McGill.CA / Music / Programs / Bachelor of Music / Music Theory; B.Mus. (Major)

Yearly Program Study Plan; B.Mus. Theory

Use this 4-year guide to plan your studies and graduate from your Bachelor of Music (Theory) program on time.

If you're a transfer student or a CEGEP graduate, you may be able to complete the program in 3 years instead of 4.

Which courses to take each year

This is a basic 4-year plan for students from high school with no advanced standing.

Program audit

You will receive a summary of exemption credits from placement exams, transfer credits, Advanced Placements (AP), etc, before you begin your first semester at the Schulich School of Music. You can access this information via a Program Audit (PA) customized for you. Visit the PA web page to learn more about how you can view your personalized program plan.

Meet with your academic advisor to review your program plan at least once a year.

Course load

You should normally register for 15-18 credits per term.

  • Full-time course load: 12 credits or more
  • Part-time course load: 11 credits or less

Practical instruction

  • For practical instruction registration details, visit Registration. 

Sample year 1 course plan (with no course exemptions)

  • You have the option to take placement exams in theory, musicianship and keyboard proficiency before school starts. Depending on the basis of admission and the placement test results, you may be exempt from music history (MUHL 186), first year theory (courses with MUTH prefixes) or musicianship/keyboard proficiency (courses with MUSP prefixes). To learn more about the course exemption criteria, see Placement Exams.
  • If you choose not to write the placement tests, you will register for courses as presented in this sample first year course plan.
  • If you are exempt from MUHL 186, you may consider taking an elective in the first semester.
  • You must be proficient in English for all courses, especially Music History. Non-anglophone students should defer MUHL 186 until their second year and register for an English as Second Language (ESL) course in year 1. ESL courses can be accepted as non-music electives. Contact the Writing Centre for information on ESL course registration.

Fall term

MUTH 150 Theory and Analysis 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 140 Musicianship Training 1 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 170 Musicianship (Keyboard) 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUPD 135 Music as a Profession 1 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 180 BMus Practical Lessons 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

MUHL 186 Western Musical Traditions 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Winter term

MUTH 151 Theory and Analysis 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 141 Musicianship Training 2 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 171 Musicianship (Keyboard) 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 181 BMus Practical Lessons 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One non-music elective (preferably a course to develop critical thinking and writing skills, such as psychology, philosophy, history, etc. before taking MUHL 286 in your 2nd or 3rd year)

Year 2 course plan

If you want to add a minor or second major to your program, apply in year 2.

Fall term

MUTH 250 Theory and Analysis 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One MUTH concentration course

MUHL 286 Critical Thinking About Music 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUSP 240 Musicianship Training 3 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 280 BMus Practical Lessons 3 2.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

Winter term

MUTH 251 Theory and Analysis 4 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One MUTH concentration course

MUSP 241 Musicianship Training 4 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 281 BMus Practical Lessons 4 2.5 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUIN 283 BMus Concentration Final Exam 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

One large ensemble (MUEN 5xx): 2 credits

One free elective

Year 3 course plan

Fall term

MUHL 3xx upper-level music history

MUSP 346 Post-Tonal Musicianship 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Two MUTH concentration courses

One free elective

One non-music elective

Winter term

MUTH 350 Theory and Analysis 5 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUPD 235 Music as a Profession 2 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Two MUTH concentration courses

One non-music elective

One free elective

Year 4 course plan

Fall term

Two MUTH concentration courses

MUHL 3xx upper-level music history

One non-music elective

One free elective

Winter term

Two MUTH concentration courses

One non-music elective

Two free electives

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