MUSIC
The Department of Music makes music through composition, improvisation, and performance and explores music’s meaning in the structure of individual works, the relations between them, and their place in the cultures that produce them. One of the most exciting things about music is that it brings together different types of thought and action. The most sensory and practical things and the most theoretical and abstract ones cannot be separated in the musician’s world. Thus, music enjoys a special place in the endeavor to understand ourselves. The program for majors is designed to introduce students to all the above ideas and activities, and students throughout the University are invited to join in any of them. In support of this multifaceted program, the department has assembled a diverse faculty, including experts in composition, performance, theory, history, jazz, and ethnomusicology and is committed to the principle of conducting its activities within an atmosphere that encourages communication and cooperation within that diversity. The department also welcomes double majors from all colleges within the University. For more information on the major, the minor, and the Department of Music, see www.pitt.edu/~musicdpt.
Note: Students considering declaring a music major must take the Music Theory Placement test, available at the A&S Advising Center.
Major Requirements
The music major, which includes the option to pursue either the standard music track or the jazz track major, requires a total of 40 credits. Music majors may earn an additional 20 credits in music courses toward the A&S graduation requirement of 120 credits. Required credits include the following:
- Prerequisite courses (6 credits)
- MUSIC 0131 Preparation for Music Theory
- MUSIC 0111 Keyboard Harmony
Both courses may be taken during either the fall or spring term. Prerequisite courses should be taken in the freshman year if a student plans to declare a music major. The prerequisite courses do not count toward the major and are intended to prepare students in music theory and harmony. The theory course (MUSIC 0131) must be passed with a B- or better in order for a student to be accepted as a music major. All students considering a music major must take a music theory placement examination prior to enrolling in the music theory course. Students may exempt prerequisites through credit by examination.
All music majors must take the following courses, all of which must be taken for a letter grade:
- MUSIC 0411, 0415, 0417, and 0419 Theory 1, 2, 3, and 4
- MUSIC 0412, 0416, 0418, and 0420 Musicianship 1, 2, 3, and 4
- MUSIC 0222 History of Western Music to 1750
- MUSIC 0224 History of Western Music since 1750
- Applied music requirements
All music majors are required to take three semesters of private lessons and three semesters of ensemble participation. Private lessons are available on a fee basis, and music majors have first priority in scheduling.
- Additional Requirements for the standard music track
Students pursuing the standard music track must take the following:
- One course from the MUSIC 1200 series
- MUSIC 0311 Introduction to World Music or one course from the MUSIC 1300 series
- One course from the MUSIC 1400 series
- One additional course chosen from the MUSIC 1200, 1300, or 1400 series or MUSIC 1904 Senior Seminar
- Additional requirements for the jazz music track
Students pursuing the jazz music track must take the following:
- MUSIC 0711 History of Jazz
- MUSIC 1326 Afro-American Music in the U.S.
- MUSIC 1731 Jazz Arranging 1
- MUSIC 1741 Jazz Improvisation 1
Minor Requirements
The music minor offers a coherent sequence of courses that will provide students with a reasonably broad introduction to the historical, theoretical, and practical branches of music. Required courses, totaling 19 credits, are as follows:
- MUSIC 0131 Preparation for Music Theory
- MUSIC 0111 Keyboard Harmony
- MUSIC 0411 and 0415 Theory 1 and 2
- MUSIC 0412 and 0416 Musicianship 1 and 2
- MUSIC 0222 History of Western Music to 1750 or 0224 History of Western Music since 1750
- Two semesters of ensemble participation
Note: The department recommends that students considering a music minor take the prerequisite courses in the freshman year.
It is possible for students to test out of one or more of the required keyboard harmony, music theory, and/or musicianship courses; students should consult with the undergraduate advisor and/or the course instructor. The S/N grading option is not permitted for required courses for the minor. All students interested in taking private lessons must complete a Request for Private Lessons form in the music department office, Room 110, Music Building. Music majors have first priority in scheduling private lessons, which cost an additional $240 per term.
NEUROSCIENCE
Neuroscience is the study of the biology and function of the central nervous system, with a special focus on the brain. The field has emerged during the past two decades as part of the explosive growth of research and interest in the neural sciences. An autonomous major in neuroscience was developed at the University of Pittsburgh in 1983, and it is among the largest undergraduate programs in neuroscience in the country, with more than 165 students as majors.
The Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience prepares students for the following:
- Advanced study in health-related fields, such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, public health, physical therapy, physician assistant, and exercise physiology;
- Graduate training in neuroscience and related fields in the biological sciences, and for a future career in a university, research institute, pharmaceutical company, or hospital;
- Research assistant positions in pharmaceutical, hospital, and university settings; and
- Public and private high school teaching following the completion of the teacher certification program in the School of Education.
