Popular Music (BA/BS)
A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree with a Popular Music provides students with a comprehensive course of study focused on songwriting, music production, music performance, music theory, and popular music history and culture. It can also include preparation for music entrepreneurship through coursework in marketing, business, and law. Students choose from a variety of performance ensembles, including gospel choirs, a hip hop ensemble, and popular music combos, among others.
Students can use elective requirements to deepen their engagement with a variety of subjects, including music production, jazz, electronic music, and the history and culture of popular music. A degree in Popular Music requires approximately two years of music coursework with no audition or portfolio needed. Students can elect to take more music coursework to complete general elective requirements, and can take music courses for four years should they choose to.
Program's Admission Requirements
Please visit the program's website.
Popular Music majors may apply for admission to the Music Production concentration during their second year of study. Admission to the program is contingent upon a cumulative UO GPA of 2.7 or higher, completion of MUS 151 Popular Songwriting, MUS 131 Music Theory I, and MUS 134 Aural Skills I with grades of C- or better. Admission to the concentration is determined by the Popular Music faculty.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Possess an understanding of, and skill with, musicianship, defined as the fundamental comprehension of and ability to work with the elements of music in the US and in global contexts.
- Develop broad knowledge of the history and cultural context of popular music and an understanding of the historical function of the music in relation to culture.
- Develop facility in songwriting and production techniques relevant to popular styles.
- Understand the financial and legal practices of the music industry.
- Develop proficiency in performing music with an instrument and/or voice and performing popular music genres in an ensemble.
Popular Music Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Theory and Musicianship | ||
| MUS 126 | Music Theory Fundamentals 1 | 3 |
| MUS 131 | Music Theory I | 2 |
| MUS 132 | Music Theory II | 2 |
| MUS 134 | Aural Skills I | 2 |
| MUS 135 | Aural Skills II | 2 |
| MUS 249 | Popular Music Analysis | 3 |
| Theory and Musicianship Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Music Theory III | ||
| Keyboard Skills II | ||
| Keyboard Skills III | ||
| History and Culture | ||
| MUS 250 | Popular Musics in Global Context | 4 |
| MUS 264 | US Popular Music 1800 to 1945 | 4 |
| MUS 265 | US Popular Music 1945 to 2000 | 4 |
| Songwriting and Music Production | ||
| MUS 149 | Elements of Popular Songwriting | 3 |
| MUS 276 | Digital Audio Workstation Techniques I | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Digital Audio Workstation Techniques II | ||
| Digital Audio Workstation Techniques III | ||
| Audio Production Techniques I | ||
| Audio Recording Techniques II | ||
| Music Industry | ||
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Music, Money, and the Law | ||
| Remix Cultures | ||
| Introduction to United States law | ||
| Making Sense of Media | ||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship | ||
| Arts and Human Values | ||
| Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector | ||
| Music Performance | ||
| MUS 137 | Keyboard Skills I 1 | 1 |
| MUP 114 | Fundamentals of Music Performance Studies I: [Topic] 1, 2 | 2 |
| Music Ensembles | ||
| MUS 374 | Campus Small Ensemble: [Topic] (Must take two terms) | 4 |
| Additional Ensemble (two terms) | 2-4 | |
| Campus Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | ||
| Campus Small Ensemble: [Topic] | ||
| Campus Chorus: [Topic] | ||
| World Music Ensemble: [Topic] | ||
| Small Jazz Ensemble: [Topic] | ||
| Dema African Performance Ensemble: [Topic] | ||
| Upper Division Music Coursework | ||
| MUS 432 | Tonal Analysis: Analysis of Popular Music | 3 |
| MUS 463 | Popular Music Studies | 4 |
| Select two of the following: | 8 | |
| Music in World Cultures | ||
| Music of the Americas | ||
| Hip-Hop History, Culture, Aesthetics | ||
| The Beatles and Their Times | ||
| Film Music | ||
| Cultures of Musical Celebrity | ||
| Digital Audio and Sound Design | ||
| Popular Musics in the African Diaspora | ||
| Music and Emotion | ||
| History of Jazz, 1900 to 1950 | ||
| History of Jazz, 1940 to Present | ||
| Total Credits | 72-74 | |
- 1
Placement test may waive the course requirement.
- 2
Students must take MUP 114 in Guitar to count toward this requirement. Student may take a placement test to waive the course requirement.
Four-Year Degree Plan
The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.
