Bishop’s University

    Courses & Programs

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    Where could this lead you in life?

    Bishop’s graduates have pursued careers as scholars, teachers, arts administrators, and composers, as well as performers, both classical and pop. Others have taken their B.A. and gone in a completely different direction. Some students just want to pursue their love of music, without making it a career. So why not major in music, as well as another subject?

    Program Options

    Honours in Music (60 credits) – HONMUS

    In addition to the requirements listed below for the Music Major, the following courses are required for students pursuing the Honours Program, whether in the Classical or Popular Music Studies stream.

    Special Project Option:

    • Electives related to topic (6 credits)
    • MUS 455 (6 credits)

    Performance Option:

    • Elective related to topic 3 credits
    • MUS 372 & MUS 373 (4 credits)
    • MUS 475 (6 credits)

    Students intending to choose the Honours program should declare their intent in writing by the fourth full-time semester. An Honours thesis or recital proposal must be approved by the Department. An average of at least 70%, calculated on the marks obtained in all courses attempted in both the first and second 30-credit program years, is required. In performance, a grade of at least 80% is required in MUS 373 to continue in Honours Performance.

    Major in Music and Culture – (48 credits) – MAJMCU

    Core Requirements:

    • MUS 140 (3 credits)
    • MUS 111 (or 170) (1 credit)
    • MUS 160 (2 credits)
    • MUS 295 (3 credits)
    • Music elective course (3 credits)

    Music History and Literature:

    • Any 2 from all actual MUS courses offered in the calendar under Music History and Music Literature.
    • MUS 101-102-103-104-106-107-115-116-203-204-251-252-253-295 (RFC)-310-311 (6 credits)

    Music Theory and Composition:

    • MUS 120-125 (4 credits)
    • MUS 220 or MUS 123 (2 credits)
    • MUS 130-135 & MUS 230 (9 credits)
    • Any 2 from all actual MUS courses offered in the calendar under Theory and Composition from MUS 234-235-291-312-313-338-392-395 (RFC)-438 MUS 234-235- 291-312-313-338-392-395-438 (6 credits)

    Practical Study:

    • Ensemble Courses (3 credits)
    • MUS 172-173 & 272 as principal instrument or MUS 172–173 as principal instrument + MUS 170-270 as elective instrument/style or MUS 170-171-270-271 as elective instrument (6 credits) 

    Year 1 Recommended Music Courses (18 or 19 credits) – MAJMCU

    • MUS 140 (3 credits)
    • MUS 111 (or 170) (1 credit)
    • Any MUS courses offered under Music History and Music Literature (3 credits)
    • MUS 120 & MUS 125 (4 credits)
    • MUS 130 & MUS 135 (6 credits)
    • MUS 170 or 172 (1 or 2 credits)

    Year 2 Recommended Music Courses (17 or 18 credits)

    • MUS 220 or MUS 123 (2 credits)
    • MUS 230 (3 credits)
    • MUS 160 (2 credits)
    • Any MUS courses offered under Music History and Music Literature (3 credits)
    • Any MUS courses offered under Theory and Composition (3 credits)
    • Any  Ensemble Course (taken from MUS 180 – MUS 189) (1 credit)
    • MUS 171-270 or MUS 173-272 (3 or 4 credits)

    These remaining required music credits may be taken at any time during the student’s stay at Bishop’s. Majors and Minors may take more than the required number of music credits.

    Major in Music Performance – (48 credits) – MAJMPE

    Core Requirements:

    • MUS 140 (3 credits)
    • MUS 111 (or 170) (1 credit)
    • MUS 160 (2 credits)
    • Music elective course (3 credits)

    Music History and Literature:

    Any from all actual MUS courses offered in the calendar under Music History and Music Literature: MUS 101-102-103-104-106-107-115-116-203-204-251-252-253-295 (RFC)-310-311 (3 credits).

    Music Theory and Composition:

    • MUS 120–125 (4 credits)
    • MUS 220 or MUS 123 (2 credits)
    • MUS 130–135 & MUS 230 (9 credits)
    • Any from all actual MUS courses offered in the calendar under Theory and Composition from MUS 234-235- 291-312-313-338-392-395 (RFC)-438 (3 credits)

    Practical Study:

    • Ensemble Courses (6 credits)
    • MUS 172-173-272-273-372 & 373 (12 credits)

    * Elective instruments may be considered for multi-instrumentalist.

