¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

Music Major Program

School for the Contemporary Arts | Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2013 Spring

The bachelor of fine arts (BFA) with a major in music is a flexible program that offers several options for the music student to pursue an interest in composition, electroacoustic music, world music or interdisciplinary collaboration. The program takes full advantage of the opportunities to experience and study other art forms that are provided in the School for the Contemporary Arts.

At the upper division, students complete one of two streams: composition or electroacoustic. The requirements at the lower division are the same for all streams but students are advised to select their chosen stream as early as second year, so that the proper prerequisites can be completed.

Students whose interest in music is related primarily to its historical, critical, or theoretical aspects should consider the art and culture studies major program which leads to a bachelor of arts degree. Contact the school's general office for information about entry to specific music courses.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

Program and course admission is contingent upon University admission. Contact Student Services for admission procedures, requirements and deadlines. Entry to all programs and to many courses is by audition, interview or application. Contact the school’s office for information on procedures and deadlines.

Although the University operates on a trimester system, most FPA courses are planned in a two term (fall and spring) sequence. Consequently, students enter in the fall term (September) and are advised to contact the school in the preceding January for program entry and requirements information.

Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing

Unassigned or general elective (type 2 and 3, respectively) transfer credit awarded for courses completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions will not automatically entitle students to advanced standing in the school’s programs. Advanced standing is generally given on an individual basis as a result of an audition or interview.

About the School's Course Offerings

Students are encouraged to take advantage of interdisciplinary offerings within the school. As many programs depend on a continuing sequence of courses completed in order, students should plan carefully to gain the maximum benefit and efficiency from their study.

Note that not all courses are offered every term and several are offered on a rotational basis, i.e. every third or fourth term. An advisor is available to help plan study programs.

Students are reminded that the school is an interdisciplinary fine and performing arts department, and are strongly advised to acquaint themselves with the many disciplinary courses that are available.

Special Topics Courses

The subject matter (and prerequisites) of special or selected topics courses vary by term.

Prior Approval Prerequisite

Where a prerequisite is or includes 'prior approval', approval must be obtained before enrolling in the course. Contact the school for further information.

Program Requirements

Students complete 120 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 39 units, including all of

  • FPA 111 Issues in Fine and Performing Arts (3)
  • FPA 140 Music after 1900 (3)
  • FPA 145 Introduction to Music Composition and Theory (3)
  • FPA 146 Introduction to Music Composition and Theory II (3)
  • FPA 147 Introduction to Electroacoustic Music (3)
  • FPA 240 Contemporary Music Performance I (3)
  • FPA 285 Interdisciplinary Studio - Composition/Collaboration (3)

and four of

  • FPA 243 Gamelan I (3)
  • FPA 245 Music Composition I (3)
  • FPA 246 Music Composition II (3)
  • FPA 247 Electroacoustic Music I (3)
  • FPA 248 Conducting I (3)
  • FPA 249 Selected Topics in Music I (3)
  • CMNS 258 Introduction to Electroacoustic Communication (3)

and one additional FPA studio course from outside of the music discipline

and one FPA theory or history course from outside of the music discipline

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 45 units, including the requirements for one of the following three streams.

Composition Stream

Students who choose this stream will complete a minimum total of 34 upper division units, including all of

  • FPA 345 Music Composition III (4)
  • FPA 346 Music Composition IV (4)
  • FPA 445 Music Composition V (4)
  • FPA 446 Senior Project in Music Composition (5)

and a minimum of 11 units chosen from

  • FPA 340 Contemporary Music Performance II (3)
  • FPA 341 World Music (3)
  • FPA 343 Gamelan II (3)
  • FPA 344 Contemporary Music Analysis and Criticism (3)
  • FPA 347 Electroacoustic Music II (4)
  • FPA 348 Conducting II (3)
  • FPA 349 Selected Topics in Music II (3)
  • FPA 443 Gamelan III (3)
  • FPA 447 Computer Music Composition (4)

and a minimum of six FPA units chosen from outside of the music discipline (CMNS 358 or 359 may be substituted)

Electroacoustic Stream

Students who choose this stream will complete a minimum of 32 upper division units including all of

  • FPA 347 Electroacoustic Music II (4)
  • FPA 387 Digital Art (3)
  • FPA 447 Computer Music Composition (4)

and a minimum of 15 units chosen from

  • CMNS 358 Sound Recording: Theory and Design (4)
  • CMNS 359 Acoustic Dimensions of Communication II * (4)
  • FPA 340 Contemporary Music Performance II (3)
  • FPA 341 World Music (3)
  • FPA 343 Gamelan II (3)
  • FPA 344 Contemporary Music Analysis and Criticism (3)
  • FPA 345 Music Composition III (4)
  • FPA 346 Music Composition IV (4)
  • FPA 348 Conducting II (3)
  • FPA 349 Selected Topics in Music II (3)
  • FPA 443 Gamelan III (3)
  • FPA 445 Music Composition V (4)
  • FPA 446 Senior Project in Music Composition (5)

and a minimum of six FPA units chosen from outside of the music discipline

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See for university-wide information.

WQB Graduation Requirements
A grade of C- or better is required to earn W, Q or B credit.
Requirement

Units

Notes
W - Writing

6

Must include at least one upper division course, taken at ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV within the student’s major subject
Q - Quantitative

6

Q courses may be lower or upper division
B - Breadth

18

Designated Breadth Must be outside the student’s major subject, and may be lower or upper division
6 units Social Sciences: B-Soc
6 units Humanities: B-Hum
6 units Sciences: B-Sci

6

Additional Breadth

6 units outside the student’s major subject (may or may not be B-designated courses, and will likely help fulfil individual degree program requirements)
Additional breadth units must be from outside the student's major and may be B-designated (B-Hum, B-Soc, B-Sci courses). Students choosing to complete a joint major, joint honours, double major, two extended minors, an extended minor and a minor, or two minors may satisfy the breadth requirements (designated or not designated) with courses completed in either one or both program areas.

 

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

Return to contemporary arts index page.
Return to music index page.

For calendar technical problems or errors, contact calendar-sfu@sfu.ca | Calendar changes and corrections