Program

Music / Arts - 3452

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: sam@unsw.edu.au

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Typical Duration: 5 Years  

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 240

UAC Code: 422501

Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

Award(s):

Bachelor of Arts (Major)

Bachelor of Music (Major)

View program information for previous years

Program Description

The Dual award degree Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts (BMus BA) is a five-year program (full-time) that offers intensive pre-professional training in one of four streams: Music Creative Practice, Musicology, Sonic Arts and Music Pedagogy. All streams are supported by a variety of large and small, western and non-western music ensembles as well as extensive opportunities for developing musicianship skills.

In addition, you will complete 96 UOC from the Bachelor of Arts (BA) program, including an approved Major (60 UOC) and a Minor (24 UOC).

Admission to the program is subject to a satisfactory music audition and an acceptable level of attainment in year 12 music studies or equivalent.

An Advanced Entry Scheme is available to suitably qualified applicants. Students admitted into the advanced entry scheme may receive a block credit of up to 36 UOC in Level 1 music courses.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes

Please refer to the program objectives and graduate attributes as listed for the Bachelor of Music 3436 and the Bachelor of Arts 3409.


Requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Dual Mode

Program Structure

The basic requirements for the degree in Dual mode (144 UOC) are:
  1. Musicology Core (42 UOC - seven courses)
  2. Musicianship Core (24 UOC - four courses)
  3. Performance Laboratory Core (42 UOC - seven courses)*
  4. Stream Gateway Course (6 UOC - one course)
  5. Stream Courses (12 UOC - two courses)
  6. Prescribed Music Electives (12 UOC - two courses)
  7. General Education (6 UOC - one course)
Dual Mode with Bachelor of Arts

Because both programs are internal to UNSW Arts and Social Sciences the General Education (GE) Exemption for Dual programs does not apply.

If you are completing the BMus in this Dual mode a 6 UOC UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective in the BA is replaced with an approved GE course to meet 6 UOC of the GE requirement. The other 6 UOC is to be taken by replacing MUSC3701 Performance Laboratory 5 with an approved GE course. This completes the 12 UOC GE requirement.

Level 1

Core
  • MUSC1101 Music Reinvented (6 UOC)
  • MUSC1604 Western Music: A Panorama (6 UOC)
  • MUSC1602 M&S 1 (6 UOC)
  • MUSC1603 M&S 2 (6 UOC)
  • MUSC1701 Per Lab 1 (BMus) (6 UOC) OR
    MUSC1702 Per Lab 1 (Adv) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice Stream only)
  • MUSC1704 Per Lab 2 (BMus) (6 UOC) OR
    MUSC1705 Per Lab 2 (Adv) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice Stream only)

  • Level 2

    Core
    Stream Gateway (6 UOC)

    Level 3

    Core
  • General Education (6 UOC)
  • MUSC3702 Per Lab 6 (6 UOC) OR
    MUSC3704 Per Lab 6 (MCP/MP) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice and Music Pedagogy Streams only)

  • Stream courses (12 UOC)

    Level 4 (Pass)

    Core
    Prescribed Music Electives (12 UOC)

    Streams

    The following stream specialisations are available in the Bachelor of Music:

    Prescribed Music Electives

    You must complete 12 UOC from the following list of Prescribed Music Electives:
    Note: You cannot double count your stream courses as Prescribed Music Electives. Prescribed Music Electives must be chosen from outside your stream courses.

    General Education

    General Education requires you to complete 12 UOC (two courses) offered outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. This requirement is met if you complete an external minor (for example, Studies in Psychology).

    Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) can be studied as General Education only if you are not following a major or minor in Indigenous Studies within the BA program.

    Award with Distinction

    You are eligible for the award of your Pass Degree "with Distinction" if you achieve a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 75 in all courses and complete at least 50% of the requirements of your award at UNSW.

    Honours

    If you have successfully completed all course requirements for levels 1-4, you may apply to continue your fifth year of study in the Bachelor of Music (Honours) / Bachelor of Arts program 3469. A minimum WAM of 70 is required for entry into Honours. Please refer to the Bachelor of Music (Honours) / Bachelor of Arts program 3474 for further information.

    Performance Ensembles

    You must take part in a required number of the performance ensembles offered by the School.

    Academic Rules

    To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, you must:
    1. enrol in the Bachelor of Music and complete 144 UOC
    2. complete the core requirements
    3. complete the stream courses and prescribed elective requirements
    4. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
    5. specify your major at the time of enrolment into Level 2
    6. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 2 courses before enrolling in Level 3 courses
    7. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 3 courses before enrolling in Level 4 courses
    8. complete 6 UOC of General Education

    Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Dual Mode

    Program Structure

    If you study in dual mode, you will complete:
    1. a home major of 60 UOC (ten courses) selected from the list of UNSW BA approved home major streams;
    2. a minor stream of 24 UOC (four courses) selected from the list of UNSW BA approved home and external major streams or dedicated minor streams;
    3. 6 UOC Prescribed Elective (one course) of any other courses offered from within the Arts and Social Sciences.
    4. 6 UOC General Education (one course)
    Details of home majors and minors available can be found on the Bachelor of Arts 3409 program page.

    UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives

    UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives are any courses chosen from the offerings of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. Students can add depth to their major or minor stream (above the minimum requirements) or undertake other courses from other areas of study within UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) cannot be studied as UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives.