The neuroscience major is designed to provide a broad and challenging sequence of courses in biological sciences, chemistry, mathematics, and physics, in addition to introductory and advanced courses in neuroscience. Students also may receive credit for original research projects they conduct in collaboration with faculty members. The relatively small size of the upper-level courses, the excellence of teaching, and the opportunity for research have been found to be especially attractive features of the major. A minor in neuroscience is also available. For more information on the major, the minor, and the Department of Neuroscience, see www.pitt.edu/~neurosci.
Major Requirements
Neuroscience majors must complete a minimum of 59 credits, detailed as follows:
- Required Courses
- NROSCI 1000 Introduction to Neuroscience or 1003 UHC (University Honors College) Introduction to Neuroscience
- NROSCI 1011 Functional Neuroanatomy
- NROSCI 1012 Neurophysiology
- NROSCI 1017 Synaptic Transmission
- NROSCI 1800 Neuroscience Writing Practicum 1 or
- NROSCI 1962 Thesis Research Writing practicum
- Two advanced electives to be chosen from:
- NROSCI 1020 Homeostasis
- NROSCI 1022 Hormones and Brain Function
- NROSCI 1030 Psychiatric Disorders and Brain Function
- NROSCI 1032 Functional Organization of the Human Nervous System
- NROSCI 1034 Neural Basis of Cognition
- NROSCI 1040 Biological Bases of Learning and Memory
- NROSCI 1041 Developmental Neuroscience
- Corequisite Courses
It is recommended that students complete introductory biology, chemistry, and physics courses during freshman and sophomore years. Premed students should also take PHYS 0212 Introduction to Laboratory Physics or 219 Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering and a statistics course to meet medical school requirements.
- BIOSC 0150, 0160, 0050, and 0060 Foundations of Biology 1 and 2 and labs
- BIOSC 1000 Biochemistry
- CHEM 0110 and 0120 General Chemistry 1 and 2
- CHEM 0310 Organic Chemistry 1
- CHEM 0320 Organic Chemistry 2
- CHEM 0330 Organic Chemistry Lab 1
- CHEM 0340 Organic Chemistry Lab 2
- MATH 0220 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1
- NROSCI 1070 UHC Human Physiology or 1250 Human Physiology
- PHYS 0174 and 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2 or 0110 and 0111 Introduction to Physics 1 and 2
- Grade requirements for the major are as follows:
- Students majoring in neuroscience must take all required courses for a letter grade.
- NROSCI 1000 Introduction to Neuroscience or 1003 UHC Introduction to Neuroscience must be passed with a C or better. Grades in the remaining core courses and two advanced electives are averaged. All of these courses must be passed, and the average QPA must be 2.00 or better.
- In the corequisites, a passing grade below C may be accepted only if it is balanced with higher grades, so that the total QPA in corequisite courses is 2.00 or better. This requirement applies collectively to corequisite courses taught in the Department of Neuroscience (e.g., NROSCI 1070 UHC Human Physiology) and those taught in other departments.
- Majors must have a grade of C (C- will not do) in NROSCI 1000 Introduction to Neuroscience and 1003 UHC Introduction to Neuroscience as a prerequisite to taking any other departmental core or advanced elective courses.
Department Honors and Undergraduate Research
- To qualify for departmental honors, students need to maintain a minimum overall QPA of 3.25 as well as a QPA of 3.25 in the neuroscience major. In addition, students must complete a substantial amount of experimental research on an approved research project and give a public presentation of the work. The full faculty of the department approves departmental honors after consideration of all eligible students.
- The Department of Neuroscience encourages interested undergraduate majors to gain research experience within an active neuroscience laboratory. The department is a world-class research department committed to high quality research and sharing the excitement of scientific exploration with trainees. Majors are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to do meaningful neuroscience research while still undergraduates. It is not unusual for majors to report their research at scientific meetings and to be published. While research experience itself has strong benefits, it is also useful for interacting more closely with professors and enhancing preparation for graduate or medical school. Most undergraduates who enroll in research for credit are interested in completing an independent project that results in an undergraduate thesis.
Minor Requirements
A minimum of 14 credits is required for a neuroscience minor. The minor includes the following:
- NROSCI 1000 Introduction to Neuroscience or 1003 UHC Introduction to Neuroscience with a grade of C or better
- Three core courses: NROSCI 1011 Functional Neuroanatomy, 1012 Neurophysiology, and 1017 Synaptic Transmission
- As an alternative to the three core courses, students may take two of the core courses and at least one advanced elective.
PHILOSOPHY
The University of Pittsburgh has one of the best philosophy departments in the country, one with a long tradition of fine teaching. A major in philosophy provides excellent preparation for such professions as law, medicine, and business. The conceptual sophistication imparted by training in philosophy is invaluable in virtually any field of learning or any serious profession. For example, students who are majoring in biology, psychology, history, or computer science would do well to pick up a second major in philosophy, something the Department of Philosophy encourages by offering a standard major track along with its more time-consuming intensive major track. A minor in philosophy is also available. While the department encourages students to major in philosophy, either alone or as a second major, only rarely does it encourage students to pursue philosophy in graduate school as preparation for a scholarly career. Students who do especially well in either the standard or intensive major program are graduated with honors in philosophy. Because of the national reputation of the philosophy department, a major in philosophy or honors in philosophy should materially help University of Pittsburgh graduates get into good graduate schools or professional schools. For more information on the program and the Department of Philosophy, see www.pitt.edu/~philosop.
