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Program

Music (Honours) - 3440

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: sam@unsw.edu.au

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Typical Duration: 4 Years  

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 192

Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

Award(s):

Bachelor of Music (Honours)

View program information for previous years

Program Description

THIS PROGRAM IS FOR STUDENTS TRANSFERRING INTO HONOURS FROM PROGRAM 3436 BACHELOR OF MUSIC THROUGH A UNSW INTERNAL PROGRAM TRANSFER.

The Bachelor of Music (Honours) is specifically for high-achieving students already admitted to the 4-year Bachelor of Music program 3436. It allows Bachelor of Music students to spend their final year of study completing a research thesis or a practice-based research project and thesis as well as undertaking discipline specific research training through the coursework component.

The first three years of the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music (Honours) are common to both degrees. Before transferring to the Bachelor of Music (Honours) students must successfully complete all core and stream requirements for levels 1-3 of the Bachelor of Music, attain a minimum WAM of 70 in Music courses and, in Single mode, must have completed all General Education, Free Elective and UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective requirements. Students undertaking the Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Dual mode must complete all core and stream requirements for levels 1-3 (96 UOC) of the Bachelor of Music before proceeding to level 4.

Students undertaking the Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Dual mode with the Bachelor of Arts must also have completed their General Education requirements (12 UOC) by the end of year three.

For a detailed description of years 1-3 of the Bachelor of Music (Honours), please refer to the program description for the Bachelor of Music 3436 and the relevant stream information.

The Bachelor of Music (Honours) can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 4 years) and in Dual mode (the equivalent of three years full-time) or part-time.

The Bachelor of Music (Honours) has a depth component and a breadth component. Students enrolled in single mode do both the depth and breadth component while students enrolled in Dual mode only complete the depth component. Dual mode enables students to complete a degree in music and another degree.

The Depth (Blue Zone) component is:

Levels 1-3
  • The completion of core courses at levels 1-3 (78 UOC - 13 courses)
  • The completion of a stream including the Gateway course (6 UOC - 1 course) and two Stream courses (12 UOC - 2 courses)
Level 4
  • The completion of a research-based course (6 UOC)
  • The completion of a practice-based course (6 UOC)
  • The completion of a research thesis (36 UOC)
OR
  • The completion of a research-based course (6 UOC)
  • The completion of a practice-based course (6 UOC)
  • The completion of a Creative Practice research project (24 UOC)
  • The completion of a research thesis (12 UOC)
The Breadth (Green Zone) component is:
  1. UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives (12 UOC - 2 courses)
  2. Free Electives (24 UOC - 4 courses)
  3. General Education (12 UOC- 2 courses)
Note: Single mode students intending to transfer to the Honours program must complete all Blue Zone level 1-3 core courses and Stream course requirements as well as all Green Zone course requirements before proceeding to level 4. A minimum WAM of 70 is required for entry to the Honours program.

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The Bachelor of Music (Honours) enables students to develop skills and knowledge in music as preparation for professional work in areas as diverse as music performance, arranging and composition, studio teaching, research, broadcasting and recording, arts administration, music and arts journalism, and music technology and sound design. It also equips students with discipline specific research skills and may be a pathway into a Higher Degree Research program.

Program Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this program students should be able to:
  1. Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in musicology or composition, and/or demonstrate the skills required for advanced musical performance
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of research principles and methods in musicology, composition, and/or performance practice
  3. Demonstrate cognitive skills that review, analyse, consolidate and synthesize musical knowledge
  4. Identify and formulate solutions to complex musicological and aesthetic problems with intellectual and creative independence
  5. Demonstrate a broad and detailed understanding of Western music literature and the musical-theoretical concepts that underpin it
  6. Demonstrate an ability to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse musical contexts
  7. Demonstrate initiative and judgement in scholarship and creative music making
  8. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning and practice and musical leadership in collaborative situations
  9. Demonstrate communication skills to present a coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences
  10. Construct a research and/or creative project that demonstrates technical skills in research and design, or skill in creative problem-solving
  11. Construct a research and/or creative project that demonstrates critical thinking and/or aesthetic judgment in developing new understanding, or in producing professional musical performance or composition

Program Structure
The basic requirements for the degree are:

Single mode (192 UOC) made up of
  1. Musicology Core (30 UOC - 5 courses)
  2. Musicianship Core (24 UOC - 4 courses)
  3. Performance Laboratory Core (36 UOC - 6 courses)
  4. Stream Gateway Course (6 UOC - 1 course)
  5. Stream Courses (12 UOC - 2 courses)
  6. Research thesis and/or Creative Practice Project (36 UOC)
  7. UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives (12 UOC - 2 courses)
  8. Free Electives (24 UOC - 4 courses)
  9. General Education (12 UOC - 2 courses)
Dual mode (144 UOC) made up of
  1. Musicology Core (30 UOC - 5 courses)
  2. Musicianship Core (24 UOC - 4 courses)
  3. Performance Laboratory Core (36 UOC - 6 courses)
  4. Stream Gateway Course (6 UOC - 1 course)
  5. Stream Courses (12 UOC - 2 courses)
  6. Research thesis and/or Creative Practice Project (36 UOC)

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
  • MUSC3701 Per Lab 5 (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

    OR

    Streams

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

    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.

