Bachelor of Music (Composition)
Unit of study table
| This page was first published on 13 November 2025 and was last amended on 8 January 2026. View details of the changes below. |
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| To qualify for the award of the pass degree in the Composition stream, a candidate must successully complete 192 credit points comprising: |
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| (1) 48 credit points of Principal Study units of study |
(2) 48 credit points of core units comprising; (a) 24 credit points of Music Skills units of study; and (b) 24 credit points of Analytical, Historical and Cultural Studies (AHCS) units of study, including: (i) MCGY0000 Australian Indigenous Music (0 credit point) (ii) MCGY1030 This is Music (iii) MUSC1506 Classical Music: A Cultural History (iv) MCGY2613 Music in Modern Times (v) 6cp of AHCS elective units of study |
(3) 48 credit points of additional core units of study, including: (a) 24 credit points of Composition Studies units of study; and (b) 12 credit points of Composition Studies elective units of study; and (c) 12 credit points of Performance and Ensemble units of study. |
(4) 12 credit points of Final Year Project units of study, either: (a) 12 credit points of Music Specialist Creative Project units; or (b) 12 credit points of Professional Practice Internship/Industry and Community Project Units |
(5) Either: (a) a 36 credit point minor from Table A or Table S; or (b) 36 credit points of elective units of study from Table A or Table S including a maximum of 6 credit points of units of study in the Open Learning Environment as specified in Table O. |
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition |
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Core units of study |
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Music Skills units of study |
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| MCGY1000 Aural Perception 1 |
3 | |
| MCGY1001 Aural Perception 1A |
3 | |
| MCGY1002 Aural Perception 1B |
3 | P MCGY1001 |
| MCGY1003 Aural Perception 2 |
3 | P MCGY1000 or MCGY1002 |
| MCGY2004 Aural Perception 3 |
3 | P MCGY1003 |
| MCGY2005 Aural Perception 4 |
3 | P MCGY2004 |
| MCGY1008 Harmony and Analysis 1 |
3 | A Ability to read musical notation including treble and bass clefs, and knowledge of scales, intervals and triads in tonal music |
| MCGY1009 Harmony and Analysis 2 |
3 | P MCGY1008 |
| MCGY2010 Harmony and Analysis 3 |
3 | P MCGY1009 |
| MCGY2011 Harmony and Analysis 4 |
3 | P MCGY2010 |
| JAZZ1015 Jazz Ear Training 1 |
3 | |
| JAZZ1016 Jazz Ear Training 2 |
3 | P JAZZ1015 |
| JAZZ2038 Jazz Ear Training 3 |
3 | P JAZZ1016 |
| JAZZ2039 Jazz Ear Training 4 |
3 | P JAZZ2038 |
| JAZZ1019 Jazz Harmony and Arranging 1 |
3 | |
| JAZZ1020 Jazz Harmony and Arranging 2 |
3 | P JAZZ1019 |
| JAZZ2016 Jazz Harmony and Arranging 3 |
3 | P JAZZ1020 |
| JAZZ2017 Jazz Harmony and Arranging 4 |
3 | P JAZZ2016 |
Analytical, Historical and Cultural Studies (AHCS) units of study |
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| MCGY0000 Australian Indigenous Music |
0 | |
| MCGY1030 This Is Music |
6 | |
| MUSC1506 Classical Music: A Cultural History |
