Music
The School of Music at the University of Ottawa is one of the country's leading music schools. It is the ideal place to nurture your passion for all things musical and to pursue the rigorous training needed for an active and successful career in the field. We maintain close ties with renowned institutions such as the National Arts Centre (NAC) and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. Our program boasts state-of-the-art music facilities and internationally recognized professors who perform around the globe and publish in leading academic journals. We are a full-service music school offering programs in performance, composition, music education, piano pedagogy, theory and musicology.
Although any of our programs can pave the way for a career in education, musicology, music journalism or arts administration, the Bachelor of Music (BMus) is designed specifically for students wishing to become career musicians. Admission to the BMus therefore requires that you audition on your main instrument and demonstrate an intermediate or advanced level. In addition, the University of Ottawa is one of the only institutions in the country to offer the possibility of combining the BMus program in performance with a major in science.
Science
This program lets you explore different scientific disciplines and thus acquire a broad background in all the sciences. If along the way you develop an interest in a particular field, you can transfer to the program in question.
This program is offered in English and in French.
Do you love music and science? Would you like to develop your musical abilities to their full potential while doing advanced studies in the sciences? Now you can do so thanks to a new bachelor’s program offered jointly by the University of Ottawa’s faculties of Arts, Science and Engineering. Acquire in-depth knowledge and pursue rigorous training in music and science in this new program, the first of its kind in Canada!
The combined Bachelor of Music and Science program was created for students who would like to be able to work in either field and are interested in developing their skills in both disciplines. This five-year combined program leads to a degree in music (BMus) and in science (BSc) and opens the door to graduate studies. To be admitted to the program, students must be accepted into the Bachelor of Music, successfully complete an instrument or voice audition, demonstrating outstanding abilities, and meet the Bachelor of Science admission criteria.
Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2024-2025 calendars for the previous requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Music (BMus) (90 units) | ||
| Basic Skills | ||
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Workshop in Essay Writing | ||
| Selected Topics in Literature and Composition | ||
| Compulsory courses at the 1000 level | ||
| MUS 1031 | Applied Music I: Performance BMUS/BSC 2 | 6 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Sight-Singing and Dictation I: General 3 | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation I: Enriched | ||
| Compulsory courses at the 2000 level | ||
| MUS 2031 | BSC/Applied Music II: Performance BMUS/BSC 2 | 6 Units |
| MUS 2306 | Theory and Analysis I 3 | 3 Units |
| MUS 2307 | Theory and Analysis II | 3 Units |
| MUS 2331 | Forms and Styles I: Middle Ages and Renaissance | 3 Units |
| MUS 2332 | Forms and Styles II: Baroque and Early Classical | 3 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Sight-Singing and Dictation II: General | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation II: Enriched | ||
| Compulsory courses at the 3000 level | ||
| MUS 3031 | Applied Music III: Performance BMUS/BSC 2 | 6 Units |
| MUS 3306 | Theory and Analysis III | 3 Units |
| MUS 3307 | Theory and Analysis IV | 3 Units |
| MUS 3333 | Forms and Styles III: Late Classical and Early Romantic | 3 Units |
| MUS 3334 | Forms and Styles IV: Late Romantic and Early Modern | 3 Units |
| MUS 3335 | Twentieth-Century Music | 3 Units |
| Optional Courses | ||
| 9 course units of ensembles from: 4 | 9 Units | |
| Orchestra | ||
| Wind Ensemble | ||
| Opera Production | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Piano Ensemble | ||
| 6 course units from: | 6 Units | |
| Seminar I 4 | ||
| Selected Topics in Score Analysis 4 | ||
| 18 optional course units in music (MUS) with the possibility of taking 9 course units of ensemble courses from the list of optional ensemble courses 4 | 18 Units | |
| 3 course units in French as a second language (FLS) 1 | 3 Units | |
| Honours Bachelor of Science with Major (BSc) (60 units) | ||
| 60 course units from any already existing science major leading to the Bachelor of Science 5 | 60 Units | |
| Total: | 150 Units | |
Note(s)
- 1
An exemption for this requirement is given to students who obtain an equivalency for the language-proficiency test (FLS 3500) or who take a MUS course offered in French.
- 2
Student failing an applied music course (MUS 1031, MUS 2031, MUS 3031) will be asked by the department to withdraw from BMus/BSc.
- 3
A written test at the beginning of courses MUS 1191 and MUS 2306 will determine placement in an additional weekly lab.
- 4
Students may repeat the same course code more than once.
- 5
For more details, check the calendars of the Faculty of Science or Engineering.
List of optional ensemble courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 3901 | Orchestra | 3 Units |
| MUS 3902 | Wind Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3903 | Opera Production | 3 Units |
| MUS 3904 | Choral Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3905 | Calixa-Lavallée Choir | 3 Units |
| MUS 3907 | Guitar Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3908 | Jazz Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3909 | Brass Choir | 3 Units |
| MUS 3910 | Brass Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3911 | Woodwind Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3913 | Percussion Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3914 | Contemporary Music Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3915 | Mixed Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3916 | Piano Ensemble | 3 Units |
| MUS 3917 | Accompaniment | 3 Units |