Music Theory Courses

A series of tests is used to determine initial placement in a music theory course (Music Theory Placement Tests 1-4) and an aural skills course (Aural Skills and Sight-Singing Placement Tests 1-3). These tests may be taken only once, to determine initial placement in course sequences. Some courses in the Music Theory Division are consent courses; students obtain consent from the Divisional Secretary (not the instructor).

Music Theory Courses: Music Skills

All students who wish to elect a course in Aural Skills are required to take Aural Skills Placement Test 1, Parts A and B. Depending on the results, a student may be asked to take Sight- Singing Placement Test 1. Together, these tests determine whether a student should begin with MUTH 101 or 102. Similarly, Aural Skills and Sight-Singing Placement Tests 2 and 3 may determine that a student should begin with MUTH 201, 202, or 301. A student who lacks an aural skills placement test score will be placed on a waiting list until their testing has been completed.

Because Aural Skills I-IV and Music Theory I-IV are linked, students must take Aural Skills I (MUTH 101) concurrently with Music Theory I (MUTH 130 or 131), Aural Skills II (MUTH 102) concurrently with Music Theory II (MUTH 132), etc. Under certain circumstances, a student may be allowed to take Aural Skills IV and Music Theory IV separately; this requires the permission of both the appropriate division director and the Music Theory division director.

Music Theory Courses

All students who wish to elect a course in Music Theory are required to take Music Theory Placement Test 1. This test determines whether a student should begin with MUTH 130 or 131 or should attempt the next placement test. Similarly, Music Theory Placement Tests 2, 3, and 4 may determine that a student should begin with MUTH 132, 231, or 232. Transfer and graduate students who score high enough on Music Theory Placement Test 4 will be placed into a 300- level upper-division course with the consent of the Director of the Music Theory Division.

Normally, students will take Music Theory I-IV and Aural Skills I-IV concurrently, e.g., a student will register for Music Theory I (MUTH 130 or 131) and Aural Skills I in the same semester, Theory II and Aural Skills II in the same semester, and so on. Under certain circumstances, with the permission of the Music Theory division director, students will be allowed to take Aural Skills and Music Theory separately.

Music Theory Courses: Lower-Division Courses

Music Theory Courses: Upper-Division Courses

Each 300-level course has MUTH 232 as its prerequisite; some 400-level courses have specific 300-level courses as their prerequisites. A student who wishes to take a 300-level course concurrently with MUTH 232, or who wishes to take a 400-level course without the specified 300-level prerequisite, must secure the consent of both the instructor and the Division Director; such consent will be given only under exceptional circumstances (this applies to all students, including transfer and graduate students).