4 
 17 16
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHours
Music in context course4Music in context course4
Music elective4Music elective4
Elective4Elective4
Elective4Elective4
 16 16
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHours
Music in context course4Elective4
Music theory course4Elective4
Elective4Elective4
Elective4Elective4
 16 16
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours
Elective4Capstone course4
Elective4Elective4
Elective4Elective4
Elective4Elective4
 16 16
Total Hours: 129

Sample Four Years, Two Co-ops

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
MUSC 10014Music in context elective (1)4Elective4Vacation
ENGW 11114MUSC 12014Elective4 
MUSC 11194Language (2)4  
MUSC 10001Elective4  
   
Language 14   
 17 16 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Music in context course (2)4Co-op 1Co-op 1Elective4
Music elective (1)4 Elective (on-line)4Elective4
Music theory course4  or Dialogue
Language Elective (3)4   
EEAM 20001   
 17 0 4 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Music in context course (3)4Co-op 2Co-op 2Elective4
Music elective (2)4 Elective (on-line)4Elective4
Elective4  or Dialogue
ENGW 33144   
 16 0 4 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Music in context course (4)4Music Capstone4VacationVacation
Music elective (3)4Elective4  
Music theory course4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16 0 0
Year 5
FallHoursSpringHours  
  
  
  
  
 0 0  
Total Hours: 130
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