Senior and Honors Projects

The Bass School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology offers students in the Music concentration an exciting opportunity to showcase their skills and creative abilities through the Senior and Honors Projects. This program allows eligible students to engage in advanced scholarly and artistic work, providing a platform for recognition within the School.

As part of their degree requirements, Music concentration students must complete a Senior Project, which can take the form of a recital, a scholarly paper, or an original musical composition. To ensure the project’s success, each student selects a faculty supervisor—preferably a tenured or tenure-track professor. Non-tenure/tenure-track faculty members can supervise the project in exceptional cases, with approval from the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies (ADU). It’s recommended that students begin planning early, ideally meeting with potential supervisors one or two semesters in advance. The supervisor will also help students select a second reader for the project.

Students who are eligible for Major Honors use their Major Honors in place of their Senior Project. Student must complete the requirements for the project as well as additional honor requirements.

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Project Options

Recital Option

For those pursuing the recital option, students will present a 30-minute public performance showcasing works studied under their supervisor. The performance should include a variety of musical styles and genres. A written program is required, which must be approved by the supervisor. There is no additional paper required for this option. For students seeking Major Honors, the recital must include a set of historic program notes (minimum of five pages).

Scholarly Paper Option

Students opting for a scholarly paper will research and write a substantial, critical paper on a specific music topic, typically related to music history or theory. The paper should be at least 20 pages in length and demonstrate mastery of the field, with the student offering independent analysis and conclusions. For Major Honors, the paper must be at least 30 pages in length, which can be split into two shorter papers.

Substantive Musical Composition Option

The composition option allows students to create an original piece of music that is at least 20 minutes long. Students are encouraged to pay attention to formal, stylistic, and historical content in their work. The composition must be submitted with both a score and a recording. A public performance of the composition is encouraged but not required. For Major Honors, the composition must also include a formal analysis (minimum of five pages).

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Eligibility and Requirements

To participate in the Music Senior Project, students must have completed at least 90 semester credit hours. Students eligible for Major Honors will use their Major Honors in place of the Senior Project, completing the requirements for the project as well as additional honor requirements.

Registering for Senior Project

To register for the Senior Project, students must complete the Application and Registration for Music Senior Project form in consultation with their advisor. After the form is signed by the supervisor (and second reader, if applicable), it is submitted to the Academic Advising Suite, where students will then be able to register for three hours of credit under the course number MUSI 4390 (or VPAS 4V99).