All students are required to declare a major field of study by their third semester credit standing. To stay on track for graduation, it is strongly advised that the declaration of major paperwork be submitted prior to your assigned online registration time during your second semester.
To begin the process of declaring or changing a major or minor, take the following steps:
- Download and fill out the Declaration/Change of Major/Minor form.
- Submit the form by the end of check-in week, which is the Friday before the start of classes. If approved, the declaration of major will be effective for that semester. Forms received after the deadline will be effective, if approved, for the following semester.
Visit the departments for more definitive declaration instructions since some majors have an earlier declaration deadline and specific requirements for declaration. More information on declaring, changing, or dropping your major/minor can be found on pages 18–20 in the Academic Policies section of the 2020–2021 Policy Handbook for Students.
Not Sure Which Major to Declare?
Following is a list of majors and suggested entry courses. The entry courses provide an overview of the respective majors and begin to build a foundation for courses that follow in the major.
Note: Some of these courses have prerequisites. Be sure to check the course description for details.
Contemporary Writing and Production
- AR-112: Arranging 2
- LMSC-208: Principles of Musical Acoustics
- ISKB-211: Basic Keyboard 1 (not required for piano principals)
Composition
- CM-211: Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 (required in second semester)
- CP-210: The Art of Counterpoint
- CM-103: The Composer’s Toolkit: Shaping Sound in Time
- CM-357: Introduction to Electroacoustic Music for Composers
- ISKB-211: Basic Keyboard 1 (not required for piano principals)
Electronic Production and Design
- EP-210: Survey of Electroacoustic Music
- EP-225: Control Systems in Electronic Production
- EP-250: Electronics in the Soundtrack
- LMSC-208: Principles of Music Acoustics OR LMSC-209: Applications of Music Acoustics
Film Scoring
- CM-211: Tonal Harmony and Composition 1 (required in second semester)
- CP-210: The Art of Counterpoint
- FS-221: Introduction to Film Scoring
- ISKB-211: Basic Keyboard 1 (not required for piano principals)
Jazz Composition
- AR-112: Arranging 2
- AR-228: Survey of Jazz Composition and Arranging
- ISKB-211: Basic Keyboard 1 (not required for piano principals)
Music Business/Management
- MB-101: Introduction to the Music Business
- MB-131: Taxation in the Music Business
- MB-201: Principles of Business Management
- MB-205: The Business of Flamenco Music
- MB-211: Legal Aspects of the Music Industry
- MB-287: Business Communication
- LMSC-130: Concepts of Mathematics
- LSOC-225: Principles of Economics
- LMSC-251: Data Management and Statistics
Music Education
- ME-111: Introduction to Music Education
- ME-152: Computer Applications for Music Education (highly recommended)
Music Production and Engineering
- MP-110: Introduction to Music Production and Engineering
- MP-113: Accelerated Pro Tools
- MP-114: Critical Listening Lab for Musicians
- MP-115: Production Analysis Lab for Musicians
- LMSC-208: Principles of Musical Acoustics OR LMSC-209: Applications of Music Acoustics (required in second semester)
- MP-210: Principles of Independent Record Production (intended for non-MP&E majors)
- MP-310: Sound Reinforcement for Musicians (intended for non-MP&E majors)
Music Therapy
- MTH-201: Introduction to International Music Therapy
- LSOC-211: General Psychology
- ISGT-231: Guitar Class for Music Therapists 1
- ISPC-231: Percussion for Music Therapy
- ILVC-210: Elements of Vocal Technique for Non-Voice Principals (not required for voice principals)
- MTH-311: Psychology of Music
Performance
- PFSS-XXX: Approved Styles Survey (The course code is determined by your principal instrument; see Major Grid.)
- PSXX-XXX: Performance Studies
Professional Music
This major does not have a special entry course; see the department advisor in the Professional Music Department.
Songwriting
- SW-111: Essentials of Songwriting
- SW-211: Songwriting 1
- SW-221: Lyric Writing 1
- ISKB-211: Basic Keyboard 1 (not required for piano principals)