Plan of Study, Academics | Earlham College

General Education Requirements

One course meets the International component of the Perspectives on Diversity Requirement, MUS 161. One course meets the Domestic component of the Perspectives on Diversity Requirement, MUS 353. The Department also offers Earlham Seminars.

 

Two Music Major Tracks

The Earlham Music Department offers two majors:

  • a Music Studies Major for students wishing for foundational training in music (often done in combination with another major), and
  • a Music Major for students expecting to go on to advanced study in the field of music.

 

Music Studies Major

To earn a major in Music Studies, students must successfully complete 41 hours of course work as follows:

Theory and Musicianship (9 credit hours)

  • MUS 271 Western Music Theory II: Foundations
  • MUS 272 Musicianship
  • MUS 371 Western Music Theory III: Compositional and Analytical Techniques  OR 
    MUS 471 Topics in Music Theory and Composition

Musicology (15 credit hours)

  • MUS 201 Thinking and Writing About Music
  • MUS 460 Ethnomusicology: Methods and Issues
  • Three additional musicology courses. Each course will be designated as emphasizing one or two of the following:
    • Western classical music (WC)
    • Traditional music that has developed outside the Western tradition (non-Eurogenic music) (NE)
    • Mass-mediated music (MM)

At least one course emphasizing each of these three broad repertoires is required of all music majors. In some cases a single course will count for two of these.

Applied (11 credit hours)

  • MUS 372 Making Music with Computers
  • Eight additional credits of applied music, with a minimum of four being ensemble credits and two being applied lesson credits.

Credits in Visual Arts, Theatre or Film (3 credit hours)

Capstone Project (3 credit hours)

 

Music Major

To earn a major in Music, students must successfully complete 50-51 hours of course work as follows. In addition to the requirements of the Music Studies Major, the Music Major will require the following, based on area of concentration

Composition

  • Admission to the composition track is by audition. An initial sampling of works will be evaluated and an assessment of compositional ability will be determined by the faculty prior to admission.
  • Six additional credits in applied composition lessons above the two stipulated in the basic track.
  • An additional Western classical music seminar specifically in music after 1900 or an Independent Study survey of some aspect of contemporary composition.
  • A portfolio evaluation of works produced during the student's time at Earlham will be required before graduation.

Computer Music

  • A three-credit independent study in the area of the student’s interest.
  • One Computer Science course in programming for three or four credits OR ideally, a Computer Science minor.

Conducting

  • A combination of Independent Studies and Teaching Assistantships in ensemble direction, designed in consultation with the appropriate ensemble director, for nine credit hours.

Ethnomusicology

  • Two additional courses in musicology for six credit hours. Note: at least two of the five total musicology courses should have a geographical focus.
  • One course in Sociology/Anthropology for three or four credit hours OR ideally, a Sociology/Anthropology minor.

Historical Musicology

  • Two additional courses in Western Classical Music for six credit hours.
  • One course in European history for three or four hours OR ideally, a History minor.

Music Education

  • Independent studies in music teaching methods and conducting for six credit hours.
  • An education course to be determined for three hours

Music Therapy

  • Students interested in pursuing Music Therapy after graduation are strongly encouraged to complete the Music Studies Major and the Psychology minor.

Performance

  • Admission to the performance track is by audition in the primary performing medium.
  • An additional six credits of applied lessons, above the two stipulated in the basic track. 
  • One elective for three credit hours in an area of musicology closely related to the student’s performance instrument.
  • Performance evaluations (“juries”) will occur at the end of selected semesters.

 

Music Minor

To earn a minor in Music, students must successfully complete 19 credit hours as follows:

  • MUS 201 Thinking and Writing About Music
  • MUS 271 Western Music Theory II: Foundations
  • Two more 3-credit classes, one of which must be in musicology
  • Four credits of applied courses, of which at least one credit must be sight-singing, piano class, or private instrumental or vocal study, and at least one credit of which must be an ensemble.
  • Three additional credits of either applied or classroom courses.