Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music

GW's bachelor of arts in music program fosters musicianship, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. A major in music prepares students for a wide variety of career choices, both in music-centered professions and beyond. Students customize their academic path by selecting from courses in performance, theory, ensembles, composition, history, ethnomusicology, and electronic and computer music. Many music majors have the flexibility to double major in another academic area, due to the ability to tailor the music curriculum to their individual interests.

Program graduates possess the knowledge, practical skills, and wisdom needed to investigate, advocate for, and create music and to analyze how music intersects with critical issues in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Visit the program website for more information.

For information about the admission process, including deadlines, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Applications can be submitted via the Common Application.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
The George Washington University
800 21st St NW Suite 100
Washington, DC 20052

For questions visit undergraduate.admissions.gwu.edu/contact-us.

 The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

Program-specific curriculum:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required for the major
CMUS 1102	Comprehensive Musicianship I
or CMUS 2161	Sound Technology I Introduction to Digital Musicianship
CMUS 2101	Harmony
or CMUS 2162	Sound Technology II: Capturing Sound
or CMUS 2163	Sound Technology III: Creating Sound
CMUS 2106	Music History Now
CMUS 3126	Music History I: Antiquity through Early Baroque
or CMUS 3127	Music History II: The Tonal Era
CMUS 4198W	Senior Seminar
CMUS 4085	Senior Capstone Project
Electives
15 credits taken in the CMUS 1100, CMUS 2100, CMUS 3100, and CMUS 4100 grouping. Up to 6 of these credits may be taking in the CMUS 1100 grouping, and at least 3 credits must be taken in the CMUS 3100 or CMUS 4100 range.
4 credits in ensemble or private study courses taken in the CMUS 1000, CMUS 1500, CMUS 1700, CMUS 2500, CMUS 3500, and CMUS 4500 groupings.
6 credits in additional Music (CMUS) courses taken as unrestricted electives.

All students in the major program are expected to attend departmental lectures, master classes, and concerts, as appropriate.

In addition to the University General Education Requirement, undergraduate students in Columbian College must complete a further, College-specific general education curriculum—Perspective, Analysis, Communication (G-PAC) as well as the course CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience. Together with the University General Education Requirement, G-PAC engages students in active intellectual inquiry across the liberal arts. Students achieve a set of learning outcomes that enhance their analytical skills, develop their communication competencies, and invite them to participate as responsible citizens who are attentive to issues of culture, diversity, and privilege.

Coursework for the University General Education Requirement is distributed as follows:

• One course in critical thinking in the humanities.

• Two courses in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, or scientific reasoning in the social sciences.

• One course that has an approved oral communication component.

• One course in quantitative reasoning (must be in mathematics or statistics).
• One course in scientific reasoning (must be in natural and/or physical laboratory sciences).
• UW 1020 University Writing (4 credits).
• After successful completion of UW 1020, 6 credits distributed over at least two writing in the discipline (WID) courses taken in separate semesters. WID courses are designated by a "W" appended to the course number. 

Coursework for the CCAS G-PAC requirement is distributed as follows:

• Arts—one approved arts course that involves the study or creation of artwork based on an understanding or interpretation of artistic traditions or knowledge of art in a contemporary context.
• Global or cross-cultural perspective—one approved course that analyzes the ways in which institutions, practices, and problems transcend national and regional boundaries.
• Local or civic engagement—one approved course that develops the values, ethics, disciplines, and commitment to pursue responsible public action.
• Natural or physical science—one additional approved laboratory course that employs the process of scientific inquiry (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
• Humanities—one additional approved humanities course that involves critical thinking skills (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
• CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience

Certain courses are approved to fulfill GPAC requirements in more than one category.

Courses taken in fulfillment of G-PAC requirements may also be counted toward majors or minors. Transfer courses taken prior to, but not after, admission to George Washington University may count toward the University General Education Requirement and G-PAC, if those transfer courses are equivalent to GW courses that have been approved by the University and the College.

Lists of approved courses in the above categories are included on each undergraduate major's page in this Bulletin.

In addition to the general requirements stated under University Regulations, in order to be considered for graduation with Special Honors in music, a student must maintain a 3.5 grade-point average in music courses and at least a 3.0 average overall. The student must complete the required senior independent project for at least 3 credits with a minimum grade of A–.