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Music

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.