Music Joint Major (MCJ1)

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The School aims to equip its students with essential skills necessary to understand music in terms of both its historical developments and its formal and structural components, as well as its function in society. Close links between academic and practical studies lie at the heart of the school's educational ethos. It aims to instil integrity, further excellence, help to develop a critical and creative attitude and improve the musical and textual expressivity of its students.



BA graduates pursue music-related careers in a broad range of areas including teaching, journalism, arts administration, the music industry, academia and performance. The programme is aimed at a diverse mix of leaving certificate students, mature learners and an increasing international cohort.



The music programme benefits from its international outlook; its lecturers stem from Ireland, Europe and the US, holding degrees from six different countries. Its vibrant student community also includes many international students. A number of general elective modules and a high number of elective students from other disciplines ensure an interdisciplinary atmosphere within the School. Elements of academic and practical music education mutually reinforce each other; students can participate in choirs, an orchestra and an Indonesian gamelan ensemble for credit (and have the opportunity to get involved in organising concerts and other musical activities). Through its ensembles the School is involved in many cultural on- and off-campus activities that broaden students' horizons. The School's comparatively small size means that students quickly develop a strong esprit the corps and get to know all lecturers very quickly.



The School pursues a wide variety of teaching and learning approaches, from the traditional lecture and seminar formats to tutorials, group work, problem-based learning, practical musicianship through membership in the School's ensembles, and field work, all facilitated by online support. The lecturers as well as guest speakers in our seminar series ensure that much of the teaching is informed by the latest research. The School applies formative and summative assessment strategies which are peer-reviewed where appropriate and include essays, exams, reviews, group presentations, poster presentations and reflective journals.


1 - Students will be able to recognise a range of musical forms, techniques and styles of Western and some non-Western musical cultures.
2 - Students will have an understanding of how all music reflects the societies it stems from, as well as in turn contributing to their individual, social and cultural development.
3 - Students will have gained insights into the mutual dependency of practical musicianship and musical scholarship, enabling them to utilise one area to progress in the other one after the end of their studies.
4 - Students will be aware of the central role of critical and original thinking when engaging with different types of tasks and problems.
5 - Students will have practiced finding reliable sources of information on music-related matters, distinguishing them from unreliable ones, planning and executing research and presenting its results.
6 - Students will have learned to be open to the unknown and to engage with musical cultures distant in time and/or space on their own respective terms.
In Stage 2, BA students studying music as a joint major subject will deepen and fortify their knowledge in compositional techniques, analytical methods, keyboard and music technology skills. In addition they will be introduced to ethnomusicological issues and Irish traditional music and will deepen their understanding of music history and musicological methods.

In Stage 3, students are required to take one of the Seminar in Musicology modules where they are introduced to current musicological research presented by leading national and international guest speakers. Students must also choose two ten-credit modules (from the Option Modules list) enabling them to deepen their knowledge in specific areas of ethno/musicology and hone research and writing skills.
Stage 2

BA Music students are required to take four level 2 core modules plus one option at Stage 2. Performance modules can be taken as electives.

Stage 3

BA Music students are required to take one level 3 Seminar in Musicology module and any two modules from the Option Modules list. Performance modules can be taken as electives. Note that the Extra Musicology Seminar is only taken by students who have returned from Erasmus.

Stage 4

BA Music students are required to take one level 3 seminar in musicology module and any two modules from the Option Modules list. Performance modules can be taken as electives. Note that the Extra Musicology Seminar is only taken by students who have returned from Erasmus.

Module ID Module Title Trimester Credits
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
MUS20400 Early European Music Autumn 5
MUS20650 Music Theory 2 Autumn 5
MUS20410 Music History Since 1750 Spring 5
MUS20640 Music Theory 3 Spring 5
Stage 2 Core Modules
     
Stage 2 Options - A)1OF:
Students must complete one of the following option modules.
     
MUS20080 Musics of the World Autumn 5
MUS20030 Studies in Irish Music Spring 5
Stage 2 Options - A)1OF:
Students must complete one of the following option modules.
     
