The music minor is designed to provide students interested in music with a foundation
in the theory and history of music along with experience in a performing ensemble.
The minor is an excellent way for students to maintain or develop their interest in
music while pursuing other areas of study. Students in other majors who have interdisciplinary
interests also find the minor valuable as preparation for further studies dealing
with the arts and culture. Less rigorous than the music major, the minor is not intended
to prepare students for advanced study or professional work in music.
All courses offered for the minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or better. With the permission of the Director of Undergraduate Studies, students who do not
pass the audition for one of the ensembles may fulfill the performance requirement
in both tracks through two semesters of private lessons (Mus 161-187) if qualified.
Please see the catalog for details on the audition procedure for lessons. For students
in the minor who fulfill the performance requirement through lessons the ensemble
co-requisite (listed under "Co-requisite" in the course description for Mus 161-187)
will be waived.
1. Theory:
Mus 119 Elements of Music, or Mus 130 Sound Structures (3)
Mus 315 Structural Principles of Music I (3)
Mus 316 Structural Principles of Music II (3) or Mus 341 (Intro to Music and Technology)
Note: Students well-versed in music notation and basic theory (demonstrated by the
Mus 119 challenge examination) should take Mus 130 Sound Structures.
2. History:
Mus 101 and two courses chosen from the following, one of which must be upper division,
Mus 105, 301-314, 319-320 (9)
3. Performance:
Two semesters of one or more of the following: (2)
Mus 261 Stony Brook Chorale
Mus 262 University Orchestra
Mus 263 University Wind Ensemble
Mus 264 Jazz Ensemble
Mus 267 Jazz Combo
Mus 268 Marching Band
Mus 391 Chamber Music
1. Theory/Musicianship
Mus 121 Musicianship 1 (2)
Mus 220 Musicianship II (2)
Mus 221 Musicianship III (2)
Mus 130 Sound Structures (3)
Mus 321 Tonal Harmony I (3)
Mus 322 Tonal Harmony II (3)
2. History
Mus 101 and one course chosen from the following, Mus 105, 301-314, 319-320 (6)
The jazz studies minor is designed to provide students who are interested in jazz
with a foundation in music theory and history that incorporates a jazz perspective,
as well with experience in jazz performance. The minor is an excellent way for students
to maintain or develop their interest in music while pursuing other areas of study.
Students in other majors who have interdisciplinary interests will also find the minor
valuable as preparation for further studies studies dealing with the arts and culture.
Less rigorous than the music major, the minor is not intended to prepare students
for advanced study or professional work in music.
All courses offered for the minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or better.
1. Theory, 9 credits:
MUS 119 Elements of Music, or Mus 130 Sound Structures
MUS 315/316 Structural Principles of Music I and II
Note: Students well-versed in music notation and basic theory (demonstrated by the
MUS 119 challenge examination) should take MUS 130 Sound Structures.
2. History6 credits:
MUS 308; and one of the following: MUS, 304, 310, 313, 311, 319, 320, or 355 (if given
as a jazz- related topic)
3. Performance:(6 credits)
Six semesters (6 credits) in any combination of the following courses: MUS 264 (Big
Band Jazz Ensemble), MUS 267 (Jazz Combo) and MUS 189 (Beginning Jazz Improvisation).
Note: Students must audition to be accepted to MUS 264, MUS 267, and MUS 189.
1. Theory,10 credits:
MUS 321 and 322 Tonal Harmony I and II
MUS 121/220 Musicianship I and II
Note: Students must pass the theory placement exam to be admitted to the above classes.
2. History6 credits:
MUS 308; and one of the following: MUS, 304, 310, 313, 311, 319, 320, or 355 (if given
as a jazz- related topic)
3. Performance:(6 credits)
Six semesters (6 credits) in any combination of the following courses: MUS 264 (Big
Band Jazz Ensemble), MUS 267 (Jazz Combo) and MUS 189 (Beginning Jazz Improvisation).
Note: Students must audition to be accepted to MUS 264 and MUS 267
The minor in Music and Technology is designed to provide students interested in music,
media, and digital technology and the arts, with a foundation specific to the latest
developments in music and technology along with a basic background in the history
and theory of music. Students in other majors who have interdisciplinary interests
will find this minor valuable as preparation for further studies dealing with the
arts and culture. Less rigorous than the music major, the minor is not intended to
prepare students for advanced study or professional work in music. This track requires
a minimum of 20 credits.
1. Basics:
Mus 119 Elements of Music, or Mus 130 Sound Structures
CDT 208 Introduction to Art and Technology (formerly MUS 208)
Note: Students well-versed in music notation and basic theory (demonstrated by the
Mus 119 challenge examination) should take Mus 130 Sound Structures.
