Majoring and Minoring
For complete information about majoring and minoring, see the online catalog.
The Major Program
The major requires a minimum of 45 credits, following successful completion of our prerequisite courses (Music Theory Fundamentals and Music Theory 1):
- Two courses in music theory: MUS 200 (Music Theory II) and MUS 250 (Music Theory III)
- Two courses in music history: MUS 162 (History of Western Music I) and MUS 163 (History of Western Music II)
- Four semester credits of a single instrument or voice lessons
- Piano proficiency lessons
- Six semester credits of ensemble chosen from a wide range of options, including western and non-western ensembles
- Four semester credits of world music in our flagship Workshops in World Music course that integrates an introduction to ethnomusicology with three performance sections from different global traditions
- Eight semester credits of upper-division theory or composition: options include orchestration, counterpoint, jazz theory, electronic music seminar, and conducting
- Four semester credits of upper-division music history or ethnomusicology: these research-based seminars have different topics each semester, such as Women in Music, Writing About Music, Portland Music Scenes, and Eco-musicology
- Two semester credits in MUS 490 Senior Project: seniors produce a thesis, performance recital, composition recital, or other culminating project
The Minor Program
Students who wish a basic but thorough introduction to the field of music may choose to minor in music. Minors pursue basic coursework in a variety of aspects of music study, history, theory, and performance.
Minor Requirements
A minimum of 23 semester credits, distributed as follows:
-
Four semester credits of music theory and aural skills chosen from the following:
MUS 150 Music Theory I
MUS 200 Music Theory II -
Eight semester credits in music history and literature:
MUS 162 History of Western Music I
MUS 163 History of Western Music II -
Two semester credits of ensemble chosen from the following list. At least one of the two credits must be from orchestra, wind symphony, or choirs:
MUP 111 Orchestra
MUP 112 Wind Symphony
MUP 113 Jazz Combos
MUP 115 Women’s Chorus
MUP 116 Community Chorale
MUP 117 Cappella Nova
MUP 118 Opera/Musical Theatre Workshop
MUP 121 Beginning Gamelan Class
MUP 125 African Mbira Class
MUP 135 Percussion Ensemble
MUP 136 Beginning West African Rhythms Class
MUP 138 Beginning African Marimba Class
MUP 214 Guitar Ensemble
MUP 215 Chamber Music: Classical
MUP 293 Accompanying -
One semester credit of instrumental or voice lessons.
-
Eight semester credits in upper-level courses in theory, music history, world music, or composition chosen from the following:
MUS 300 Music Theory IV: Contemporary
MUS 301 Portland Music Scenes
MUS 307 Topics in Music
MUS 308 Topics in Music, Comparative and North American
MUS 316 Jazz Theory
MUS 333 Seminar in Electronic Music
MUS 341 Orchestration
MUS 342 Counterpoint
MUS 346 Conducting
MUS 347 Advanced Conducting
MUS 361 Writing About Music
Departmental Honors
To qualify for honors, music majors must have a departmental GPA of 3.500 or higher. They must also produce an exceptional senior project. All eligible senior music majors are reviewed for possible honors by the faculty, who evaluate the quality of their academic coursework and their senior project. Students must have completed at least two semesters of coursework at Lewis & Clark before being considered eligible for honors.
Music is located in Evans Center on the Undergraduate Campus.
MSC: 18
email music@lclark.edu
voice 503-768-7460
Chair Susan DeWitt Smith
Music
Lewis & Clark
615 S. Palatine Hill Road MSC 18
Portland OR 97219