Music Theory
Audition and declaration requirements
Furman students intending to major in music must perform an audition and
complete a music theory placement examination. Paperwork should be
submitted to our department during your sophomore year.
Declare your major by downloading our form as a PDF.
General requirements
The bachelor of music in music theory offers a wide range of opportunity to engage in the creation, analysis,
and teaching of music. Our majors complete a series of
courses designed to enhance their
understanding for the language
of music.
Core courses:
- Basic Musicianship I (MUS-111)
- Basic Musicianship II (MUS-112)
- Introduction to Music Literature (MUS-120)
- Basic Musicianship III (MUS-211)
- Basic Musicianship IV (MUS-212)
- World Music I (MUS-220)
- Music History I (MUS-221)
- Music History II (MUS-320)
- Music History III (MUS-321)
- Basic Conducting (MUS-352)
- Two credits of performance topics
- Recital Attendance for seven semesters (MUS-050)
- Freshman Music Colloquium for one semester (MUS-051)
- Membership in at least one ensemble: Symphony orchestra (MUS-060), Furman band (MUS-061), Furman Singers (MUS-062), Furman men's chorale (MUS-063), or Furman women's chorale (MUS-064)
Additional courses:
- Form and Analysis (MUS-310)
- Composition (MUS-311)
- Orchestration (MUS-312)
- Modal Counterpoint (MUS-313) or Tonal Counterpoint (MUS-410)
- Contemporary Styles and Techniques (MUS-411)
- Senior Project (MUS-412)
- At least 16 credits of performance studies, including at least one course each in strings, brass, percussion or woodwinds.
- Four credits of music electives numbered between 300 and 499.
- At least four more credits in other music electives.
Course sequence
| Class |
Fall |
Spring
|
| Freshman |
MUS-111
MUS-113
Performance Studies
Performance Topics
First Year Seminar
MUS-051
MUS-050
Major ensemble
|
MUS-112
MUS-113
Performance Studies
MUS-120
First Year Seminar
MUS-050
Major ensemble |
| Sophomore |
MUS-211
MUS-113
Performance Studies
MUS-221
Recital
Ensemble
|
MUS-212
MUS-113
Performance Studies
MUS-352
MUS-220
Recital
Ensemble |
| Junior |
MUS-320
Music elective
MUS-311
Performance Studies
Upper level music elective
Recital
Ensemble
|
MUS-321
MUS-312
MUS-310
Performance Studies
Music elective
Recital
Ensemble
|
| Senior |
MUS-411
Performance Studies
Upper level music elective
Recital
Ensemble
|
MUS-313 or MUS-410
Performance Studies
MUS-412
Recital
Ensemble
|