Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.

Universitywide Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.

BA Language Requirements

All BA students are required to complete the BA degree language requirements, for a total of 12 semester hours of language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency, as described in Additional Requirements for BA students. Successful demonstration of proficiency does not reduce total minimum semester hours of study required to earn the BA degree.

NUpath Requirements

All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.

  • NUpath requirements Creative Expression/Innovation (EI) and Interpreting Culture (IC) are met through the major course requirements. 
  • NUpath requirements Formal and Quantitative Reasoning (FQ), Natural and Designed World (ND), Societies and Institutions (SI), Analyzing and Using Data (AD), Differences and Diversity (DD), and Ethical Reasoning (ER) may be met through electives in the major.

Introduction to College

MUSC 1000Music at Northeastern1

Music Theory and Musicianship

Music Theory Placement
All students can take a music theory placement exam to place out of MUSC 1119. Students who place out of MUSC 1119 will substitute it with a general elective course.
MUSC 1119Fundamentals of Western Music Theory4
Required Music Theory
A grade of C or higher is required in each course.
MUSC 1201Music Theory 14
Complete two of the following:8
Music Theory 2
Analyzing Popular Genres
Algebra and Geometry of Music
Jazz Improvisation
Acoustics and Psychoacoustics of Music
Music Perception and Cognition
Music Analysis Seminar

Music in Context

Complete one course from each category below. From the categories Western Art Music, Global Music/Ethnomusicology, and Contemporary/Popular Music, at least two must be at the 2000 level or higher. Courses may not double count across the five areas. Many, but not all, Music in Context courses at the 2000 level or higher fulfill the writing-intensive in the discipline requirement.  Please check the writing-intensive status of courses as needed.

Introductory Class
Select from the following:4
Music in Everyday Life
Music in Everyday Life
and Lab for MUSC 1002
Western Art Music
Complete one of the following:4
Topics in Western Music
Songs That Made History
Topics in Western Art Music
40,000 Years of Music Technology
Divas, DJs, and Double Standards
The World of Choral Music
Sounding Human
Global Music/Ethnomusicology
Complete one of the following:4
Music of Africa
Topics in Diverse Musical Cultures
Black Popular Music
Topics in Global Music Cultures
History of the Music Industry
Musical Communities of Boston
Topics in Musical Communities
The Festival Experience
Music and the Racial Imagination
Sound and the Sacred
Music, Noise, Silence
Ethnography and the Arts
Music Tourism
Music and Social Justice
Global Music Industries in Context
Hip Hop in the Music Industry
Contemporary/Popular Music
Complete one of the following:4
Jazz
Film Music
Wired for Sound
Black Popular Music
Making a Musical: Analysis, Craft, and Creation
Popular Music Since 1945
Topics in American Music
Punk Rock
40,000 Years of Music Technology
The Festival Experience
Divas, DJs, and Double Standards
Music, Sound, and the Screen
The World of Choral Music
Sounding Human
Music and the Racial Imagination
Sound and the Sacred
Global Music Industries in Context
Hip Hop in the Music Industry
Creative
Complete one of the following 4-semester-hour courses or complete four 1-semester-hour ensembles and/or lessons from the list below:4
Introduction to Music Composition
Making a Musical: Analysis, Craft, and Creation
Jazz Improvisation
Conducting
Introduction to Songwriting
Music Composition Seminar 1
Arranging and Orchestration for Film, Media, and the Concert Stage
Critical Listening for Producers
Music Production and Recording 1
The Independent Performing Songwriter: Creation, Commerce, and Well-Being
Introduction to Music Technology
Sound Design
Ensembles and Lessons
Music Lessons 1
Music Lessons 2
Chorus
Concert Band
Orchestra
Wind Ensemble
Jazz Ensemble
Rock Ensemble
Blues/Rock Ensemble
Pop Music Performance
Chamber Ensemble
Jazz Choir and Combo
World Music Ensemble
Fusion Ensemble
Pep Band
Open Microphone Performance Workshop

Capstone

Complete one of the following:4
Music Research Capstone
Seminar in Music Industry
Music Technology Capstone

Music Electives

Complete three additional courses in music (MUSC, MUSI, or MUST). At least two must be at the 2000 level or higher.12

Major Credit Requirement

Complete 48 semester hours in the major.

Major GPA Requirement

Students must maintain at least a 2.667 GPA (B– average) in the requirements of the major. Students who fail to meet the above standards will be placed on departmental probation; those who remain on probation for two consecutive semesters will be dropped from the major.

Program Requirement

128 total semester hours required

Sample Plans of Study

Four Years, No Co-op

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114Music in context course4VacationVacation
MUSC 10001Music theory course4  
MUSC 1001 or 1002 and 10034Music elective4  
MUSC 12014Elective4  
Elective4   
 17 16 0 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Music in context course4Music in context course4VacationVacation
Music elective4Music elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16 0 0
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Music in context course4Elective4VacationVacation
Music theory course4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16 0 0
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Elective4Capstone course4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 129

Four Years, Two Co-ops

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 11114MUSC 12014Elective4Vacation
MUSC 10001Music in context elective (1)4Elective4 
MUSC 1002
and MUSC 1003
4Language (2)4  
MUSC 11194EEAM 20001  
Language 14Elective4  
 17 17 8 0
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
Music in context course (2)4Co-op 10Co-op 10Elective4
Music theory course4 Elective (online)4Elective4
Music elective (1)4  or Dialogue
Language elective (3)4   
 16 0 4 8
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHoursSummer 1HoursSummer 2Hours
ENGW 33144Co-op 20Co-op 20Elective4
Music in context course (3)4 Elective (online)4Elective4
Music elective (2)4  or Dialogue
Elective4   
 16 0 4 8
Year 4
FallHoursSpringHours  
Music in context course (4)4Music capstone4  
Music theory course4Elective4  
Music elective (3)4Elective4  
Elective4Elective4  
 16 16  
Total Hours: 130