Since the early 1970s, the Faculty of Music has contributed general interest courses in music history for the benefit of Arts & Science students who may or may not have a practical, historical or theoretical background in music.

The four-credit Music Minor offers Arts & Science students the option of  the cultural history of music. Designed for students with no prior musical training, yet also stimulating for those with a background in music, courses cover a variety of subjects in Western art music, world music and popular music. By audition, students may join one of the Faculty of Music’s choral or instrumental ensembles, and one full credit may count towards the Music Minor.

All MUS courses are listed and described under “Music” in the Arts & Science Calendar and, except for MUS120Y 1& MUS220Y1, are open for enrolment by any student excluding those enrolled in the music major or specialist. Each year, in addition to the introductory courses  MUS110H1-Introduction to Music History and Culture and MUS111H1-Historical Survey of Western Music, upper-level academic courses are offered from the list printed in the Arts & Science calendar.

A minor in Music can be achieved by completing the relevant MUS courses.

Minor program requirements: (4 full courses or equivalent)

MUS110H1     Introduction to Music History and Culture
MUS111H1    Historical Survey of Western Music
MUS200H1     Music of the World’s Peoples  or an alternative 200-level course in world music (MUS211H1 or MUS209H1)
2.5 MUS courses including one full course at the 300+ level. Either MUS120Y or MUS220Y can be counted towards the 2.5 MUS courses.

Possible MUS Offerings

MUS202H1 Beethoven
MUS204H1 The Age of Bach
MUS205H1 Mozart
MUS206H1 The World of Opera
MUS207H1 Music for the Orchestra
MUS209H1 Performing Arts of South Asia
MUS211H1 The World of Popular Music
MUS225H1 Music: Islamic World
MUS230H1 Music of the 1960’s
MUS300H1 Music, Media & Technology
MUS302H1 Symphony
MUS303H1 Music in the Contemporary World
MUS306H1 Popular Music in North America
MUS308H1 Handel
MUS315H1 Vernacular Music in North America
MUS408H1 Wagner