6 | A The ability to follow a musical score while listening to the music and knowledge of elementary music theory |
| MCGY2613 Music in Modern Times |
6 | A Ability to read musical notation |
Analytical, Historical and Cultural Studies (AHCS) elective units of study |
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| CMPN1612 New Music, New Thinking |
6 | |
| CMPN4666 Advanced Analysis |
6 | |
| EMUS2500 Historically Informed Style Workshop |
6 | |
| JAZZ3618 Jazz Musicology and Analysis |
6 | P JAZZ2017 or JAZZ2624 |
| MCGY1019 Musicology Workshop 1 |
3 | |
| MCGY1020 Musicology Workshop 2 |
3 | P MCGY1019 |
| MCGY1031 Australian Musical Worlds |
6 | |
| MCGY2601 Perception of Music Performance |
6 | |
| MCGY2611 Music from the Middle Ages to Baroque |
6 | A Ability to read musical notation |
| MCGY2612 Music in the Classical and Romantic Eras |
6 | A The ability to read musical notation and basic knowledge of music theory |
| MCGY2613 Music in Modern Times |
6 | A Ability to read musical notation |
| MCGY2615 The Ultimate Art: 400 Years of Opera |
6 | P MCGY2611 or MCGY2612 or MCGY2613 or MUSC1506 |
| MCGY2621 Exploring Ethnomusicology |
6 | P MCGY1030 |
| MCGY3061 Advanced Harmony |
6 | P MCGY2011 |
| MCGY3602 Understanding East Asian Music |
6 | |
| MCGY3604 J.S. Bach and His World |
6 | A Broad knowledge of Baroque music equivalent to MCGY2611 or MUSC1506 |
| MCGY3629 Romanticism and the Fantastic |
6 | A It is expected that students will have some knowledge of harmonic and formal practices up to 1850 |
| MCGY3630 New Germans: Wagner and Liszt 1848-76 |
6 | A It is expected that students will have some knowledge of harmonic and formal practices up to 1850 P MCGY2612 |
| MCGY3636 Mozart's World: Music in the Age of Reason |
6 | A It is recommended that students have completed MUSC1506 or MCGY2612, or have a sound knowledge of late 18th-century repertoire |
| MUSC1506 Classical Music: A Cultural History |
6 | A The ability to follow a musical score while listening to the music and knowledge of elementary music theory |
| MUSC1507 Sounds, Screens, Speakers: Music and Media |
6 | |
| MUSC2616 Noise/Sound/Music: Engaging Sonic Worlds |
6 | |
| MUSC2638 Jazz Riots and Revolutions |
6 | |
| MUSC2644 Introduction to the Philosophy of Music |
6 | |
| MUSC2645 Psychology of Music |
6 | |
| MUSC2654 Popular Music |
6 | |
| MUSC2663 Survey of Film Music |
6 | |
| MUSC2664 Popular Music and the Moving Image |
6 | |
| MUSC2665 Chinese Music: From Concepts to Practice |
6 | A No prior knowledge of Western or Chinese score notation is presumed. |
| MUSC2666 Global Sound: Drum and Bass, Rhythm and Soul |
6 | |
| MUSC2672 Australian Popular Music |
6 | |
| MUSC2675 History of the Musical |
6 | |
| MUSC2677 Amplifying Voices and Stories Through Music |
6 | |
| MUSC2682 Musical Instruments in Society and Culture |
6 | |
| MUSC2684 Pop Musicology |
6 | P MUSC1503 or MUSC1504 or MUSC1501 or MUSC2693 or MCGY1008 or JAZZ1621 or JAZZ1019 |
| MUSC3609 Musicology |
6 | |
| MUSC3610 Musical Traditions and Globalization |
6 | |
| MUSC3629 Music and Everyday Life |
6 | |
| MUSC3631 Music in Public: Performance and Power |
6 | |
| MUSC3641 Music, Environment and Climate Change |
