College of Arts & Sciences
Department of Performing Arts
Department of Performing Arts

Music Major and Minors

View the 2022-23 Student Handbook for American Musical Culture Majors and Music Minors.

Note: Effective Fall 2023, all main campus courses have been renumbered using a new 4-digit numbering system.

https://schedule.georgetown.edu/course-renumbering-crosswalk/m/#musc

Requirements for the A.B. in American Musical Culture (AMMC)

Description of the Degree

Description of the Degree

A major in American Musical Culture consists of eleven music courses and a senior capstone project. Designed for students interested in American Studies, arts management, cultural criticism, composition, entertainment law, media studies, music business, music journalism or musicology/ethnomusicology, the program offers a range of classes in music history, theory, composition, recording arts and performance. There are three tracks to the major:

Students are expected to choose a track when declaring the major. Potential majors are advised during their first two years to take Writing About Music (MUSC 161), at least one of the four core courses in music history and culture (MUSC 114, 115, 116 and 117), and Elements of Music: Theory I (MUSC 041) and Advanced Harmony: Theory II (MUSC 141), as these are prerequisites for many upper-level courses. Students with previous training in music theory may receive a waiver for the MUSC 041 requirement by receiving a 5 on the AP Exam in Music Theory.

The integrated writing requirement for the degree in American Musical Culture is fulfilled by MUSC 161 Writing about Music as well as through final writing projects (research papers, music compositions/arrangements, radio/film scripts and/or music journalism essays) in various upper-level courses.

Requirements for the degree track in Musicology/Ethnomusicology include: Writing About Music (MUSC 161); three music theory courses (MUSC 041, MUSC 141, and an upper-level music theory or composition seminar MUSC 240–244, 329, 340–344), at least three of the four core courses in music (MUSC 114, 115, 116, 117), which cover the department’s general areas of music history distribution (Western European Tradition, Multicultural Traditions, Jazz, and Popular Music), three upper-level courses in music history and culture, music theory, and/or music journalism (MUSC 200–249, 260–270, 328–337, 351, 361, 410, 460), and one course credit based on four semesters in MUSC 100 Music Performance. Students are limited to a total of four performance credit hours for MUSC 100, which are bundled to form a single 3-credit course. After this requirement is completed, they can continue to participate in a performance ensemble by signing up for the zero-credit option MUSC 101. To complete the Senior Capstone Project, students following the Musicology/Ethnomusicology track may choose between a senior research project (thesis or documentary), a composition project, or a lecture recital. Students must submit a proposal for the Senior Capstone Project to their music advisor and the Director of the Music Program before beginning the project (no later than October 1) of their senior year.

Requirements for the degree track in Music & Media Studies include Writing About Music (MUSC 161), two music theory courses (MUSC 041 and MUSC 141), Recording Arts I (MUSC 250), one additional course in Recording Arts (MUSC 350 or MUSC 361) or one course credit based on four semesters in MUSC 100 Music Performance (students are limited to a total of four performance credit hours of MUSC 100, which are bundled to form a single 3-credit course. After this requirement is completed, they can continue to participate in a performance ensemble by signing up for the zero-credit option of MUSC 101; at least two of the four core courses in music (MUSC 114, 115, 116, 117), which cover the department’s general areas of music history distribution (Western European Tradition, Multicultural Traditions, Jazz, and Popular Music); three upper-level courses, numbered 200 or higher, in musicology/ethnomusicology, music theory/composition, or media studies; and the Music Industry Seminar (MUSC 461). To complete the Senior Capstone Project, students following the Music and Media Studies track may choose between a Recording Arts Project, Documentary, or an intensive semester/summer internship related to their academic interests (e.g., NPR, The Kennedy Center, Rolling Stone Magazine, Sirius/XM Radio, Voice of America, Library of Congress, The Smithsonian, The Washington Post, NBC, William Morris Entertainment, Sony Music). Students must submit a proposal for the Senior Capstone Project to the Director of the Music Program before beginning the project and no later than October 1 of their senior year.

Requirements for the degree track in Sacred Music include Writing About Music (MUSC 161), two music theory courses (MUSC 041 and MUSIC 141), one core music course of either Music in European Culture (MUSC 114) or Music in a Multicultural World (MUSC 115), Seminar in Sacred Music Traditions (MUSC 245), Liturgical Direction and Performance Practices (MUSC 246), two upper level music courses numbered 300 or higher in History, Culture, Theory or Recording Arts, two semesters of Independent Tutorials (MUSC 303 and MUSC 304) in voice and instruments, for example, piano, organ or those appropriate to the specific sacred tradition, one course credit based on four semesters in MUSC 100 Music Performance. Students are limited to a total of four performance credit hours of MUSC 100, which are bundled to form a single 3-credit course. After this requirement is completed, they can continue to participate in a performance ensemble by signing up for the zero-credit option, MUSC 101. To complete the Senior Capstone Project, students following the Sacred Music track may choose between an internship related to music ministry, an intensive research project with a faculty advisor resulting in a thesis, or a project that involves designing and programming a musical service for a specific faith tradition. For this third option, the student will plan, rehearse, and perform a complete musical service that includes appropriate selections. Students must submit a proposal for the Senior Capstone Project to the Director of the Music Program before beginning the project and no later than October 1 of their senior year. 

To declare the major, please download and complete the appropriate form:

https://college.georgetown.edu/advising/faq/declare-a-major-minor/.

REQUIRED COURSES FOR THE TRACK IN MUSICOLOGY/ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
(11 courses/33 credits, plus the Senior Capstone Project)

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TRACK IN MUSIC & MEDIA STUDIES
(11 courses/33 credits, plus the Senior Capstone Project)

Note: One course may be fulfilled by cognate courses in other fields or study abroad, if approved by the Director of the Music Program.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TRACK IN SACRED MUSIC

(11 courses/33 credits, plus the Senior Capstone Project)

Note: One course may be fulfilled by cognate courses in other fields or study abroad, if approved by the Director of the Music Program.

Each of DPA’s distinctive interdisciplinary majors—American Musical Culture and Theater & Performance Studies—understands writing as integral to exploration of the relationship between performance, culture and society. 

MUSIC MINOR

The Music Program at Georgetown currently offers a minor, which consists of courses in music history, criticism, theory, composition, audio technology and performance. Students electing this minor are given the opportunity to specialize in a broad array of musical forms associated with American Culture, including: jazz, rock, dance, film, popular music from around the world and music stemming from the Western European Tradition (from the 17th century to the present).

MINOR ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

18 credit hours; 6 music courses

Note: One course may be fulfilled by cognate courses in other fields or study abroad if approved by Program Director.

PERFORMING ARTS MINOR

The Department of Performing Arts offers an interdisciplinary minor with a concentration in any of its constituent arts. This may be earned by taking three courses in one field (music, theater or dance), and three courses chosen on an elective basis from any of the other areas in the Department of Performing Arts (music, theater, dance, and public speaking).

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR

18 credit hours; 6 courses in Performing Arts