Bachelor of Arts in Popular Music
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| MUS 126 | Music Theory Fundamentals | 3 | |
| MUS 137 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 | |
| MUS 149 | Elements of Popular Songwriting | 3 | |
| MUS 250 | Popular Musics in Global Context | 4 | |
| Core Ed Course | 4 | ||
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MUS 264 | US Popular Music 1800 to 1945 | 4 | |
| MUS 131 | Music Theory I | 2 | |
| MUS 134 | Aural Skills I | 2 | |
| MUS 137 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 | |
| Core Ed course | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Elective(s) | 3 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| MUS 132 | Music Theory II | 2 | |
| MUS 135 | Aural Skills II | 2 | |
| MUS 138 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 | |
| MUP 114 | Fundamentals of Music Performance Studies I: [Topic] (Guitar) | 2 | |
| MUS 265 | US Popular Music 1945 to 2000 | 4 | |
| Core Ed course | 4 | ||
| Elective(s) any level | 2 | ||
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| MUS 249 | Popular Music Analysis | 3 | |
| MUS 276 | Digital Audio Workstation Techniques I | 3 | |
| MUS 133 | Music Theory III | 2 | |
| MUS 374 | Campus Small Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
| BA 101 Language | 4 | ||
| Credits | 14 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MUS 374 | Campus Small Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
| Production Elective | 3 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| ___ 102 BA language | 4 | ||
| Upper division elective course | 4 | ||
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Spring | |||
| Production Elective | 3 | ||
| MUS Ensemble | 2 | ||
| ___ 103 BA Language | 4 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 13 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| Music Industry Elective | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | ||
| Core Ed course | 4 | ||
| ___ 201 BA language | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| Music industry Elective | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Music Elective | 4 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| ___ 202 BA Language | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| Upper Division Music Elective | 4 | ||
| MUS_Ensemble | 2 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| ___ 203 BA Language | 4 | ||
| Credits | 14 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| Music elective course | 3 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | ||
| Electives any level | 4 | ||
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MUS 432 | Tonal Analysis: Analysis of Popular Music | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | ||
| Electives any level | 2 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 13 | ||
| Spring | |||
| MUS 463 | Popular Music Studies | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Elective course(s) | 6 | ||
| Credits | 14 | ||
| Total Credits | 180 | ||
Bachelor of Science in Popular Music
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| MUS 250 | Popular Musics in Global Context | 4 | |
| MUS 149 | Elements of Popular Songwriting | 3 | |
| MUS 137 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 | |
| MUS 126 | Music Theory Fundamentals | 3 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MUS 264 | US Popular Music 1800 to 1945 | 4 | |
| MUS 131 | Music Theory I | 2 | |
| MUS 134 | Aural Skills I | 2 | |
| MUS 138 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Electives at any level | 2 | ||
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Spring | |||
| MUS 265 | US Popular Music 1945 to 2000 | 4 | |
| MUS 132 | Music Theory II | 2 | |
| MUS 135 | Aural Skills II | 2 | |
| MUP 114 | Fundamentals of Music Performance Studies I: [Topic] (Guitar) | 2 | |
| MUS 139 | Keyboard Skills III | 1 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| MUS 249 | Popular Music Analysis | 3 | |
| MUS 133 | Music Theory III | 2 | |
| MUS 374 | Campus Small Ensemble: [Topic] | 1-2 | |
| MUS 276 | Digital Audio Workstation Techniques I | 3 | |
| Bachelor of science MATH/CS course | 4 | ||
| Credits | 13-14 | ||
| Winter | |||
| Production Elective | 3 | ||
| MUS 374 | Campus Small Ensemble: [Topic] | 2 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Bachelor of sceince MATH/CS course | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | ||
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Spring | |||
| Production Elective | 3 | ||
| MUS__Ensemble | 2 | ||
| Bachelor of science MATH/CS course | 4 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Electives any level | 1 | ||
| Credits | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | ||
| Electives any level | 4 | ||
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Winter | |||
| Music Industry Elective | 4 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Music Electives | 4 | ||
| Electives any level | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Music Elective | 4 | ||
| MUS__Ensemble | 2 | ||
| Electives any level | 6 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | ||
| Electives any level | 4 | ||
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MUS 432 | Tonal Analysis: Analysis of Popular Music | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | ||
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Electives any level | 4 | ||
| Credits | 15 | ||
| Spring | |||
| MUS 463 | Popular Music Studies | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Upper Division Electives | 6 | ||
| Credits | 14 | ||
| Total Credits | 180-181 | ||