Music | Bachelor of Music: Music (Composition)
Program Notes:
Offered modalities: Program is available to students on-campus. Some course offerings are available both in person and online.
Restricted Minors: Students may not pursue the music minor with this major program.
Overview:
The Bachelor of Music in Composition is designed to give committed composition students the analytical, creative, and musical tools needed to bring their musical voice to life. Through performance, training in theory and history, skills in piano, conducting, technology, and composition lessons that are grounded in form, style, process, and creative thinking, the program will set students on the path for professional success.
Composition students will have the opportunity to have their works performed by fellow students, and participate in the program's New Music Festival held each spring semester.
FHSU is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Program Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 | |
| Performance Requirement | ||
| Ensembles | 8 | |
| Lessons | 10 | |
| Music Core & Program | 62 | |
| Open Electives 1 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Open electives are the credit hours required to reach a minimum of 120 total hours and 45 upper division hours. The number listed assumes all courses are completed at FHSU as listed. This number may vary if students transfer courses, or have individual substitutions allowed. Students should speak with their advisor if either situation applies to determine if the number will vary, and to ensure they enroll in a minimum of 45 upper division hours.
Students entering within 1 year of high school graduation will take UNIV 101 Freshman Seminar and may apply that hour in the open elective category.
Program Requirements
General Education
All undergraduate degrees require completion of the Kansas Systemwide General Education.
Courses identified with GE on this page may satisfy a general education requirement in addition to the identified degree requirement. Students who apply a degree requirement to satisfy a general education requirement will typically add an equal number of hours to the university elective category. This flexibility may allow you to complete a minor or certificate within the 120 hour degree. Transfer students are especially encouraged to select these courses in completing General Education requirements to maximize the likelihood of completing the degree with 120 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34-35 | |
Effective in Fall 2025 the math pathway course identified below is required for this degree.
The General Education Math Pathways course identified for this major is MATH 101 Contemporary Mathematics . All students pursuing this degree program will be required to complete this course or the corequisite support course. Students who place into a higher level math course may be able to satisfy this requirement; consult with your Academic Advisor for additional information.
Placement measures for MATH 101 Contemporary Mathematics include:
- Math ACT: 19 or higher OR
- Math SAT: 510 or higher OR
- ALEKS PPL: 30 or higher OR
- Accuplacer QAS: 255 or higher OR
- HS GPA and Course Grade: 3.00 cumulative GPA (unweighted) and C- or higher in Second Semester Algebra 2 or Integrated Math 3 OR
- Institutional Measure
Students who do not meet any of the placement measures listed above will need to register for the corequisite support course: MATH 100 Contemporary Mathematics with Review
Note: Music Theory 1 is a required course in the major and can be applied to the Arts and Humanities area of the general education requirements.
Recital Attendance and Senior Recital
The Bachelor of Music degree also requires attendance at recital every semester and performance in a Senior recital. Students will be expected to enroll in MUS 001 Recital Attendance, or MUS 076 Senior Recital: Composition every semester they attend FHSU. These are non-credit courses and do not count toward the 120 hours needed for graduation. There is no charged tuition.
Performance Requirement
Large Ensembles
All students must complete 8 units of large ensemble credit. Students must participate in at least 8 semesters.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Large Ensemble Options | 8 | |
| Concert Choir OC | ||
| FHSU Bands OC | ||
| Symphonic Band/Wind Ensemble OC | ||
| Hays Symphony OC | ||
| Total Hours | 8 | |
Piano & Lessons
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Piano & Keyboard | ||
| MUS 121 | Group Piano I 1, OC, OL | 1 |
| MUS 122 | Group Piano II 1, OC,OL | 1 |
| MUS 221 | Group Piano III 1, OC, OL | 1 |
| MUS 222 | Group Piano IV 1, OC, OL | 1 |
| MUS 244 | Applied Lessons II: Piano (Must complete at least 2 semesters) 1, OC,OL | 2 |
| Lessons | 4 | |
| Courses may be repeated for all four credit hours. Students must complete at least 4 semesters | ||
| Applied Lessons I OC | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Bassoon OC | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Cello OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Clarinet OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Double Bass OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Electric Bass OC | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Euphonium OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Flute OC | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Guitar OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Harpsichord OC | ||
| Applied Lessons: Horn OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Lute OC | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Oboe OC | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Organ OC | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Percussion OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Piano OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Saxophone OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Trombone OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Trumpet OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Tuba OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Violin OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Viola OC, OL | ||
| Applied Lessons II OC | ||
| Applied Lessons II: Voice OC, OL | ||
| Total Hours | 10 | |
- 1
Not required of students whose applied instrument is piano.
Students must take major ensemble for eight semesters.
Applied instruction in a student's performance area must be taken for a minimum of four semesters, in addition to two semesters of applied piano.