    Free Electives

    A Free Elective is any course offered either within or outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences in which the student is able to enroll. Students can add depth to their program by completing more stream or music electives.

    ARTS2050 Academic Writing for the Humanities

    This course is available as a UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective or Free Elective for students wishing to develop their academic writing skills. Click here for further details about the course.

    General Education

    General Education is the completion of two courses (12 UOC) offered outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. This requirement is met if an external major or minor (for example, Economics) is completed. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) can be studied as General Education only if students are not following a major or minor in Indigenous Studies within the BA program.

    University Medal

    An honours student in this program may be nominated for a University Medal in line with the University Medal Policy (http://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/documents/medalspolicy.pdf) and Procedures (http://www.gs.unsw.edu.au/policy/documents/medalsprocedure.pdf).

    Honours

    Honours will be awarded in the following classes, based on the student's WAM rounded to the nearest whole number:
    • Honours Class I (WAM of 85 or higher)
    • Honours Class II Division 1, (WAM of 75-84)
    • Honours Class II Division 2 (WAM of 65-74)
    • Honours Class III (WAM of 50-64)

    Performance Ensembles

    Bachelor of Music (Honours) students must take part in a required number of the performance ensembles offered by the School.

    Sample Program

    It is strongly recommended that students follow the sample program to ensure compliance with course requirements. The sample program applies to students who commenced their program in 2014 or later. Students who commenced their program prior to 2014 should consult the School office.

    Bachelor of Music (Honours) Sample Program
     
    Level 1
    Semester 1
    MUSC1101 Music Reinvented
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC1602 Materials & Structures 1
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC1701 Performance Lab 1
    (6 UOC)
    OR
    MUSC1702 Performance Lab 1 (Adv) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice stream only) 
    General Education
    (6 UOC)
    Level 1
    Semester 2
    MUSC1604 Western Music: a Panorama
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC1603 Materials & Structures 2
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC1704 Performance Lab 2
    (6 UOC)
    OR
    MUSC1705 Performance Lab 2 (Adv) (6 UOC) (Music Creative Practice stream only)
    Free Elective
    (6 UOC)
    Level 2
    Semester 1
    MUSC2116 Sound, Society, and Self in World Music (6 UOC)
    MUSC2602 Materials & Structures 3 
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC2701 Performance Lab 3 (6 UOC)
     
    		 General Education (6 UOC)
    Level 2
    Semester 2
    Stream Gateway Course
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC2603 Materials & Structures 4
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC2702 Performance Lab 4
    (6 UOC)
    Free Elective
    (6 UOC)
    Level 3
    Semester 1
    UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective
    (6 UOC)
    Stream Course 
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC3701 Performance Lab 5
    (6 UOC)
    Free Elective
    (6 UOC)
    Level 3
    Semester 2
    UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective
    (6 UOC)
    Stream Course
    (6 UOC)
    MUSC3702 Performance Lab 6
    (6 UOC)
    OR
    MUSC3704 Performance Lab 6 (MCP/MP) (6 UOC)
    (Music Creative Practice and Music Pedagogy streams only)
    Free Elective
    (6 UOC)
    Level 4 - HONOURS
    Semester 1
    MUSC4101 Critical Investigation in Music (6 UOC)
    Creative Practice-based project
    (12 UOC)
    Thesis (6 UOC)
    Semester 2
    		 MUSC4102 Critical Practice in Music (6 UOC)
    Creative Practice-based project
    (12 UOC)
    Thesis (6 UOC)
    OR
    Semester 1
    MUSC4101 Critical Investigation in Music (6 UOC)
                                   Thesis (18 UOC)
    Semester 2
    		 MUSC4102 Critical Practice in Music (6 UOC)
                                   Thesis (18 UOC)
     
    Performance labs
    Musicology
    Musicianship
    Stream courses
    Thesis/Project
    Free Electives and General Education


    Academic Rules

    Single Mode

    To qualify for the award of the degree at Honours level, a student must:
    1. enrol in the Bachelor of Music and complete 192 UOC
    2. complete the core requirements
    3. complete the stream courses and prescribed music elective requirements
    4. complete 12 UOC of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives
    5. complete 24 UOC of Free Electives
    6. complete 12 UOC of General Education
    7. complete the Research thesis and/or Creative Practice Project
    8. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
    9. specify their major at the time of enrolment into Level 2
    10. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 2 courses before enrolling in Level 3 courses
    11. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 3 courses before enrolling in Level 4 courses

    Dual Mode

    To qualify for the award of the degree at Honours level, a student 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 the Research thesis and/or Creative Practice Project
    5. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
    6. specify their major at the time of enrolment into Level 2
    7. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 2 courses before enrolling in Level 3 courses
    8. complete at least 36 UOC of Level 3 courses before enrolling in Level 4 courses

    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 BMus (Hons) and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.

    Further Information
    Contact the UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre for advice.
    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

    Glossary of Terms
    Area(s) of Specialisation
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