The Bachelor of Music degree, a four-year program, is intended for students who wish to become professional musicians or continue further study in music at the graduate level.
Major Requirements
Music Theory: MUSI 211, 212, 311 & 312
Plus one of the following:
- MUSI 315 Multi-Media Composition
- MUSI 378 Classical, Contemporary and Cross-Cultural Asian Music
- MUSI 403 Basic Electronic Music
- MUSI 404 Electronic Music Composition
- MUSI 405 Music Business and Law
- MUSI 416 Orchestration
- MUSI 417 Music for Media
- MUSI 512 Analytical Systems
- MUSI 513 Modal Counterpoint
- MUSI 514 Score Reading
- MUSI 517 Early Modern Masters
- MUSI 613 Tonal Counterpoint
- MUSI 617 Music Since 1950
Aural Skills and Performance Techniques: MUSI 231, 232, 331, 332
Music History:
- MUSI 222 Medieval & Renaissance Eras
- MUSI 321 Baroque & Early Classical Eras
- MUSI 322 Classical & Romantic Eras
- MUSI 421 The Modern Era
MUSI 335 Rice Chorale or MUSI 337 Undergraduate Orchestra - 5 semesters
Instrumental or Vocal Study (not including piano proficiency)- 6 semesters
Foreign Language (German highly recommended) - one year (141 and 142) or equivalency as determined by Rice University Placement Exam
Advanced Musicology courses/seminars - three (3) courses, plus one (1) additional advanced musicology or theory course
Piano proficiency exam
MUSI 449 Independent Study - 2 semesters (3 hours each) Senior Thesis
Recommended: MUSI 716 Music of the Middle Ages or MUSI 717 Renaissance Music
Additional University Requirements - partial list*
FWIS 1XX First-Year Writing-Intensive Seminar – 3 hours**
Complete one Lifetime Physical Activity Program (PE) – 1 semester
UNIV 194 or LPAP 195, CTIS Workshop (Critical Thinking in Sexuality), UNIV 195 CDOD Workshop (Critical Dialogues in Diversity)
Analyzing Diversity course
Distribution Credit Courses (9 courses) (NOTE: 3 courses of at least 3 credit hours each are required in each Group)
- Group I – Humanities (3 courses)
- Group II – Social Sciences (3 courses)
- Group III – Natural Sciences and Engineering (3 courses)
Students are responsible for making certain that their plan of study meets all degree and major requirements. Please visit the Undergraduate Students section of the General Announcements for additional information regarding University and Distribution Requirements: http://ga.rice.edu.
**All students must take the English Composition Examination prior to matriculating. Students who fail the English Composition Exam (or fail to take it) must successfully complete FWIS 100 during their first semester, and prior to enrolling in the FWIS course used to meet the graduation requirement. FWIS 100 cannot be used to meet the FWIS graduation requirement.
To graduate from Rice University’s bachelor degree program, all students must complete at least 120 semester hours (some degree programs require more than 120 hours).
This degree plan was updated August 2023 and is intended for the 2023-24 academic year.