6 | |
| MUSC3699 Understanding Music: Modes of Hearing |
6 | |
| MUSC4214 Musicology Workshop Advanced |
6 | |
| PERF2622 Professional Practice Internship |
6 | |
| PERF3610 Professional Practice Internship 2 |
6 | P PERF2622 |
| VSAO1300 Classical Singer's Repertoire Book |
6 | |
Principal Study units of study |
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| CMPN1601 Composition 1 |
6 | |
| CMPN1602 Composition 2 |
6 | P CMPN1601 |
| CMPN2603 Composition 3 |
6 | P CMPN1602 |
| CMPN2604 Composition 4 |
6 | P CMPN2603 |
| CMPN3605 Composition 5 |
6 | P CMPN2604 or CMPN2223 |
| CMPN3606 Composition 6 |
6 | P CMPN3605 |
| CMPN4607 Composition 7 |
6 | P CMPN3606 or CMPN3336 or CMPN2223 or CMPN2334 or CMPN3236 |
| CMPN4608 Composition 8 |
6 | P CMPN4607 |
Additional Core units of study |
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Composition Studies units of study |
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| CMPN1013 Creative Music Technology |
3 | |
| CMPN1014 Sound and Video Recording Fundamentals |
3 | |
| CMPN1611 Instrumentation and Orchestration |
6 | A Students enrolling in this unit of study are expected to be able to read and understand instrumental music notation of moderate complexity |
| CMPN2320 Music Notation and Publishing |
6 | |
| CMPN3621 Advanced Composition Techniques |
6 | P CMPN2604 |
Composition Studies elective units of study |
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| CMPN1000 Composition Through Improvisation 1 |
3 | |
| CMPN1003 Composition Through Improvisation 2 |
3 | P CMPN1000 |
| CMPN1010 Creative Vocal Ensemble |
3 | |
| CMPN1014 Sound and Video Recording Fundamentals |
3 | |
| CMPN1310 Percussion Composition Workshop |
3 | |
| CMPN1611 Instrumentation and Orchestration |
6 | A Students enrolling in this unit of study are expected to be able to read and understand instrumental music notation of moderate complexity |
| CMPN1612 New Music, New Thinking |
6 | |
| CMPN2320 Music Notation |
6 | A Concurrent study with CMPN1331 is recommended where possible. Students should own a professional music notation program (e.g. Sibelius, Dorico). N CMPN2604 |
| CMPN2510 Scoring and Arranging for the Screen |
6 | |
| CMPN2613 Comp Techniques: Number and Process |
6 | P CMPN2614 |
| CMPN2614 Comp Techniques: Tonality and Process |
6 | P CMPN1612 |
| CMPN3000 Composer Performer Workshop 1 |
3 | P BRSS1601 or BRSS1611 or BRSS1621 or BRSS1631 or DRUM1601 or EMUS1611 or KEYB1621 or ORGN1601 or PERF1601 or PERF1641 or PRCN1601 or STRG1601 or STRG1611 or STRG1621 or STRG1641 or STRG1661 or STRG1671 or VSAO1611 or WIND1611 or WIND1621 or WIND1631 or WIND1641 or WIND1661 or CMPN2234 or CMPN2604 or CMPN2334 or CMPN2223 or JAZZ1601 or MUSC1401 |
| CMPN3001 Composer Performer Workshop 2 |
3 | |
| CMPN3620 Advanced Instrumentation/Orchestration |
6 | A Students should be competent in score writing and fundamental knowledge of instruments and orchestration while also having composition experience P CMPN1611 |
| CMPN3634 Interactive Media and Sound Installations |
6 | P CMPN1013 or MUSC2653 |
| CMPN3635 Writing Music for the Moving Image |
6 | P MUED1002 or CMPN1013 or MUSC2653 or MUED4002 |
| CMPN3636 Live Electronic Music Performance |
