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 2021-2022 calendars for the previous requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Music (BMus) (90 units) | ||
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Workshop in Essay Writing | ||
| Selected Topics in Literature and Composition | ||
| 3 course units in French as a second language (FLS) 1 | 3 Units | |
| MUS 1031 | Applied Music I: Performance BMUS/BSC 2 | 6 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Sight-Singing and Dictation I: General | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation I: Intermediate | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation I: Advanced | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation I: Enriched | ||
| 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: Intermediate | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation II: Advanced | ||
| Sight-Singing and Dictation II: Enriched | ||
| 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 |
| 9 course units from: 4 | 9 Units | |
| Orchestra | ||
| Wind Ensemble | ||
| Opera Production | ||
| Choral Ensemble | ||
| Calixa-Lavallée Choir | ||
| Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Brass Choir | ||
| Brass Ensemble | ||
| Woodwind Ensemble | ||
| Baroque Ensemble | ||
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Contemporary Music Ensemble | ||
| Mixed Ensemble | ||
| Piano Ensemble | ||
| Accompaniment | ||
| Studio Accompanying | ||
| 24 course units according to the chosen profile requirements: General, Composition, Music Education, Piano Pedagogy, Theory/Musicology | 24 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, MUS 4031, MUS 4033) will be asked by the department to withdraw from BMus/BSc.
- 3
A written test at the beginning of
courses MUS 1191, MUS 1192, MUS 1193, MUS 1194 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.
Profile Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| General Profile | ||
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Seminar I | ||
| Topics in Counterpoint | ||
| Selected Topics in Score Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis | ||
| Survey of Music in Canada | ||
| Post-Tonal Music | ||
| 21 optional course units in music (MUS) 7, 8 | 21 Units | |
| Total: | 24 Units | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Profile | ||
| MUS 3311 | Compositional Techniques | 3 Units |
| MUS 3919 | Composition I | 3 Units |
| MUS 4018 | Composition II | 6 Units |
| 12 course units from: | 12 Units | |
| Orchestration | ||
| Topics in Counterpoint | ||
| Selected Topics in Score Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis | ||
| Post-Tonal Music | ||
| Arranging | ||
| Total: | 24 Units | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Music Education Profile | ||
| MUS 3110 | Music Education I | 3 Units |
| MUS 3111 | Music Education II | 3 Units |
| MUS 3360 | Conducting I 6 | 3 Units |
| 15 course units from: | 15 Units | |
| Instrumental Classes - Violin | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Clarinet | ||
| Music and Computers I | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Cello and Bass | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Guitar | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Flute and Saxophone | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Recorder | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Trumpet and French Horn | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Percussion | ||
| Musical Approach for Young Students | ||
| Music Education III | ||
| Selected Topics in Music Education | ||
| Orchestral Conducting | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Oboe and Bassoon | ||
| Instrumental Classes - Trombone and Tuba | ||
| Choral Conducting | ||
| Schooling and Society | ||
| Introduction to Psychology: Foundations | ||
| Introduction to Psychology: Applications | ||
| Child Development | ||
| Total: | 24 Units | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Profile | ||
| MUS 4031 | Applied Music IV: Performance BMUS/BSC | 6 Units |
| MUS 4033 | Applied Music V: Performance BMUS/BSC | 6 Units |
| 12 course units from: | 12 Units | |
| Music Education I | ||
| Music Education II | ||
| Selected Topics in Music History | ||
| Music and Critical Thought | ||
| Popular Music in Society | ||
| Research in Music: Tools and Methods | ||
| Chamber Music I | ||
| Piano Pedagogy I | ||
| Piano Pedagogy II | ||
| Seminar I | ||
| Selected Topics in Score Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis | ||
| Topics in Music Technology | ||
| Post-Tonal Music | ||
| Total: | 24 Units | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Piano Pedagogy Profile | ||
| MUS 4158 | Piano Pedagogy I | 3 Units |
| MUS 4159 | Piano Pedagogy II | 3 Units |
| 12 course units from: | 12 Units | |
| Music Education I | ||
| Music Education II | ||
| Keyboard Literature I | ||
| Keyboard Literature II | ||
| Musical Approach for Young Students | ||
| Music Education III | ||
| Selected Topics in Music Education | ||
| Studio Practicum for Pianists | ||
| Research Project I | ||
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Seminar I | ||
| Topics in Counterpoint | ||
| Selected Topics in Score Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis | ||
| Survey of Music in Canada | ||
| Post-Tonal Music | ||
| 3 optional course units in music (MUS) 7, 8 | 3 Units | |
| Total: | 24 Units | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Musicology/Theory Profile | ||
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Research in Music: Tools and Methods | ||
| Advanced Research in Music: Tools and Methods | ||
| 21 course units from: | 21 Units | |
| Selected Topics in Musical Aesthetics and Criticism | ||
| Selected Topics in Music History | ||
| Music and Computers I | ||
| Opera | ||
| Orchestration | ||
| Research Project | ||
| Seminar I | ||
| Topics in Counterpoint | ||
| Selected Topics in Score Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis | ||
| Topics in Music Technology | ||
| Survey of Music in Canada | ||
| Post-Tonal Music | ||
| Arranging | ||
| Research Project I | ||
| Total: | 24 Units | |
Note(s)
- 6
Students wishing to teach at the high-school level are strongly encouraged to register for an additional three-unit course in Conducting.
- 7
The course AMT 3105 can cont towards this requirement.
- 8
A maximum of 3 course units from MUS 4371, MUS 4372, MUS 4391 and MUS 4392 can count towards this requirement.