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Curriculum

General Information
First Year Requirements
Second, Third & Fourth Year Requirements
Summary of Requirements

The Department of Music offers courses designed to meet the needs of students reading for a degree with either a specialist or non-specialist emphasis on music. Our curriculum has been designed with the following aims in mind:

  • To deepen students’ understanding of the functions, concepts, structures, and values of music and its role in society;
  • To broaden students' knowledge of the diverse musical cultures of the world and their histories, styles, and ideas;
  • To train students to think critically about music and equip them with the verbal skills which will enable them to articulate their thinking;
  • To promote creative activity in the composition and performance of music as a mode of discourse that uniquely complements other modes of discourse in the humanities;
  • To provide a comprehensive education that integrates the activities of scholarship, composition, and performance, connecting them to the larger world of learning in the humanities, the sciences, and commerce.
The curriculum consists of a series of courses covering a wide range of topics and approaches at introductory and advanced levels. Cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary interests are particularly encouraged.

Music Syllabus and Complete List of Undergraduate Courses

Only courses offered in the current academic year are listed on this website. Students may refer to the Music Syllabus of their respective cohorts for a complete list of our undergraduate courses:
Music Syllabus
(2023/24 Cohort)
Music Syllabus
(2022/23 Cohort)
Music Syllabus
(2021/22 Cohort)
Music Syllabus
(2020/21 Cohort)

2017/18 and Earlier Cohorts

At HKU Arts, a student is bound by the regulations as stipulated in the syllabus of the year when the student is admitted. The undergraduate requirements listed on this website are for 2018/19 and later cohorts. BA Regulations and Syllabuses for 2017/18 and earlier cohorts are available here.
The current syllabus differs from those of 2017/18 and earlier cohorts in that:
Note that all requirement-related changes listed above are applicable retroactively to students admitted in 2017/18 or before. In this regard, this table guides you through the various scenarios to ensure you fulfil the pertinent requirements for a major or minor in Music. Should you have doubts or questions about the scenarios listed, please feel free to seek advice from Music’s Undergraduate Coordinator .
(Music Majors of the 2015/16 cohort, note that MUSI2052 Advanced Tonal Chromaticism and Analysis has been replaced by MUSI2074 Contrapuntal Techniques and Styles since 2016/17. And this change is applicable retroactively to students admitted in 2015/16 or before. In other words, if you have taken and passed MUSI2052, fine; you may consider taking MUSI2074 as an elective. If you have not taken MUSI2052, please take MUSI2074.)

First year music scholars/specialists and intending majors must take:

Music Majors
Music Minors
Capstone Experience courses

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Music Majors (including Music Scholars/Specialists)

A major in Music shall consist of 54 credit units of Level 2000, 3000, and 4000 courses from the music syllabus taken in the third to eighth semesters. As a prerequisite, music majors and specialists must take:

In addition, all music majors and specialists must take at least 24 elective credits of Level 2000, 3000, or 4000 advanced courses, of which at least one course should be Capstone Experience course, and no more than two courses are performance courses (MUSI2047, MUSI2066, MUSI2068, MUSI3019, MUSI3021, MUSI3032, MUSI4001, and MUSI4002). This also applies to exchange credits transferred to fulfil the major requirements.

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Music Minors

To obtain a minor in Music, students are required to take MUSI1025 The art of listening (6 credits) and at least ONE of the following two courses:
In addition, all music minors must take at least 24 elective credits of Level 2000, 3000, and 4000 courses from the music syllabus in the third to eighth semesters, of which at least three courses should be advanced courses, and no more than two courses can be performance courses (MUSI2047, MUSI2066, MUSI2068, MUSI3019, MUSI3021, MUSI3032, MUSI4001, and MUSI4002). This also applies to exchange credits transferred to fulfil the minor requirements.

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Capstone Experience courses

Capstone Experience is a graduation requirement for music majors and specialists. Capstone Experience courses are designed to allow students to advance their analytical thinking by permitting the application of disciplinary knowledge and principles learned in the first and second years. The requirement can be fulfilled by taking at least one of the following courses:

Summary of Requirements

Click below to download a checklist of the requirements for music major/minor (for cohorts 2018/19 and after):
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Music Major Requirements
Music Minor Requirements

Curriculum Flow Chart

This flow chart is a tool to help you visualise the relationships between the many courses you may take to satisfy the requirements for your intended degree. You may also use it to develop a plan for your concentration in a particular field of interest, i.e. composition/theory, musicology, or performance, and to determine the courses you need to take to accomplish your goal. The flow chart, however, is not a substitute for reading the course descriptions or the Music Syllabus of your respective year. When in doubt, always refer to the curriculum and the course descriptions; and do not hesitate to seek advice from the teachers concerned or contact the .
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click to view and download