Nov 23, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Music Composition, B.M.


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The Bachelor of Music in Composition is designed to develop fundamental craft and technical skills, to encourage independent stylistic development and artistic excellence, and to give students the real-world experiences and practical professional skills needed for the many different careers open to today’s composer.

Each year, students are expected to organize at least one performance of an original work (such as a film score, incidental music, a dance collaboration, or an electronic music installation) completed in their studies. This performance may be in a studio recital or other appropriate venue.

SMU Degree Requirements

An SMU undergraduate degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours and must include completion of the University’s Common Curriculum , one major and a combination of electives and/or other majors or minors. Completion of certain majors requires more than 120 hours to finish the degree. The credit hours within this curriculum are distributed as follows:

Requirements for the Major


Core Courses


Composition Lessons, Seminar (14 Credit Hours)


Private Instrumental or Vocal Studies (4 Credit Hours)


Private Studies 3200 or 3100 (two to four terms, as needed)

Senior Recital (2 Credit Hours)


Additional Ensemble (PERE) (6 Credit Hours)


Music/AMAE Electives (7 Credit Hours)


Community Experience (1 Credit Hour)


Total for the Major Only: 81 Credit Hours


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