a c a d e m i c p r o g r a m sCollege of Arts and Sciences - Curriculum Guide
Music
Professors
Joshua R. Jacobson, DMA
Judith Tick, PhDAssociate Professors
Susan Asai, PhD
Leonard L. Brown, PhD
William Lowe, MA
Dennis H. Miller, DMA
David D. Sonnenschein, DMA
Assistant Professors
Anthony P. DeRitis, PhD
Leon C. Janikian, MM
Lecturers
Paul Beaudoin, MM
Laurie Blunsom, MFA
Travis Bowerman, BA
Eve Budnick, MM
Svjetlana Bukvic-Nichols, MFA
Hugo Burnham
William Carman, BA
Douglas F. Durant, PhD
Virginia Eskin, BA
Allen G. Feinstein, MM
Ralf Gawlik, MM
David Herlihy, JD
Eric Jackson
Junauro Landgrebe, BM
John Luongo, BS
Robert Lyons, BS
Martha Peabody, MA
Jane Potter, BM
Shawn Radley, BS
Andrew J. Rega, BM
Carol Beth Thomas, MA
Jeremy Van Buskirk, MM
Robert Ward, MM
Kera Washington, MA
Bruce Ronkin, DMA, Professor and Chair
The music department approaches the study of music from a global, multicultural, and multifaceted perspective. The department offers four concentrations in the context of a broad liberal arts program.
The music literature and performance concentration combines history with hands-on music making; an audition is required. This concentration leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree. The music literature concentration has a historical orientation and leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree.
The music technology concentration teaches students to compose music using the newest electronic music technology, both hardware and software. Students learn techniques such as MIDI sequencing, digital and analog recording, sound design, audio for video, and the latest methods for delivering music over the Internet. Students also study composition for both acoustic and electric instruments. The concentration includes a thorough background in the fundamentals of music, including music theory and history, and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree.
The Music Teacher Preparation Program is offered in coordination with the New England Conservatory of Music. This program leads to a Bachelor of Arts degree and to provisional Massachusetts teaching certification. An audition is required for this concentration.
The music industry concentration is the first such undergraduate program in Boston. It is designed for students with an interest in fields such as artist management, the music products industry, the record industry, art administration, contracting and legal issues, the recording process, and studio techniques. Developed in collaboration with Northeastern's College of Business Administration, the music industry concentration leads to a Bachelor of Science degree.
Through an exchange program, students may attend classes at the New England Conservatory of Music. Students also share an array of high-tech and multimedia equipment. While some music courses are designed for music majors, the department also offers elective survey courses. Several of these courses fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences core curriculum requirement.
An extensive concert series offers a variety of performances by students, faculty, and guest artists. Students also have the opportunity to participate in our active choral groups, bands, and chamber ensembles.
See course descriptions for more information.
Bachelor of Arts Curriculum
Concentration in music literature. MUS 1107, Principles of Music Literature; MUS 1200, Fundamentals of Theory; MUS 1201, MUS 1202, MUS 1203, Music Theory 1, 2, and 3; MUS 1241, Piano 1; MUS 1301, MUS 1302, Form and Analysis 1 and 2; MUS 1421, MUS 1422, MUS 1423, MUS 1424, and MUS 1425, Historical Traditions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Also take HST 1102, Western Civilization 2.
Students must participate in at least one Northeastern University performing ensemble during at least eight of their quarters on campus.
In addition, complete the arts and sciences core curriculum and the experiential education requirement.
Concentration in music literature and performance. MUS 1107, Principles of Music Literature; MUS 1201, MUS 1202, MUS 1203, Music Theory 1, 2, and 3; MUS 1211, Sight-Singing; MUS 1241, Piano 1; MUS 1261, Applied Music Lessons (every quarter except when enrolled in MUS 1270, Middler Recital, and MUS 1271, Senior Recital); MUS 1301 and 1302, Form and Analysis 1 and 2; MUS 1421, MUS 1422, MUS 1423, MUS 1424, and MUS 1425, Historical Traditions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; MUS 1370, Seminar in Performance Practice. Also take HST 1102, Western Civilization 2, and three music electives chosen in consultation with adviser.
Students preparing for the Massachusetts Music Teaching Provisional Certification have to add the following courses: ED 1306, Measurement and Evaluation; ED 1412, Fundamentals of Curriculum Development; (NEC) Music Education Orientation; (NEC) ED 413, Teaching Choral Music; (NEC) ED 417, Teaching Instrumental Music; (NEC) ED 332, Teaching Classroom Music II; (NEC) ED 533, Philosophy of Music Education; (NEC) ED 461, Practice Teaching Seminar; and (NEC) ED 463, Practice Teaching.
Students must participate in at least one Northeastern University performing ensemble every quarter.
In addition, complete the arts and sciences core curriculum and the experiential education requirement.
Music teacher preparation program. The Music Department at Northeastern University and the New England Conservatory of Music have launched a coordinated Music Teacher Preparation Program. This comprehensive program, designed to meet the new Massachusetts state certification requirements, will prepare students for the music teaching profession. In accordance with the new state certification requirements, music teachers must earn a BA in music for provisional certification and a master's degree for standard certification. This new undergraduate program is a synthesis of Northeastern University's existing Music Literature and Performance major and a battery of education courses from the New England Conservatory of Music as well as practice teaching (practicum). This program leads to a Northeastern University BA degree in music with Massachusetts teacher certification (recognized by most states). Because enrollments are limited, the program should be considered to be competitive. For additional information and audition requirements for the BA in music, contact Professor David Sonnenschein, Music Department, 351 Ryder Hall, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115.
