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    * Bachelor of Music (BMUS)

  Bachelor of Music (BMUS)

      120 Units

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      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 comprehensive training 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.

      This program is offered in English and in French.

      Additional requirement: admission to the BMus requires an audition. Consult the School of Music guidelines.

      All non-keyboard majors must submit to a proficiency exam set by the School of Music at the end of the 2nd year. This exam must be completed successfully by the end of the 4th year to obtain the BMus degree.

      Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2025-2026 calendars for the previous requirements.

      Course List
        Code                                                                                                                                                     Title                                                  Units  
        Basic Skills                                                                                                                                                                                                  
        ENG 1100                                                                                                                                                 Workshop in Essay Writing                              3 Units
        3 course units from:                                                                                                                                     3 Units                                              
          AHL 1100                                                                                                                                               Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study in the Arts 1         
          AHL 1900                                                                                                                                               Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study in the Arts 1         
          ENG 1120                                                                                                                                               Selected Topics in Literature and Composition                 
        Compulsory courses at the 1000 level                                                                                                                                                                          
        MUS 1032                                                                                                                                                 Applied Music I: Performance BMUS 2                    6 Units
        3 course units from: 3                                                                                                                                   3 Units                                              
          MUS 1191                                                                                                                                               Sight-Singing and Dictation I: General                        
          MUS 1194                                                                                                                                               Sight-Singing and Dictation I: Enriched                       
        Compulsory courses at the 2000 level                                                                                                                                                                          
        MUS 2032                                                                                                                                                 Applied Music II: Performance BMUS 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 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
        Ensemble courses 6                                                                                                                                                                                            
        12 course units of ensemble from:                                                                                                                        12 Units                                             
          MUS 3901                                                                                                                                               Orchestra 8                                                   
          MUS 3902                                                                                                                                               Wind Ensemble 9                                               
          MUS 3903                                                                                                                                               Opera Production 10                                           
          MUS 3904                                                                                                                                               Choral Ensemble 11                                            
          MUS 3907                                                                                                                                               Guitar Ensemble 12                                            
          MUS 3916                                                                                                                                               Piano Ensemble 13                                             
          MUS 3917                                                                                                                                               Accompaniment 13                                              
        Optional courses                                                                                                                                                                                              
        6 course units from:                                                                                                                                     6 Units                                              
          MUS 3030                                                                                                                                               Applied Music III 2                                           
          MUS 3032                                                                                                                                               Applied Music III: Performance BMUS 2, 7                      
        6 course units from:                                                                                                                                     6 Units                                              
          MUS 4301                                                                                                                                               Selected Topics in Musicology 1                               
          MUS 4310                                                                                                                                               Selected Topics in Music Theory and Analysis 1                
        36 optional course units in music (MUS) with the possibility of taking 12 course units of ensemble courses from the list of optional ensemble courses 5  36 Units                                             
        3 elective course units in a discipline other than music (MUS)                                                                                           3 Units                                              
        3 course units in French as a second language (FLS) 4                                                                                                    3 Units                                              
        6 elective course units, except for ensemble courses                                                                                                     6 Units                                              
        Total:                                                                                                                                                   120 Units                                            
        

        Note(s)

        1

        This course has variable topics. Students may take this course twice.

        2

        Students failing an applied music course (MUS 1032, MUS 2032, MUS 3030, MUS 3032) will be asked by the School of Music to withdraw from the BMus.

        3

        A written test at the beginning of MUS 1191 will determine if a student must participate 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

        An exemption from this requirement is given to students who obtain an equivalency for the language proficiency test or who pass a music (MUS) course offered in French. The course is then to be replaced by 3 elective course units.

        5

        The course AMT 3105 can count towards this requirement.

        6

        Students may repeat ensemble courses for credit. Ensemble units over the required 12 units count as optional music courses (maximum of 12 additional units for a maximum of 24 ensemble units).

        7

        Students who successfully complete MUS 3032 will be granted permission to enrol in MUS 4032 or MUS 4035.

        8

        Compulsory for string students.

        9

        Compulsory for winds, brass, and percussion students.

        10

        Compulsory for voice students

        11

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

        12

        Compulsory for guitar students.

        13

        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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