The music major is available at both Fordham College at Rose Hill and Fordham College at Lincoln Center. The program covers a range of courses that include music theory, performance, and history. The program, which leads to a B.A., is an academically oriented one, aimed at liberal arts students who would like to study the history of music as a humanistic discipline. The program prepares students to go onto graduate studies, a career in teaching, or one that combines music with other disciplines.

The music major program consists of ten one-semester departmental courses:

One required course in music history:
Music History Introduction (MU 1100) or Introduction to Opera (MU 1101)

Three music history courses chosen from the following:
Music Before 1600 (MU 3110),
Baroque Music: Between Ancients and Moderns (MU 3121),
Music, Enlightenment and Revolution (MU 3122),
Romantic Music: 19th Century (MU 3123), and
Music in Modern Times: 20th Century (MU 3124)

Three courses in music theory to be taken in sequence:
Musicianship I: Counterpoint (MU 2145),
Musicianship II: Diatonic Harmony (MU 2146), and
Musicianship III: Chromatic Harmony (MU 2147).

One keyboard course and its lab, taken concurrently:
Basic Keyboard (MU 2140) and Piano Lab (MU 2141).

Two electives at the 2000 level or higher, one of which must be an American or World Music course.

The theory courses, which must be taken in sequence, are given in a two-year cycle. Students unprepared for Musicianship I: Counterpoint (MU 2145) are required to take Introduction to Musicianship and Ear-Training and Sight-Singing (MU 2120/2121), which will not apply toward the major. Students with keyboard proficiency may have the Basic Keyboard /Keyboard Lab requirement waived with approval of the department, and should then substitute a music elective instead.

Music majors with a concentration in performance may take up to eight credits of private lessons on an instrument or voice, one credit per semester, on a pass/fail basis. (Students register for Vocal/Instrumental Instruction MU 1261-1268.) A lab fee covers the cost of the lessons. On the basis of annual auditions, the Department may award some college grants covering the lab fee.

Music majors must also participate in a minimum of four semesters in a campus-based vocal or instrumental ensemble (the Concert Choir, the Women's Choir, the Liturgical Choir, the Concert Band, the Orchestra, the Chamber Music Ensemble or other approved organizations). Credit can be granted for the Concert Choir/Women's Choir (MU 1242), the Chamber Music Ensemble (MU 1252), the Concert Band (MU 1272) and the Orchestra (MU 1282).

Double Majors

The Music Major can be combined with other courses of study. Students with an interest in music might also consider a double major. A music major can go on to a career in the music industry or in arts management, for example, and might consider taking Economics or Business courses related to the arts. Fordham's College of Business Administration offers a minor in business that can be combined with the music major.

Internships

Students can receive credit for a music internship (MU 4951 – 4954) with a recording company or concert agency in New York City during their junior or senior years.

Advisement

For advising about the Music program on the Rose Hill campus, contact Dr. Larry Stempel (718) 817-4895 or Fr. James Boyce (718) 817-4893. On the Lincoln Center Campus, contact Dr. Sevin H. Yaraman (212) 636-7929. Office Hours


The Department offers a minor consisting of six one-semester departmental courses in music. Two specific courses are required: an introductory music history course (MU 1100 or 1101) and Musicianship I (MU 2145). The four additional courses can be chosen from the remaining music offerings of the department. Music minors are also eligible to participate in the Vocal/Instrumental Instruction program, but may take only up to four semesters of lessons for credit (one credit per semester on a pass/fail basis).