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    * Bachelor of Music and Honours Bachelor of Science with Major

  Bachelor of Music and Honours Bachelor of Science with Major

      150 Units

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        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, 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.

      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 2025-2026 calendars for the previous requirements.

      Course List
        Code                                                                                                                                                    Title                                           Units  
        Bachelor of Music (BMus) (90 units)                                                                                                                                                                   
        Basic Skills                                                                                                                                                                                          
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                    3 Units                                       
          ENG 1100                                                                                                                                              Workshop in Essay Writing                              
          ENG 1120                                                                                                                                              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                                       
          MUS 1191                                                                                                                                              Sight-Singing and Dictation I: General 3               
          MUS 1194                                                                                                                                              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 2365                                                                                                                                                Music: The Big Questions I                      3 Units
        MUS 2366                                                                                                                                                Music: The Big Questions II                     3 Units
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                    3 Units                                       
          MUS 2191                                                                                                                                              Sight-Singing and Dictation II: General                
          MUS 2194                                                                                                                                              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 3365                                                                                                                                                Music and Genre                                 3 Units
        MUS 3366                                                                                                                                                Music and Text                                  3 Units
        Optional courses                                                                                                                                                                                      
        9 course units of ensembles from: 4                                                                                                                     9 Units                                       
          MUS 3901                                                                                                                                              Orchestra 6                                            
          MUS 3902                                                                                                                                              Wind Ensemble 7                                        
          MUS 3903                                                                                                                                              Opera Production 8                                     
          MUS 3904                                                                                                                                              Choral Ensemble 9                                      
          MUS 3907                                                                                                                                              Guitar Ensemble 10                                     
          MUS 3916                                                                                                                                              Piano Ensemble 11                                      
          MUS 3917                                                                                                                                              Accompaniment 11                                       
        6 course units from:                                                                                                                                    6 Units                                       
          MUS 4301                                                                                                                                              Selected Topics in Musicology 4                        
          MUS 4310                                                                                                                                              Selected Topics in Music Theory and Analysis 4         
        21 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  21 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                                     
        
            All non-keyboard majors must submit to a proficiency exam at a Grade VI RCMT set by the School of Music at the end of the second year. This exam must be completed successfully by the end of the fifth year to obtain the BMus/BSc degree.
            Courses are selected through tutorial consultation. The Department determines the order in which some courses must be taken and can impose any courses deemed necessary for the musical development of the student: these courses may be chosen in departments other than music.

        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 MUS 1191 will determine placement in an additional weekly lab. For MUS 2306, a written test at the beginning of the course will determine if the student must also enrol for MUS 1303.

        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.

        6

        Compulsory for string students.

        7

        Compulsory for winds, brass, and percussion students.

        8

        Compulsory for voice students.

        9

        Compulsory for voice, guitar, harp, percussion, piano, winds, and brass students.

        10

        Compulsory for guitar students.

        11

        Compulsory for piano students.

        List of optional ensemble courses

        Course List
          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
          MUS 3930  Improvisation                3 Units
          
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