6 | A Students enrolling in this Unit of Study are expected to have previous experience with music technology, including recording and music creation software. Students will be expected to perform P (CMPN1013 or MUED1002 or MUSC2653) and (MUSC3603 or CMPN1631 or CMPN1632 or CMPN3634 or CMPN2223) |
| CMPN4000 Composer Performer Workshop 3 |
3 | P CMPN3001 |
| CMPN4001 Composer Performer Workshop 4 |
3 | P CMPN4000 |
| MUSC2614 Composition Workshop |
6 | A The ability to play a musical instrument and/or make music with digital devices. P 18 credit points of 1000-level units |
Performance and Ensemble units of study |
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| BRSS1000 Brass Ensemble 1 |
3 | |
| BRSS1001 Brass Ensemble 2 |
3 | P BRSS1000 |
| BRSS2000 Brass Ensemble 3 |
3 | P BRSS1001 |
| BRSS2001 Brass Ensemble 4 |
3 | P BRSS2000 |
| BRSS3000 Brass Ensemble 5 |
3 | P BRSS2001 |
| BRSS3001 Brass Ensemble 6 |
3 | P BRSS3000 |
| CHMB1301 Chamber Music 1 |
3 | |
| CHMB1302 Chamber Music 2 |
3 | P CHMB1301 |
| CHMB2303 Chamber Music 3 |
3 | P CHMB1302 |
| CHMB2304 Chamber Music 4 (CPW) |
3 | |
| CHMB3305 Chamber Music 5 |
3 | P CHMB2304 or CHMB2303 |
| CHMB3306 Chamber Music 6 |
3 | |
| CMPN1010 Creative Vocal Ensemble |
3 | |
| CMPN3000 Composer Performer Workshop 1 |
3 | |
| CMPN3001 Composer Performer Workshop 2 |
3 | |
| CMPN3636 Live Electronic Music Performance |
6 | |
| CMPN4000 Composer Performer Workshop 3 |
3 | |
| CMPN4001 Composer Performer Workshop 4 |
3 | |
| CPNO3611 Recital Preparation 1 |
3 | |
| CPNO3612 Recital Preparation 2 |
3 | |
| CPNO3613 Recital Preparation 3 |
3 | |
| EMUS1661 Early Keyboard Class 1 |
3 | |
| EMUS1662 Early Keyboard Class 2 |
3 | P EMUS1661 |
| EMUS1670 Pre-Baroque Practice |
6 | |
| EMUS1671 Continuo 1 |
3 | |
| EMUS1672 Continuo 2 |
3 | P EMUS1671 |
| EMUS2500 Historically Informed Style Workshop |
6 | |
| EMUS2663 Early Keyboard Class 3 |
3 | P EMUS1662 |
| EMUS2664 Early Keyboard Class 4 |
3 | P EMUS2663 |
| EMUS2673 Continuo 3 |
3 | P EMUS1672 |
| EMUS2674 Continuo 4 |
3 | P EMUS2673 |
| ENSE1018 Orchestral Experience 1 |
3 | |
| ENSE1022 Orchestral Experience 2 |
3 | P ENSE1018 |
| ENSE1041 Choir 1 |
3 | |
| ENSE1042 Choir 2 |
3 | P ENSE1041 |
| ENSE1301 Chamber Choir (Advanced) 1 |
3 | |
| ENSE1302 Chamber Choir (Advanced) 2 |
3 | P ENSE1301 or ENSE1601 |
| ENSE2043 Choir 3 |
3 | P ENSE1042 |
| ENSE2044 Choir 4 |
3 | P ENSE2043 |
| ENSE2300 Gamelan 1 |
3 | |
| ENSE2301 Gamelan 2 |
3 | |
| ENSE2303 Chamber Choir (Advanced) 3 |
3 | P ENSE1302 or ENSE1602 |
| ENSE2304 Chamber Choir (Advanced) 4 |
3 | P ENSE2303 or ENSE2603 |
| ENSE3045 Choir 5 |
3 | P ENSE2044 |
| ENSE3046 Choir 6 |
3 | P ENSE3045 |
| ENSE3305 Chamber Choir (Advanced) 5 |
3 | P ENSE2304 or ENSE2604 |
| ENSE3306 Chamber Choir (Advanced) 6 |
3 | P ENSE3305 or ENSE3605 |
| JAZZ1000 Jazz Large Ensemble 1 |
3 | |
| JAZZ1001 Jazz Large Ensemble 2 |
3 | P JAZZ1000 |
| JAZZ1025 Jazz Piano 1 |
3 | A To have a basic understanding of the names of the notes on a piano keyboard, and to have an understanding and basic ability to be able to read music notation in treble and bass clefs |
| JAZZ1026 Jazz Piano 2 |
