Bachelor of Music

Program Summary

 

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

 
 

Contact: sam@unsw.edu.au

 
 

Campus: Kensington Campus

 
 

Career: Undergraduate

 
 

Typical Duration: 3 Years

 
 

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

 
 

Min UOC Per Semester: 3

 
 

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

 
 

Min UOC For Award: 144

 
 

Award(s):

 
 

Bachelor of Music (Major)

 
 

Bachelor of Music (Honours)

 
 

Program Description

The Bachelor of Music (UNSW BMus) specialist music program that enables you develop your musical knowledge and skills across the strands of Musicology, Musicianship and Professional Practice. You will undertake studies in musicology and ethnomusicolgy - including music history, style, musical perception and analysis, music in its cultural contexts - and musical technology, performance, jazz studies and composition. The UNSW BMus can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 3 years), in Dual Mode (the equivalent of two years full-time) or part-time. The basic requirements of the program are simple. The BMus has a depth component and a breadth component. Students enrolled in Single mode do both the depth and breadth component while students enrolled in Dual Mode only complete the depth component.

The Depth component (Blue Zone) is:

  1. The completion of Core Musicology course (12 UOC - 2 courses)
  2. The completion of Core Musicianship courses (18 UOC- 3 courses)
  3. The completion of Core Professional Practices courses (36 UOC - 6 courses)
  4. The completion of Prescribed Musicology/Musicianship elective courses (30 UOC - 5 courses)

The Breadth component (Green Zone) is:

  1. Free electives (36 UOC - 6 courses)
  2. General Education (12 UOC- 2 courses)

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

The BMus enables students to develop skills and knowledge in music as preparation for professional work in areas as diverse as music performance, private teaching, broadcasting, recording, arts administration, concert planning, music and arts journalism, arranging and composition.

The Graduate Attributes for this Program are as follows:

  1. The skills involved in scholarly enquiry, such as information literacy, critical analysis, and writing;
  2. An in-depth engagement with discipline-specific knowledge, such as Instrumental or vocal performance, composition, score reading and writing skills, inner hearing, music theory, and repertoire knowledge;
  3. Engagement with music in its interdisciplinary context through the study of music history, music ethnography/anthropology, and music technology;
  4. Capacity for analytical and critical thinking and for creative problem-solving through individual instrumental or vocal study, composition, participation in performing ensembles and academic tasks involving theoretical issues;
  5. Information Literacy – the skills to locate, evaluate and use relevant information;
  6. The capacity for enterprise, initiative and creativity, developed primarily through opportunities for performing and composing, and being involved in concert organizing and musical leadership;
  7. An appreciation of, and respect for, diversity, through participation in and study of diversity of musical practice and thinking;
  8. High levels of oral and written communication, supported with discipline-based forms of communication such as scores and music performance;
  9. Skills required for collaborations and contribution to the international community are developed through individual instrumental or vocal performance, composition, ensemble performances and the study of diverse musical styles and practices;
  10. Respect for ethical practice and social responsibility are fostered through links with the music industry and discussions of professional practices in theory and practice alike.

Program Structure

The basic requirements for the degree are:

Single Mode (144 UOC) made up of

  1. Musicology Core (12 UOC)
  2. Musicianship Core (18 UOC)
  3. Professional Practices Core (36 UOC)
  4. Prescribed Musicology/Musicianship electives (30 UOC)
  5. Free electives (36 UOC)
  6. General Education (12 UOC)

Dual mode (96 UOC) made up of

  1. Musicology Core (12 UOC)
  2. Musicianship Core (18 UOC)
  3. Professional Practices Core (36 UOC)
  4. Prescribed Musicology/Musicianship electives (30 UOC)

Core

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Prescribed Electives in Musicology/Musicianship

Prescribed Electives

Prescribed Musicology/Musicianship electives are chosen from the list of offerings published by the Program.

Free Electives

A Free Elective is any course offered either within or outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in which the student is able to enrol.

General Education

General Education is the completion of two courses (12 UOC) offered outside the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Award with Distinction

High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 across their program and who have completed at at least 48uoc of their program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".

Honours

High achieving BMus students (in Single or Dual Mode) may apply for entry to Honours. Honours is an additional year of study (two years part-time) which allows a student to further explore their studies. It involves seminars and the completion or a research project or thesis. Those students who are considering Honours should submit an expression of interest at the beginning of Level 3 and complete a formal application at the end of Level 3. Both should be submitted to the Honours Convenor of the School of the Arts and Media. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the depth component of the program and is subject to resources and the approval of the Head of School in which the stream(s) is/are based. Honours is awarded in three classes (Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions, and Class 3). If requirements for these classes are not met the Pass degree will be awarded if the student is not already a Graduate of the program.

Performance Ensembles

BMus students must take part in at least two of the performance ensembles offered by the School, one of which must be a major performing ensemble.

Sample Program

 

Bachelor of Music (BMus) - Sample Program for Single mode - Example Only

Level

Musicology

UOC

Musicianship

UOC

Professional Practices

UOC

Free Electives

UOC

General

Education

UOC

Total
Level 1 - 48 units of credit

S1

S2

MUSC1101

 

6

 

 

MUSC1302

 

6

MUSC1401

MUSC1402

6

6

Free elective

Free elective

12

12

 

 

24

24
Level 2 - 48 units of credit

S1

S2

Prescribed elective

Prescribed elective

6

6

MUSC2301

MUSC2302

6

6

MUSC2401

MUSC2402

6

6

Free elective

 

6

 

 

Gen Ed

 

6

24

24
Level 3 - 48 units of credit

S1

S2

Prescribed elective

MUSC3101

6

6

Prescribed elective

Prescribed elective

6

6

MUSC3401

MUSC3402

6

6

Free elective

 

6

 

 

Gen Ed

 

6

24

24

Total UOC

 

30

 

30

 

36

 

36

 

12

144

 


Academic Rules

Single Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:

  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Music and complete 144 units of credit;
  2. complete the core requirements
  3. complete the prescribed elective requirements
  4. complete 36 UOC of Free Electives
  5. complete 12 UOC of General Education
  6. complete at least 30 UOC of Level I courses before enrolling in Level II courses
  7. complete at least 30 UOC of Level II courses before enrolling in Level III courses
  8. complete at least 120 UOC overall before enrolling in the Capstone course

Dual Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, a student must:

  1. enrol in the Bachelor of Music and complete 96 units of credit;
  2. complete the core requirements
  3. complete the prescribed elective requirements
  4. complete at least 30 UOC of Level I courses before enrolling in Level II courses
  5. complete at least 30 UOC of Level II courses before enrolling in Level III courses
  6. complete at least 72 UOC overall before enrolling in the Capstone course

Honours

To qualify for the award of the degree with Honours, a Single or Dual award student must:

  1. be a Graduand or Graduate of the Bachelor of Arts
  2. hold a WAM of 70 or higher in those streams they are seeking to further study
  3. complete the List A and List B seminar coursework requirement for their area of study (18 UOC)
  4. complete a research project or thesis (30 UOC)

Fees

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

Important Information

The Academic Rules for the BMus and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.

Further Information

Admission to the program is subject to a satisfactory audition/interview and an acceptable level of attainment in year 12 studies or equivalent. Assumed knowledge: HSC Music 2 or Extension or equivalent qualification.

For more information, please contact school

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