Stage 2 Options - B)MINOF:
Students are required to have taken both of these modules to complete their degree. If these modules have not been completed at Stage 1, one can be taken in lieu of an elective.
     
MUS10150 Writing about Music Autumn 5
MUS10120 Music, Culture and Society Spring 5
Stage 2 Options - B)MINOF:
Students are required to have taken both of these modules to complete their degree. If these modules have not been completed at Stage 1, one can be taken in lieu of an elective.
     
Stage 2 Options - C)MIN0OF:
Modules from this list are NOT mandatory at any level for the BA Music Degree. Please note some performance modules are by AUDITION ONLY. Do not register to these modules until AFER you have passed your audition.
     
MUS20090 UCD Philharmonic Choir 1 Autumn 5
MUS20190 UCD Choral Scholars 1 Autumn 5
MUS20200 UCD Symphony Orchestra 1 Autumn 5
MUS20310 Popular Music and Culture Autumn 5
MUS20590 UCD Gamelan Ensemble 5 Autumn 5
MUS20690 UCD Composition Ensemble 3 Autumn 5
MUS20610 Music in Ireland Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
MUS20180 UCD Philharmonic Choir 2 Spring 5
MUS20220 UCD Choral Scholars 2 Spring 5
MUS20230 UCD Symphony Orchestra 2 Spring 5
MUS20600 UCD Gamelan Ensemble 6 Spring 5
MUS20700 UCD Composition Ensemble 4 Spring 5
MUS20710 Ad Astra Chamber Orchestra 2 Spring 5
MUS31330 Post-Truth, Politics & Music Spring 5
Stage 2 Options - C)MIN0OF:
Modules from this list are NOT mandatory at any level for the BA Music Degree. Please note some performance modules are by AUDITION ONLY. Do not register to these modules until AFER you have passed your audition.
     
Stage 3 Options - A)1OF:
Seminars in Musicology: students should select of the seminar modules.
     
MUS30560 UCD Seminar in Musicology 1 Autumn 5
MUS30570 UCD Seminar in Musicology 2 Spring 5
Stage 3 Options - A)1OF:
Seminars in Musicology: students should select of the seminar modules.
     
Stage 3 Options - B)2 OF:
Option Modules: students must select two of the following modules.
     
MUS31280 The Symphony in Europe Autumn 10
MUS31290 Introduction to the Orchestra Autumn 10
MUS31300 Blues and Jazz Autumn 10
MUS31270 The Ethnomusicology of Popular Music Spring 10
MUS31360 Manuscript Sources: Imagining Music and Society, 900-1600 Spring 10
MUS31380 Baroque Opera Tropes Spring 10
Stage 3 Options - B)2 OF:
Option Modules: students must select two of the following modules.
     
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN0OF:
Students are required to have taken both of these modules to complete their degree. If these modules have not been completed at stage 1, one can be taken in lieu of an elective.
     
MUS10150 Writing about Music Autumn 5
MUS10120 Music, Culture and Society Spring 5
Stage 3 Options - C)MIN0OF:
Students are required to have taken both of these modules to complete their degree. If these modules have not been completed at stage 1, one can be taken in lieu of an elective.
     
Stage 3 Options - D)MIN0OF:
Modules from this list are NOT mandatory at any level for the BA Music Degree. Please note some performance modules, including Recital are by AUDITION ONLY. Do not register to these modules until AFTER you have passed your audition.
     
MUS20090 UCD Philharmonic Choir 1 Autumn 5
MUS20190 UCD Choral Scholars 1 Autumn 5
MUS20200 UCD Symphony Orchestra 1 Autumn 5
MUS20310 Popular Music and Culture Autumn 5
MUS20590 UCD Gamelan Ensemble 5 Autumn 5
MUS20690 UCD Composition Ensemble 3 Autumn 5
MUS20610 Music in Ireland Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
MUS31240 Dissertation Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
MUS31250 3rd Year Recital Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
MUS20180 UCD Philharmonic Choir 2 Spring 5
MUS20220 UCD Choral Scholars 2 Spring 5
MUS20230 UCD Symphony Orchestra 2 Spring 5
MUS20600 UCD Gamelan Ensemble 6 Spring 5
MUS20700 UCD Composition Ensemble 4 Spring 5
MUS20710 Ad Astra Chamber Orchestra 2 Spring 5
MUS31330 Post-Truth, Politics & Music Spring 5
Stage 3 Options - D)MIN0OF:
Modules from this list are NOT mandatory at any level for the BA Music Degree. Please note some performance modules, including Recital are by AUDITION ONLY. Do not register to these modules until AFTER you have passed your audition.
     