2. General:
One course chosen from the following, Mus 101, 105
and one from the following: Mus 301-314, 319-320
3. Specific:
CDT 341 Sound Design
plus one course chosen from the following: CDT 317 (Interactive Media) , CDT 318 (Movie
Making), Mus 344 (Audio Engineering)
4. Performance: Two semesters of one or more of the following:
Mus 261 Stony Brook Choral
Mus 262 University Orchestra
Mus 263 University Wind Ensemble
Mus 264 Jazz Ensemble
Mus 267 Jazz Combo
Mus 268 Marching Band
Mus 161-187 Individual lessons (all of the above are by audition only – please note
that most instrumental lessons require a co-requisite of an ensemble – please see
bulletin)
In lieu of two semesters (2 credits) of performance ensemble, a student may take an
additional course from #2 or #3 above or Mus 315.
The Ethnomusicology minor is designed to provide undergraduates with knowledge about
a range of ethnomusicology topics, methods, and theoretical perspectives, in conjunction
with a related area of specialization in the social sciences. In addition to ethnomusicology
classes, including survey courses and courses on specialized topics, students will
take a combination of performance and social science classes on relevant subjects
in other departments. The minor in Ethnomusicology is distinct from other existing
music minors in that it offers training in fieldwork methods, an anthropological approach
that does not rely heavily on the skills of analysis and performance that may be used
in musicology, jazz studies, and the like. Moreover, it often emphasizes repertoire
and practice from outside of Europe and the United States (our minor is especially
strong in the musics of Asia). Ethnomusicology is the study of musical cultures, and
entails a disciplinarily unique set of questions and methodologies, as well as objects.
Requirements for Minor in Ethnomusicology
Students are required to take a series of three ethnomusicology classes, two related
classes in other departments, three performance classes, and a 400-level ethnography
class (MUS 451 “Ethnographic Methods in Music”). Music majors must take an additional independent
study.
Completion of the minor requires 21 credits.
Students should be advised to monitor their progress toward completing their upper
division credit requirement. It is therefore suggested that students take at least
three upper-division courses as part of their ethnomusicology minor.
II. Ethnomusicology series(3 classes required; 9 credits)
Students must take one introductory course (either MUS 105 or MUS 109), and choose two of the other courses. MUS 311may be repeated with a different topic (i.e., “Music and Islam” and “Music of China”).
Other ethnomusicology options possible with UGPD permission.
II. Area Studies and Social Sciences (2 courses required; 6 credits)
Students must choose two from the following list of courses (below) from other departments.
Petitions for other courses can be submitted to the UGPD.
III. Performance/practice-based requirements (3 semesters required; 3 credits)
Option A
3 semesters of Ethnomusicology ensemble (such as MUS 235 Introduction to African Drumming or MUS 335 Advanced African Drumming)
Option B
2 semesters of Ethnomusicology ensemble (such as MUS 235 Introduction to African Drumming or MUS 335 Advanced African Drumming)
AND
1 semester of composition/productionclass (MUS 341 Sound Design)
Other performance/production options possible with UGPD permission.
Seminar in Ethnography (3 credits)
MUS 451 “Ethnographic Methods in Music” (Required)
Prerequisities: MUS 105 or 109, and junior or senior standing
If a Music major wants to also do a minor in Ethnomusicology he/she must undertake
a relevant independent project under faculty supervision, taken as a 3 credit MUS 487 Independent Project.
The minor in Music Theory is designed to provide undergraduate students with a specialized
knowledge in musicianship and the theory of music in addition to its history. It is
particularly well-suited to students interested in honing their skills as musicians
and offers more rigorous training in music analysis than the general track. Coursework
includes an introduction to the study of music, courses in musicianship, music theory,
only two semesters in a performance ensemble, and a choice of courses on specialized
topics, including the study of popular musics, non-western musical traditions, music
and gender, music technology, and the works of individual composers.
Minor in Music Theory (MTY)
The general Music minor (MUS) is designed for students who are interested in music
but who do not seek training in more sophisticated aspects of music theory and musicianship.
The Music Theory minor (MTY), for which students take Music major courses in theory
and musicianship, is for students who want to acquire more specialized knowledge and
skills in the areas of music theory and musicianship.
Requirements for the Minor in Music Theory (MTX)
All courses offered for the minor must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher.
The minor requires a minimum of 20 credits.
A Note on the Performance Requirement: With the permission of the director of undergraduate
studies, students who do not pass the audition for one of the ensembles may fulfill
the performance requirement through private lessons (MUS 161-MUS 187). For students in the minor who fulfill the performance requirement through lessons,
the ensemble corequisite for private lessons (MUS 161-MUS 187) will be waived.