Bachelor of Science Curriculum
Concentration in music industry. MUS 1107, Principles of Music Literature; MUS 1200, Fundamentals of Theory; MUS 1201, MUS 1202, MUS 1203, Music Theory 1, 2, and 3; MUS 1171, Computer Literacy for Musicians; MUS 1421 and MUS 1425, Historical Traditions 1 and 5; any two of the following: MUS 1422, MUS 1423, MUS 1424, Historical Traditions 2, 3, and 4; MUS 1165 and MUS 1166, Music Industry 1 and 2; MUS 1365, Seminar in the Music Industry. Choose five music industry electives from: MUS 1167, Music Administration; MUS 1172, Introduction to Music Recording; MUS 1173, Music Recording 2; MUS 1174, Music Production for Radio; MUS 1175, Music and Technology 2; MUS 1360, Artist Management; MUS 1361, The Record Industry; MUS 1362, Music Merchandising; MUS 1366, Copyright Law for Musicians; MUS 1367, Computer Applications in Music Business; ECN 1181, Economics of Art and Culture. Additional electives are planned.
ECN 1115, Principles of Macroeconomics; ECN 1116, Principles of Microeconomics. One of the following three pairs of courses in descriptive and inferential statistics: MTH 1387 and 1390; ECN 1250 and ECN 1260; POL 1301 and 1302, Research Methods 1 and 2; MGT 1115, Introduction to Business; ACC 1111, Financial Accounting. Two of the following business courses: FIN 1438, Principles of Finance 1; MKT 1435, Introduction to Marketing; HRM 1432, Organizational Behavior; MSC 1441, Operations Management; ENT 1330, Entrepreneurship or other adviser-approved business courses; HST 1102, Western Civilization 2.
Students must participate in at least one Northeastern University performing ensemble during at least four of their quarters on campus.
In addition, complete the arts and sciences core curriculum and the experiential education requirement.
Concentration in music technology. Eight quarters of MUS 1261, private lessons in music composition; MUS 1424 and MUS 1107, Principles of Music Literature; MUS 1201, MUS 1202, and MUS 1203, Music Theory 1, 2, and 3; MUS 1171, Computer Literacy for Musicians; MUS 1241, Piano Class 1; MUS 1421, MUS 1424, and MUS 1425, Historical Traditions 1, 4, and 5; MUS 1172, Introduction to Music Recording; MUS 1173, Music Recording 2; MUS 1175, Music and Technology 2; MUS 1222, Sound Design; MUS 1220, Advanced Music Systems; MUS 1205, Music Composition; MUS 1206, MUS 1207, Composition for Electronic Instruments 1 and 2; MUS 1176, History of Electronic Music; MUS 1223, Interactive Real-Time Performance; select one from the following: MMS 1115, Programming for Multimedia or MMS 1120, Studies in Hypermedia 1; MUS 1301, MUS 1303, Form and Analysis 1 and 2; select one from the following: MUS 1422, MUS 1423, Historical Traditions 2 and 3. Electives: Select any three from the following music technology electives: ART 1171, Animation Basics; ART 1180, Video Basics; ART 1190, Introduction to Computer Graphics; MUS 1139, Film Music; MUS 1174, Music Production for Radio; Scripting for Interactivity and MUS 1899, Advanced Television Production or other electives approved by your adviser.
In addition, complete the arts and sciences core curriculum and the experiential education requirement.
Dual major in multimedia studies. The multimedia studies dual major (Departments of Music and Art and Architecture) combines course work in the student's primary discipline with courses outside their own field. For their capstone courses, students work in cross-disciplinary teams developing and delivering original multimedia content. The area of specialization that is required for students pursuing multimedia studies from the music program is music technology.
Dual major in multimedia studies with music technology concentration. Music technology students accepted into the dual major in multimedia studies take all required courses in the music technology concentration except for MUS 1205, Music Composition; and MUS 1223, Interactive Real-Time Performance. In addition, students must take six Art and Architecture requirements: ART 1130, Visual Studies Foundation; ART 1132, Principles of Graphics; ART 1160, Introduction to Photography; ART 1170, Animation Basics; ART 1180, Video Basics; and ART 1190, Introduction to Computer Graphics; and eight extradisciplinary requirements: MMS 1221, Narrative for Multimedia; MMS 1115, Programming for Multimedia; MMS 1116, Business, Law, and Multimedia; MMS 1111, Multimedia: History and Contemporary Directions; MMS 1120, Studies in Hypermedia 1; MMS 1121, Studies in Hypermedia 2; MMS 1601, Multimedia Capstone 1; and MMS 1602, Multimedia Capstone 2. Requirements are subject to change, please see the Music Technology adviser.
In addition, complete the arts and sciences core curriculum and the experiential education requirement.
Minor Curriculum
General music track. MUS 1200, Fundamentals of Music; MUS 1201, Music Theory 1; MUS 1202, Music Theory 2; MUS 1241, Piano 1; MUS 1100, Introduction to Music or MUS 1107, Principles of Music; and a music history course.
Music theatre track. MUS 1200, Fundamentals of Music; MUS 1201, Music Theory 1; INT 1110, American Musical Theatre; MUS 1107, Principles of Music; MUS 1421, Historical Traditions 1: American Music; any two music electives; and the following courses four times each: MUS 1261, Voice Lessons and MUS 1230, Chorus.
Music industry track. MUS 1200, Fundamentals of Music; MUS 1201, Music Theory 1; MUS 1165, Music Industry 1; MUS 1166, Music Industry 2; MUS 1100, Introduction to Music or MUS 1107, Principles of Music; MUS 1170, Music and Technology or MUS 1171, Computer Literacy for Musicians; and two approved music industry electives.