Stage 4 Options - A)1OF:
Seminars in Musicology: students should select of the seminar modules.
     
MUS30560 UCD Seminar in Musicology 1 Autumn 5
MUS30570 UCD Seminar in Musicology 2 Spring 5
Stage 4 Options - A)1OF:
Seminars in Musicology: students should select of the seminar modules.
     
Stage 4 Options - B)2 OF:
Option Modules: students must select two of the following modules.
     
MUS31280 The Symphony in Europe Autumn 10
MUS31290 Introduction to the Orchestra Autumn 10
MUS31300 Blues and Jazz Autumn 10
MUS31270 The Ethnomusicology of Popular Music Spring 10
MUS31360 Manuscript Sources: Imagining Music and Society, 900-1600 Spring 10
MUS31380 Baroque Opera Tropes Spring 10
Stage 4 Options - B)2 OF:
Option Modules: students must select two of the following modules.
     
Stage 4 Options - C)MIN0OF:
Students are required to have taken both of these modules to complete their degree. If these modules have not been completed at stage 1, one can be taken in lieu of an elective.
     
MUS10150 Writing about Music Autumn 5
MUS10120 Music, Culture and Society Spring 5
Stage 4 Options - C)MIN0OF:
Students are required to have taken both of these modules to complete their degree. If these modules have not been completed at stage 1, one can be taken in lieu of an elective.
     
Stage 4 Options - D)MIN0OF:
Modules from this list are NOT mandatory at any level for the BA Music Degree. Please note some performance modules, including Recital are by AUDITION ONLY. Do not register to these modules until AFTER you have passed your audition.
     
MUS20090 UCD Philharmonic Choir 1 Autumn 5
MUS20190 UCD Choral Scholars 1 Autumn 5
MUS20200 UCD Symphony Orchestra 1 Autumn 5
MUS20310 Popular Music and Culture Autumn 5
MUS20590 UCD Gamelan Ensemble 5 Autumn 5
MUS20690 UCD Composition Ensemble 3 Autumn 5
MUS20610 Music in Ireland Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
MUS31240 Dissertation Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
MUS31250 3rd Year Recital Autumn and Spring (separate) 5
MUS20180 UCD Philharmonic Choir 2 Spring 5
MUS20220 UCD Choral Scholars 2 Spring 5
MUS20230 UCD Symphony Orchestra 2 Spring 5
MUS20600 UCD Gamelan Ensemble 6 Spring 5
MUS20700 UCD Composition Ensemble 4 Spring 5
MUS20710 Ad Astra Chamber Orchestra 2 Spring 5
MUS31330 Post-Truth, Politics & Music Spring 5
Stage 4 Options - D)MIN0OF:
Modules from this list are NOT mandatory at any level for the BA Music Degree. Please note some performance modules, including Recital are by AUDITION ONLY. Do not register to these modules until AFTER you have passed your audition.
     
See the UCD Assessment website for further details

Module Weighting Info  
  Award GPA
Programme Module Weightings Rule Description Description >= <=
BHACS001 Stage 3 - 50.00%
Stage 2 - 50.00%
Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20

Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47

BHACS011 Stage 4 - 50.00%
Stage 2 - 50.00%
Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20

Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47

BHACS023 Stage 3 - 70.00%
Stage 2 - 30.00%
Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20

Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47

BHACS027 Stage 4 - 50.00%
Stage 3 - 30.00%
Stage 2 - 20.00%
Standard Honours Award First Class Honours

3.68

4.20

Second Class Honours, Grade 1

3.08

3.67

Second Class Honours, Grade 2

2.48

3.07

Pass

2.00

2.47


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