Degree Program Requirements

The Music Program's degree options include: the Joint Majors in Music, the Major in Music, the Minor in Music, and the Humanities Concentration in Music. Humanities Distribution and Communications Subjects are listed below.

Joint Majors in Music

XXI-E (Bachelor of Science in Humanities and Engineering)
XXI-S (Bachelor of Science in Humanities and Science)

REQUIREMENTS: (180 units required beyond the General Institute Req.)

• Senior Seminar in Music (21M500) - 12 units
• Eight music subjects, totaling at least 84 units, including:
  Two in COMPOSITION (21M301 and 21M302)
  Two in MUSIC HISTORY/LITERATURE (21M220, one more)
  Two in PERFORMANCE (two terms - 12 units total)
  Two ELECTIVES in theory/composition, history/literature, and/or performance to be selected in consultation with the major advisor, and totaling at least 24 units.
• Six ELECTIVE subjects in an Engineering or Science curriculum or in Psychology – at least 54 units. (When possible, the subject satisfying the Institute Laboratory Requirement and one of the subjects satisfying the Science Distribution Requirement should supplement this engineering/science component.)
• UNRESTRICTED ELECTIVES - at least 12 units

Note: Qualified students may, with faculty approval, substitute three full years of 21M480, Advanced Music Performance, and a senior recital for the two required performance subjects and 24 additional elective units.

Major in Music

XXI-M (Bachelor of Science in Music)

REQUIREMENTS: 180 units required for a single major beyond the General Institute Requirements; 270 units beyond the General Institute Requirements required for a double major.

• Senior Seminar in Music (21M500) - 12 units
• Eleven music subjects, totaling at least 120 units, including:
  Four in COMPOSITION (21M301, 21M302, 21M303 or 21M.310, one more)
  Three in MUSIC HISTORY/LITERATURE (21M220, a world music subject, one more)
  Two in PERFORMANCE (two terms - 12 units total)
  Two ELECTIVES in theory/composition, history/literature, and/or performance to be selected in consultation with the major advisor, and totaling at least 24 units.
• Unrestricted Electives - at least 48 units

Note: Qualified students may, with faculty approval, substitute three full years of 21M480, Advanced Music Performance, and a senior recital for the two required performance subjects and 24 additional elective units.

Minor in Music

The music minor consists of six subjects. Four of these are at the introductory and intermediate level, the remaining two are chosen to advance in an area of specialization.

Tier I: One subject

1. Introduction to Western Music - 21M011
2. Introduction to World Music - 21M030
3. Fundamentals of Music - 21M051

Tier II: Three subjects, one from each of the following areas:

1. History/Literature: 21M200-299
2. Theory/Composition: 21M301
3. Performance, which must be taken for two terms: 21M400-499

Tier III: Two subjects from one of the three areas:

1. History/Literature: 21M200-299
2. Theory/Composition: 21M300-399, 21M500, 21M550-589
3. Performance (four terms): 21M400-21M499

Note: Students with prior musical knowledge or experience may wish to substitute a subject from Tiers II or III for the subject in Tier I. Please consult the minor advisor.

Humanities Concentration in Music

A Humanities concentration in music requires four subjects. Students with little or no prior musical experience may start with one or more of our introductory subjects:

• Introduction to Western Music - 21M011
• Introduction to World Music - 21M030
• Fundamentals of Music - 21M051

Students with some musical training are encouraged to begin at whatever level is appropriate to their experience. One of the four subjects may be a performance subject (21M400-21M499), which is by audition only, and must be taken for two semesters in order to count as one concentration subject. See the Music Subjects section of the course bulletin for further information on these intermediate and advanced subjects.

Humanities Distribution and Communication Subjects

21M.011 Introduction to Western Music (HASS-D-3) (CI-H)
21M.013J The Supernatural in Music, Literature and Culture (HASS-D-3) CI-H)
21M.026 Jazz (HASS-D-3)
21M.030 Introduction to World Music (HASS-D-3) (CI-H)
21M.065 Introduction to Musical Composition (HASS-D-3)
21M.223J Folk Music of the British Isles and North America (HASS-D-3) (CI-H)
21M.230 Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel (CI-H)
21M.240 Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven (CI-H)
21M.252 Song (CI-H)
21M.273 Opera (CI-H)
21M.301 Harmony & Counterpoint (HASS-D-3)

 

 

 

“In my music classes, I have encountered the most consistent excellence in teaching of any department at MIT.”

Thomas Coffee ’05