    Year 1 Recommended Music Courses (19 credits) – MAJMPE

    • MUS 140 (3 credits)
    • MUS 111 (or 170) (1 credit)
    • MUS 120 & MUS 125 (4 credits)
    • MUS 130 & MUS 135 (6 credits)
    • Any  Ensemble Course (taken from MUS 180 – MUS 189) (1 credit)
    • MUS 172 & MUS 173 (4 credits)

    Year 2 Recommended Music Courses (20 credits)

    • MUS 160 (2 credits)
    • MUS 220 or MUS 123 (2 credits)
    • MUS 230 (3 credits)
    • MUS 234 (3 credits)
    • Any MUS courses offered under Music History, Music Literature or Theory and Composition (3 credits)
    • Any 2  Ensemble Courses (taken from MUS 180 – MUS 289) (3 credits)
    • MUS 272 & MUS 273 (4 credits)

    These remaining required music credits may be taken at any time during the student’s stay at Bishop’s. Majors and Minors may take more than the required number of music credits.

    Minor in Music and Culture (24 credits) – MINMCU

    • MUS140 (3 credits)
    • MUS 120 (2 credits)
    • MUS 130 & MUS 135 (6 credits)
    • Music Electives (6 credits)
    • Any from all actual MUS courses offered in the calendar under Music History and Music Literature: MUS 101-102-103-104-106-107-115-116-203-204-251-252-253-295 (RFC)-310-311 (3 credits)
    • Any Ensemble Courses (taken from MUS 180 – MUS 188) (1 credit)
    • 170-171 or 171-172 (3 credits)

    Minor in Music Performance (24 credits) – MINMPE

    • MUS 120 (2 credits)
    • MUS 130 & MUS 135 (6 credits)
    • Music Electives (5 credits)
    • Any from all actual MUS courses offered in the calendar under Music History and Music Literature: MUS 101-102-103-104-106-107-115-116-203-204-251-252-253-295-310-311 (3 credits)
    • Any 2  Ensemble Courses (taken from MUS 180 – MUS 189) (2 credits)
    • MUS 172-173 & 272 (6 credits)

    Arts Administration: Music Concentration (30 credits) – MAJAAM

    Refer to the Arts Administration, Concentration: Drama, Fine Arts, Film Studies, Music or Public History – Music (30 credits) MAJAAM section in the Academic Calendar for course requirements. 

    Concentration in Musical Theatre (30 credits) – MAJMMT

    The departments of Music and Drama at Bishop’s University are pleased to offer a new 30-credit concentration in Music Theatre as a supplement to the Major in Music or Drama. This is a program unique among Quebec universities. Students entering the Music program will be required to complete an additional 12 credits or cognates in Drama and vice versa. The successful student with a Drama or Music Major plus the Concentration in Music Theatre will earn a total of:

    30 credits (Concentration) + 48 credits (Major) + 12 credits (corequisites / cognates) = 90 credits. 

    Courses

    • MTH 100 – Intro. To Dance & Movement I (3 credits)

    Plus 2 of:

    • MTH 200 – Dance II: Ballet (3 credits)
    • MTH 201 – Dance III: Tap (3 credits)
    • MTH 202 – Dance IV: Contemporary (3 credits)
    • MTH 203 – Dance V: Jazz (3 credits)

    Other required courses:

    • MTH 110 – Intro. to Acting with Song I (3 credits)
    • MTH 210 – Acting with Song II: Operetta (3 credits)
    • MTH 211 – Acting with Song III: The Golden Age (3 credits)
    • MTH 212 – Acting with Song IV: Modern (3 credits)
    • MTH 151 – Hist. of Musical Theatre to 1975 (3 credits)
    • MTH 152 – Hist. of Musical Theatre 1975–Present (3 credits)
    • MTH 300 – Musical Production I (3 credits) OR MTH 301 – Musical Production II (3 credits)

    Total: 30 credits

    Additional Elective Courses in Musical Theatre (offered on rotation):

    • MTH 400 – Independent Study I (3 credits)
    • MTH 401 – Independent Study II (3 credits)
    • MTH 410 – Song Writing for Musical Theatre (3 credits)

    Admission

    Students seeking admission must satisfy the general requirements for admission to the university. In addition, the Music Department requests that each applicant submit details of previous musical studies and experience. A placement audition, either live on campus or on a recording, is required. Please contact the Department directly for details.

    As a general rule, students should possess their own instruments (with the exception of piano, harpsichord and organ).

    For complete details, view the Music section of the Academic Calendar.

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