Bachelor of Music: Music Composition
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Students will demonstrate their musical voice as creative artists.
- Student will master analytical and technical skills in music in a variety of media and genres.
- Students will collaborate with performers and other generative artists in the production of their works.
- Students will think independently in the development of a new work/composition.
- Students will utilize creative strategies to address musical problems
Major Status
Major status for the B.M. Music Composition degree is determined for new students (freshmen and transfer students) by the faculty through the standard Conservatory admissions process. Prospective Composition majors may enroll in up to four semesters of composition (CONSVTY 133, CONSVTY 134, CONSVTY 233 and CONSVTY 234). CONSVTY 234 is the final semester that a student can petition for major status.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Mathematics For Liberal Arts | ||
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus | ||
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course | ||
ACT Math Sub-score of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Sub-score of 660 or higher | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH; Satisfied in program requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CONSVTY 151 (MUSE; satisfies GECRT-AH course requirement) | 3 | |
| Musicianship | ||
| CONSVTY 141 | Musicianship I | 4 |
| CONSVTY 142 | Musicianship II | 4 |
| CONSVTY 241 | Musicianship III | 4 |
| CONSVTY 242 | Musicianship IV | 4 |
| Keyboard Skills | ||
| CONSVTY 110 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| CONSVTY 123 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| CONSVTY 223 | Keyboard Skills III | 1 |
| Composition | ||
| CONSVTY 133 | Beginning Composition I | 3 |
| CONSVTY 134 | Beginning Composition II | 3 |
| CONSVTY 233 | Intermediate Composition I | 3 |
| CONSVTY 234 | Intermediate Composition II | 3 |
| CONSVTY 333 | Advanced Composition (Take 2 semesters ) | 6 |
| or CONSVTY 335 | Electronic Music Composition | |
| CONSVTY 433 | Senior Composition | 3 |
| CONSVTY 434 | Composition Capstone | 3 |
| Applied Lessons and Studio Class 1 | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 10 | |
Applied Music Interest Area A: Complete level 101 through 301 in any single primary instrument offered by the Conservatory and enroll in the concurrent Studio Class. | ||
Applied Music Interest Area B: Complete ten hours of primary and/or second instrument applied music courses and/or techniques classes. | ||
Applied Music Interest Area C: Complete six hours of CONSVTY 335 (Electronic Music Composition) plus four hours of 100B level second instrument applied music courses and/or techniques classes. | ||
| Music History | ||
| CONSVTY 350A | Styles and Genres in Music | 3 |
| CONSVTY 350B | Methods in Musicology | 3 |
| Orchestration and Conducting | ||
| CONSVTY 431 | Orchestration | 3 |
| CONSVTY 381 | Basic Conducting - Instrumental | 2 |
| or CONSVTY 380 | Basic Conducting - Choral | |
| Electronic Music | ||
| CONSVTY 235 | Digital Media for Composing (Change to Digital Media for Composers) | 3 |
| CONSVTY 236 | Music Performance Systems (Change to Music Performance Systems) | 3 |
| Ensemble 2 | 6 | |
| Students must complete a total of 6 ensemble courses and may select from any ensemble offered by the Conservatory. | ||
| Advanced Theory | ||
| CONSVTY 390 | Analysis 3 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 82 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Electives 4 | 8 | |
| 1 | Instrument: BASSOON, CELLO, CLARINET, EUPHONIUM, FLUTE, GUITAR, HORN, OBOE, PERCUSSION, PIANO, SAXOPHONE, STRING BASS, TROMBONE, TRUMPET, TUBA, VIOLA, VIOLIN, OR VOICE. |
| 2 | While all BM Composition students must complete 6 ensemble courses, the total number of credit hours completed will depend upon the ensemble courses selected. Ensemble course options include: CONSVTY 301G, CONSVTY 302, CONSVTY 303MP, CONSVTY 306A, CONSVTY 306C, CONSVTY 307B, CONSVTY 307C, CONSVTY 308A |
| 3 | Or any advanced, upper-division theory course including, but not limited to: ear-training, counterpoint, or analysis. |
| 4 | Students wishing to pursue a career in teaching and/or academia are strongly encouraged to take Analysis (CONSVTY 390), Advanced Counterpoint CONSVTY 427, and Advanced Ear Training (CONSVTY 329). Students wishing to pursue careers in the music industry are advised to take courses in recording, theater (composing and/or sound design), and/or other media. |
Minimum Grade: C or better in all CONSVTY or Instrument specific coursework
GPA Minimum: 2.0
Total Credit Hours: 120
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
