Composition Major (B.Mus.)

124 credits · Schulich School of Music · 2026-2027 catalogue

Composition Major (B.Mus.) as a checklist, with when each course runs in 2026–27. On a computer, check off the courses you have taken or plan to take to add up your credits.

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Program Prerequisites - Foundation Program (32 credits)

32 credits selected as described below, in consultation with the Program Adviser: 22 credits of Prerequisite Courses 4 credits of Large Ensemble 6 credits of Non-Music Electives

Prerequisite Courses (22 credits)

22 credits, all of the courses below: Note: Students who can demonstrate through auditions, placement tests or equivalencies that they have mastered the material in any of the courses below will be exempt from them and may proceed to more advanced courses.

  • MUHL 186 Western Musical Traditions (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUIN 180 BMus Practical Lessons 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUIN 181 BMus Practical Lessons 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUPD 135 Music as a Profession 1 (1 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 140 Musicianship Training 1 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 141 Musicianship Training 2 (2 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUSP 170 Musicianship (Keyboard) 1 (1 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 171 Musicianship (Keyboard) 2 (1 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUTH 150 Theory and Analysis 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUTH 151 Theory and Analysis 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter

Required Courses (61 credits)

Composition

  • MUCO 241 Tonal Composition 1A (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUCO 242 Tonal Composition 1B (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUCO 245 Composition 1A (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUCO 246 Composition 1B (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUCO 261 Orchestration 1 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUCO 340D1 Composition 2 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUCO 340D2 Composition 2 (2 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUCO 341 Digital Studio Composition 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUCO 342 Digital Studio Composition 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUCO 360 Orchestration 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUCO 440D1 Composition 3 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUCO 440D2 Composition 3 (2 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUCO 460 Orchestration 3 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUCO 541 Advanced Digital Studio Composition 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUCO 575 Topics in Composition (3 credits) · Offered: Winter

Theory

  • MUTH 251 Theory and Analysis 4 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUTH 350 Theory and Analysis 5 (3 credits) · Offered: Summer, Winter

Musicianship

  • MUSP 240 Musicianship Training 3 (2 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUSP 241 Musicianship Training 4 (2 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUSP 346 Post-Tonal Musicianship (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter

Music History

  • MUHL 286 Critical Thinking About Music (3 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter

Performance/practical lessons

  • MUIN 280 BMus Practical Lessons 3 (2.5 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUIN 281 BMus Practical Lessons 4 (2.5 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUIN 283 BMus Concentration Final Examination (1 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Professional Development

  • MUPD 235 Music as a Profession 2 (1 credits) · Offered: Winter

Complementary Courses (13 credits)

Music Theory (3 credits)

3 credits from the following:

  • MUTH 202 Modal Counterpoint 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall
  • MUTH 204 Tonal Counterpoint 1 (3 credits) · Offered: Fall

Music History (6 credits)

6 credits from the following:

  • MUHL 385 Early Twentieth-Century Music (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUHL 391 Canadian Music (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUHL 392 Music since 1945 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027

Performance/ensemble (4 credits)

4 credits from the following:

  • MUEN 563 Jazz Vocal Workshop (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 572 Cappella Antica (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 573 Baroque Orchestra (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 587 Cappella McGill (2 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUEN 590 McGill Wind Orchestra (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 592 Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 593 Choral Ensembles (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 594 Contemporary Music Ensemble (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 595 Jazz Ensembles (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter
  • MUEN 597 McGill Symphony Orchestra (2 credits) · Offered: Fall, Winter

Elective Courses (18 credits)

Remaining credits (3 credits)

3 credits of non-Music Electives.

Recommended But Not Required Courses (0–18 credits)

Recommended But Not Required Courses

  • MUCO 542 Advanced Digital Studio Composition 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUHL 388 Opera After 1900 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUTH 302 Modal Counterpoint 2 (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUTH 304 Tonal Counterpoint 2 (3 credits) · Offered: Winter
  • MUTH 322 Topics in Post-Tonal Analysis (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUTH 528 Schenkerian Theory and Analysis (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUTH 538 Mathematical Models for Musical Analysis (3 credits) · Not scheduled for 2026–2027
  • MUTH 539 Advanced Writing Techniques (3 credits) · Offered: Fall

Related programs

Source: McGill Course Catalogue. myDegree is an independent student project, not affiliated with McGill University.