History, Theory, and Critical Studies in Music

Music BA: Musicology Hitec Track; Jazz & American Music Studies Track; Composition Diploma

The Music BA offers students the opportunity to pursue the combined study of music history, theory, ethnography, and criticism (HiTEC). This track is ideal for students who have a broad interest in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, and who are interested in exploring connections between music and other disciplines. The hitec track is largely elective driven, allowing students to explore and combine various areas of study. Students interested in more specialized musicological study may structure their electives to complete the track in Jazz and American Music Studies while others interested in composition can complete the curriculum described below, leading to a composition diploma. Similarly, students can structure their electives to complete one of the many certificate programs offered by the department. 

  • Musicology and Ethnomusicology

    • MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
    • MUSC 226 or 227 Elements of Music History
    • MUSC 217, 231, or 232 Elements of Popular Music
    • MUSC 315 Music Analysis
    • MUSC 327 Thinking through Music
    • MUSC 33x Musicology Seminar
    • Electives: Six additional courses (18 cr) selected under advisement from the following list with at least 9 credits at the 300 or 400 level
Electives in Musicology/HiTEC

​​​​​History, Criticism, & Ethnomusicology

  • MUSC 217 - Jazz in America Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 222 - History of American Musical Theatre Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 231 - Introduction to Ethnomusicology Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 232 - Folk Music in America Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 331 - Studies in Keyboard Literature: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 333 - Studies in Vocal Literature: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 334 - Music and Film: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 335 - Studies in Instrumental Literature: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 336 - Music, Gender, and Sexuality: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 337 - Music, Race, and Ethnicity: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 338 - Folk Music in New York State Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 339 - Folk and Popular Music Studies: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3

Harmony, Composition, & Conducting

  • MUSC 256 - Elements of Diatonic Harmony and Polyphony Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 257 - Elements of Chromatic Harmony Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 258 - Elements of Jazz Harmony Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 259 - Elements of Accompaniment and Figured Bass Credit(s): 1
  • MUSC 317 - Orchestration Credit(s): 2
  • MUSC 346 - Jazz Harmony and Improvisation I Credit(s): 2
  • MUSC 347 - Jazz Harmony and Improvisation II Credit(s): 2
  • MUSC 356 - Contemporary Harmony for Composition Credit(s): 2
  • MUSC 357 - Counterpoint Credit(s): 2
  • MUSC 365 - Conducting I Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 366 - Conducting II Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 456 - Composition for the Music Major Credit(s): 2

Music Business, Recording, & Production

  • MUSC 102 - Introduction to Music Technology Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 202 - Introduction to Music Business and Entrepreneurship Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 302 - Music Recording and Production Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 303 - Film and Game Scoring Credit(s): 3

*In addition to the electives listed above, students may also include 6 semesters of ensemble participation (MUSC 160 and 165) and/or applied study, and one 3- or 4-credit course, from another humanities or social science discipline, with an emphasis on theory, toward the elective requirement.

  • Jazz and American Music Studies

    • MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
    • MUSC 217 Jazz in America
    • MUSC 232 Popular Music in America
    • MUSC 315 Music Analysis
    • MUSC 327 Thinking through Music
    • MUSC 33x Musicology Seminar
    • One or two related courses (3-8 credits) in the humanities or social sciences
    • Electives: six additional courses selected under advisement from the following list with at least one related course in a discipline outside music.
Electives in Jazz and American Music

Electives in American Music (6-10 credits)*

  • MUSC 165 - Instrumental Organizations: Jazz Ensemble Credit (1)**
  • MUSC 222 - History of American Musical Theatre Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 258 - Elements of Jazz Harmony Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 291 - Music and Ideas: (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 336 - Music, Gender, and Sexuality (subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 337 - Music, Race, and Ethnicity(subtitle) Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 338 - Folk Music in New York State Credit(s): 3
  • MUSC 339 - Folk and Popular Music Study
  • MUSC 346 - Jazz Harmony and Improvisation I
  • MUSC 347 - Jazz Harmony and Improvisation II
  • MUSC 439 - Portfolio Review

Interdisciplinary Courses (3-7 credits)

  • AMST 201 - Topics in American Studies: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
  • BLKS 200 - Introduction to Black Studies 
  • ENGL 318 - Black British Literature and Culture Credit(s): 4
  • ENGL 337 - African-American Literature Credit(s): 4
  • ENGL 439 - American Ways: (subtitle) Credit(s): 4
  • HIST 164 - African American History from 1877 Credit(s): 4

Notes

* Upper-level requirement: at least 9 elective credits either in MUSC and/or in the related interdisciplinary coursework must be at the 300 or 400.
** A maximum of 3 credits of MUSC 165 may be applied to the elective total.

  • Composition Diploma

    • MUSC 102 Introduction to Music Technology
    • MUSC 189 Elements of Music Theory
    • MUSC 227 Music History II
    • MUSC 22x Elements of Music History
    • MUSC 256 Elements of Diatonic Harmony and Polyphony
    • MUSC 259 Elements of Figured Bass and Accompaniment
    • MUSC 303 Film and Game Scoring
    • MUSC 315 Music Analysis
    • MUSC 317 Orchestration
    • MUSC 327 Thinking through Music
    • MUSC 33x Musicology Seminar
    • MUSC 356 Contemporary Harmonic Practice 
    • MUSC 357 Compositional Counterpoint
    • MUSC 456 Composition

 

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