3 | A Jazz quaver articulation. Chord tones. Ability to play the diatonic cycle harmony, 12 bar blues and ii-V-I progressions P JAZZ1025 |
| JAZZ1029 Jazz Small Ensemble 1 |
3 | |
| JAZZ1030 Jazz Small Ensemble 2 |
3 | P JAZZ1029 |
| JAZZ2002 Jazz Large Ensemble 3 |
3 | P JAZZ1001 |
| JAZZ2003 Jazz Large Ensemble 4 |
3 | P JAZZ2002 |
| JAZZ2022 Jazz Piano 3 |
3 | A Jazz quaver articulation; chord tones, to play 4-5 jazz standards reading from lead-sheets with logical voicing. Ability to play the diatonic cycle harmony, 12 bar blues and ii V I progressions P JAZZ1026 |
| JAZZ2023 Jazz Piano 4 |
3 | A Jazz quaver articulation. Chord tones. A knowledge of at least 6-8 jazz standards, and the ability to play these tunes from memory or from lead-sheets, producing logical and creative harmonic voice leading. Ability to play the diatonic cycle harmony, 12 bar blues, ii V I progressions, and interpret voice leading from reading chord symbols on lead sheets P JAZZ2022 |
| JAZZ2026 Jazz Small Ensemble 3 |
3 | P JAZZ1030 |
| JAZZ2027 Jazz Small Ensemble 4 |
3 | P JAZZ2026 |
| JAZZ2030 Jazz Vocal Workshop 1 |
3 | |
| JAZZ2031 Jazz Vocal Workshop 2 |
3 | P JAZZ2030 |
| JAZZ3012 Jazz Small Ensemble 5 |
3 | P JAZZ2027 |
| JAZZ3013 Jazz Small Ensemble 6 |
3 | P JAZZ3012 |
| JAZZ4014 Jazz Small Ensemble 7 |
3 | P JAZZ3013 |
| JAZZ4015 Jazz Small Ensemble 8 |
3 | P JAZZ4014 |
| MUED3604 Ensemble Pedagogy |
6 | |
| MUSC1300 Popular Music Ensemble |
3 | P MUSC1402 |
| MUSC2612 Music Performance |
6 | |
| MUSC2613 Music Ensembles Performance |
6 | P MUSC2612 |
| PERF2604 Chinese Music Ensemble 1 |
6 | |
| PERF2605 Chinese Music Ensemble 2 |
6 | P PERF2604 |
| PERF3000 Conducting 1 |
3 | P MCGY1030 |
| PERF3001 Conducting 2 |
3 | P PERF3000 |
| PERF3603 Advanced Conducting |
6 | P PERF3001 |
| PERF3606 Chinese Music Ensemble 3 |
6 | P PERF2605 |
| PERF3607 Chinese Music Ensemble 4 |
6 | P PERF3606 |
| PERF3608 Chinese Music Ensemble 5 (Advanced) |
6 | P PERF3607 |
| PERF3609 Chinese Music Ensemble 6 (Advanced) |
6 | P PERF3608 |
| STRG1039 Guitar Ensemble 1 |
3 | |
| STRG1040 Guitar Ensemble 2 |
3 | P STRG1039 |
| STRG2035 Guitar Ensemble 3 |
3 | P STRG1040 |
| STRG2036 Guitar Ensemble 4 |
3 | P STRG2035 |
| STRG3037 Guitar Ensemble 5 |
3 | P STRG2036 |
| STRG3038 Guitar Ensemble 6 |
3 | P STRG3037 |
| STRG4041 Guitar Ensemble 7 |
3 | P STRG3038 |
| STRG4042 Guitar Ensemble 8 |
3 | P STRG4041 |
| WIND1301 Flute Ensemble 1 |
3 | |
| WIND1302 Flute Ensemble 2 |
3 | P WIND1301 |
| WIND2303 Flute Ensemble 3 |
3 | P WIND1302 |
| WIND2304 Flute Ensemble 4 |
3 | P WIND2303 |
Final Year Project |
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Music Specialist Creative Project units of study |
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| SCMP4601 Music Specialist Creative Project 1 |
6 | |
| SCMP4602 Music Specialist Creative Project 2 |
6 | P SCMP4601 |
Professional Practice Internship/Industry and Community Project units of study |
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| PERF2622 Professional Practice Internship |
6 | |
| PERF3610 Professional Practice Internship 2 |
6 | P PERF2622 |
| PERF3640 Industry and Community Projects |
6 | A upper-level disciplinary knowledge P 72 credit points |