Students whose applied instrument is piano must take a minimum of 6 semesters of MUS 244 Applied Lessons II: Piano. Additionally, 4 credit hours of approved substitutions will be made for the group piano.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Core | ||
| MUS 181 | Music Theory I OC, OL | 3 |
| MUS 182 | Aural Skills I OC, OL | 1 |
| MUS 183 | Music Theory II OC, OL | 3 |
| MUS 184 | Aural Skills II OC, OL | 1 |
| MUS 192 | Music Styles and Context OC | 3 |
| MUS 281 | Music Theory III OC | 3 |
| MUS 282 | Aural Skills III OC | 1 |
| MUS 283 | Music Theory IV OC | 3 |
| MUS 284 | Aural Skills IV OC | 1 |
| MUS 287 | Conducting Techniques OC, OL | 1 |
| MUS 491 | Music History I OC, OL | 3 |
| MUS 492 | Music History II OC, OL | 3 |
| MUS 361 | World Music OC, OL | 3 |
| INF 348 | Beginning Audio Production OC, OL | 3 |
| MUS 388 | Advanced Music Technology OC | 3 |
| MUS 661 | Instrumental and Choral Arranging OC | 2 |
| MUS 663 | Form and Analysis OC, OL | 3 |
| MUS 665 | Eighteenth Century Counterpoint OC, OL | 3 |
| MUS 666 | Applied Composition I (Must complete at least 2 semesters) OC | 4 |
| MUS 667 | Applied Composition II (Must complete at least 2 semesters) OC, OL | 6 |
| MUS 676 | Applied Composition III (Must complete at least 2 semesters) OC | 6 |
| MUS 684 | Literature OC, OL | 3 |
| Total Hours | 62 | |
- OL
Course is offered through FHSU Online
- OC
Course is offered on-campus
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All bachelor degrees require: | ||
| GPA of 2.0 on FHSU courses & 2.0 on all coursework (Higher program requirements prevail over the 2.0 when set) | ||
| A minimum of 30 hours earned from FHSU with a grade of D, C, B, or A | ||
| Successful completion of an upper division Writing and Information Literacy course (Most majors contain a course designated) | ||
| A minimum of 45 hours of recognized upper division credit | ||
| A minimum of 120 hours of recognized college credit | ||
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ENG 101 | English Composition I (SGE010 - English Discipline Area) | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Fundamentals of Oral Communication (SGE020 - Communication Discipline Area) | 3 |
| UNIV 101 | Freshman Seminar | 1 |
| MUS 001 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 121 | Group Piano I | 1 |
| MUS 181 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 182 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUS 2XX | 1 | |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 102 | English Composition II (SGE010 - English Discipline Area) | 3 |
| MATH 101 | Contemporary Mathematics (SGE030 - Math and Statistics Discipline Area) | 3 |
| MUS 001 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 122 | Group Piano II | 1 |
| MUS 183 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 184 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUS 192 | Music Styles and Context | 3 |
| MUS 2XX | 1 | |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Personal and Professional Development | 3 | |
| MUS 001 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 221 | Group Piano III | 1 |
| MUS 281 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 282 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| MUS 2XX | 1 | |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| MUS 666 | Applied Composition I | 2 |
| INF 348 | Beginning Audio Production | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SGE070 - Institutionally Designated Area: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| MUS 001 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 222 | Group Piano IV | 1 |
| MUS 283 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 284 | Aural Skills IV | 1 |
| MUS 2XX | 1 | |
| MUS 361 | World Music (SGE060 - Arts and Humanities Discipline Area) | 3 |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| MUS 666 | Applied Composition I | 2 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| SGE040 - Natural and Physical Science Discipline Area | 4 | |
| MUS 001 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 244 | Applied Lessons II: Piano | 1 |
| MUS 287 | Conducting Techniques | 1 |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| MUS 661 | Instrumental and Choral Arranging | 2 |
| MUS 667 | Applied Composition II | 3 |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| SGE060 - Arts and Humanities Discipline Area | 3 | |
| SGE050 - Social and Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| MUS 001 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 244 | Applied Lessons II: Piano | 1 |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| MUS 665 | Eighteenth Century Counterpoint | 3 |
| MUS 667 | Applied Composition II | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| SGE050 - Social and Behavioral Sciences Discipline Area | 3 | |
| MUS 001 | Recital Attendance | 0 |
| MUS 388 | Advanced Music Technology | 3 |
| MUS 491 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| Directed Electives | 3 | |
| MUS 676 | Applied Composition III | 4 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 492 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUS 076 | Senior Recital: Composition | 0 |
| MUS 6XX | 1 | |
| MUS 676 | Applied Composition III | 4 |
| MUS 663 | Form and Analysis | 3 |
| MUS 684 | Literature | 3 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Academic Degree Maps are term-by-term sample course plans that specify milestones, courses, and special requirements that are necessary for facilitating on-time completion. Degree Maps are examples and are not prescriptive. Individualized choices such as concentration options, transfer credits, optional minors, advisory programs (certificates), etc. can alter the recommended coursework. Course offerings are subject to change. Students should consult with their academic advisors for additional guidance on course planning.
To determine courses to take in the directed choices (often listed as Program Elective Course) and directed elective course blocks see the overview tab for courses. Open electives indicate the student is free to choose courses from any subject, but students should discuss with their advisor how many of these hours must be upper division. To locate approved courses in General Education areas (Undergraduate Programs) see the general education section of the catalog.
The undergraduate course maps typically advise the most efficient route for students to complete the general education requirements. Courses that are required in the major may be listed as fulfilling relevant general education requirements. This will result in more open elective course hours in some maps than is listed on the degree overview page.