    ARTS2050 Academic Writing for the Humanities (6 UOC)
    HUMS1005 Personalised English Language Enhancement (6 UOC)

    These courses, ARTS2050 and HUMS1005, can be counted as UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives or Free Electives.

    General Education

    General Education requires you to complete 12 UOC (two courses) offered outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. This requirement is met if you complete an external minor (for example, Studies in Psychology).

    Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) can be studied as General Education only if you are not following a major or minor in Indigenous Studies within the BA program.

    Award with Distinction

    You are eligible for the award of your Pass Degree "with Distinction" if you achieve a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 75 in all courses and complete at least 50% of the requirements of your award at UNSW.

    Honours

    After completion of 144 UOC including all of the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts dual degree, you may apply for admission to the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the stream(s) seeking to be further studied.

    Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504

    Academic Rules

    To qualify for the award of the degree at Pass level, you must:
    1. complete 96 UOC in the BA;
    2. complete the requirements for one 60 UOC home major stream;
    3. complete the requirements for one 24 UOC minor stream;
    4. complete a 6 UOC Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective;
    5. complete 6 UOC of General Education;
    6. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses;
    7. specify your major(s)/minor at the time of enrolment into Level 2;
    8. complete at least 48 UOC overall, including 6 UOC at Level 1 and 6 UOC at Level 2 in your major/minor, before enrolling in Level 3 courses

    Sample Program

    It is strongly recommended that students follow the sample program to ensure compliance with course requirements.

    Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Arts (PASS)
    Level 1
    Semester 1
    MUSC1101 Music Reinvented (6 UOC)MUSC1602 Materials & Structures 1
    (6 UOC)
    Minor Stream
    (6 UOC)
    Home Major Stream (6 UOC)
    Level 1
    Semester 2
    MUSC1604 Western Music: a Panorama (6 UOC)MUSC1603 Materials & Structures 2
    (6 UOC)
    Minor Stream
    (6 UOC)
    Home Major Stream (6 UOC)
    Level 2
    Semester 1
    MUSC1701 Performance Lab 1
    (6 UOC) OR
    MUSC1702 Performance Lab 1 (Adv) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice stream only)
    MUSC2602 Materials & Structures 3 
    (6 UOC)
    Minor Stream
    (6 UOC)
    Home Major Stream (6 UOC)
    Level 2
    Semester 2
    MUSC1704 Performance Lab 2
    (6 UOC) OR
    MUSC1705 Performance Lab 2 (Adv) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice stream only)
    MUSC2603 Materials & Structures 4
    (6 UOC)
    Minor Stream
    (6 UOC)
    Home Major Stream (6 UOC)
    Level 3
    Semester 1
    MUSC2701 Performance Lab 3
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC2116 Sound, Society, and Self in World Music
    (6 UOC)
    Home Major Stream (6 UOC)Home Major Stream (6 UOC)
    Level 3
    Semester 2
    MUSC2702 Performance Lab 4
    (6 UOC)
    Stream Gateway Course (6 UOC)UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective (6 UOC)Home Major Stream (6 UOC)
    Level 4
    Semester 1
    General Education
    (6 UOC)
    Stream course
    (6 UOC)
    General Education
    (6 UOC)
    Home Major Stream (6 UOC)
    Level 4
    Semester 2
    MUSC3702 Performance Lab 6 (6 UOC) OR
    MUSC3704 Performance Lab 6 (MCP/MP) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice and Music Pedagogy streams only)
    Stream course
    (6 UOC)
    Home Major Stream (6 UOC)Home Major Stream (6 UOC)
    Level 5 - PASS
    Level 5
    Semester 1
    MUSC4701 Performance Lab 7
    (6 UOC) OR
    MUSC4703 Performance Lab 7 (MCP) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice stream only)
    MUSC4103 Advanced Studies in Music History & Culture 1 (6 UOC)MUSC4101 Critical Investigation in Music (6 UOC)Prescribed Music Elective (6 UOC)
    Level 5
    Semester 2
    MUSC4702 Performance Lab 8 (6 UOC) OR
    MUSC4704 Performance Lab 8 (MCP) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice stream only)
    MUSC4104 Advanced Studies in Music History & Culture 2 (6 UOC)MUSC4102 Critical Practice in Music (6 UOC)Prescribed Music Elective (6 UOC)
     
    Key
    Performance labs
    Musicology
    Musicianship
    Stream courses
    Prescribed Music Electives
    Arts Component

    Fees

    For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

    Important Information

    The Academic Rules for the UNSW BMusBA and the online enrolment facility provide you with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that you have met the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. You are responsible for ensuring you are enrolling in courses that meet the Academic Rules outlined above. You should take care not to assume that because you have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to your degree program. If you need more help or want to check that your enrolment meets the program rules, get in touch with the Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre.

    Glossary of Terms


    Further Information

    Admission to the program is subject to a satisfactory audition/interview and an acceptable level of attainment in year 12 studies or equivalent. Assumed knowledge: HSC Music 2 or Extension or equivalent qualification.

    For more information on the audition/interview, please contact school

    For all other enquiries, please contact the UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre.
    Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
    Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
    Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
    Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
    Frequently asked questions

    Area(s) of Specialisation