Major Requirements
The standard philosophy major track requires at least 24 credits, while the intensive philosophy major track requires a minimum of 36 credits, as detailed below:
- The standard major track requires the following courses:
- PHIL 0500 Introduction to Logic or 1500 Symbolic Logic
- PHIL 0200 History of Ancient Philosophy or 1020 Plato or 1040 Aristotle
- PHIL 0210 History of Modern Philosophy or 1110 Rationalism or 1140 Empiricism
- PHIL 0300 Introduction to Ethics or 0350 Philosophy and Public Issues or any 1300-level course (the value theory group)
- Any four 1000-level courses beyond those outlined above
- The intensive major track requires the following courses:
- PHIL 0500 Introduction to Logic (or 1500 Symbolic Logic)
- PHIL 0200 History of Ancient Philosophy (or 1020 Plato or 1040 Aristotle)
- PHIL 0210 History of Modern Philosophy (or 1110 Rationalism or 1140 Empiricism)
- At least five 1000-level courses beyond those counted above to include at least one course from each of the four groups:
- PHIL 1020–1190 History of Philosophy
- PHIL 1300–1390 Value Theory
- PHIL 1420–1490 Metaphysics and Epistemology
- PHIL 1500–1690 Logic and Philosophy of Science
- An acceptable senior paper. The student must sign up either for PHIL 1940 Honors Thesis (3 credits) or PHIL 1940 and 1941 Honors Thesis 1 and Honors Thesis 2 (6 credits), with the prior permission of a faculty member who has agreed to supervise the student’s work. Neither PHIL 1940 nor 1941 counts toward the five 1000-level courses mentioned above.
- The following rules and requirements apply to all philosophy majors, regardless of the track chosen:
- Only those philosophy courses completed with a grade of C or better will count for the major.
- No restrictions are placed on the number of courses taken under the S/N option.
- Arrangements for credit by examination in appropriate cases may be made through departmental advisors.
- There are no departmental foreign language requirements; however, students who plan to pursue philosophy in graduate school are strongly encouraged to develop at least a good reading competence in one or more foreign languages of special relevance to philosophy (e.g., Greek, Latin, French, and German).
- Joint majors are not double majors but multidisciplinary majors offered by two or more departments. Presently, the Department of Philosophy offers a joint major in politics and philosophy with the Department of Political Science (see Politics and Philosophy major information under Nondepartmental A&S Majors) as well as a joint major in mathematics and philosophy with the Department of Mathematics (see Mathematics-Philosophy).
- Students who complete the philosophy major (standard or intensive track) or joint major will be graduated with honors in philosophy if they have earned a grade of A- or better in at least six 1000-level philosophy courses exclusive of 1902 Directed Study, 1903 Directed Research, 1940, 1941, and 1942 Honors Thesis.
Minor Requirements
The philosophy minor requires six 3-credit courses (18 credits total) to be distributed as follows:
- PHIL 0500 Introduction to Logic or 1500 Symbolic Logic
- PHIL 0200 History of Ancient Philosophy or 1020 Plato
- PHIL 0210 History of Modern Philosophy or 1110 Rationalism or 1140 Empiricism
- Any course in moral, social, or political philosophy; PHIL 0300 Introduction to Ethics is preferred, but any of the following is acceptable:
- PHIL 0320 Social Philosophy
- PHIL 0330 Political Philosophy
- PHIL 0350 Philosophy and Public Issues
- PHIL 0360 Morality and Medicine
- Any course in the 1300s Value Theory, Social and Political Philosophy
Note: At least one of the above four courses (numbers one-four) must be taken at the 1000 level.
- Two additional 1000-level courses must be completed.
PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers three major degree options: a BS in physics, a BS in physics and astronomy, and a BA in physics and astronomy. The BS degrees are intended for students who wish to prepare for graduate school in a scientific or technical discipline or who are interested in professional careers in which a background in physics or astronomy is appropriate. The BA degree is designed primarily for students who wish to develop a general scientific background appropriate for many careers including health-related professions or MBA programs. The Certificate in Photonics may be added by students in the bachelor of science physics program.
Students planning to pursue a degree within the department are urged to consult a departmental advisor at any time during the freshman year and should obtain a copy of the department’s brochure for undergraduates in 100 Allen Hall.
*The department offers the physics minor, best suited for students from other schools.
The department wishes to emphasize that its 0080s courses, in both physics and astronomy, use little mathematics and are especially designed for liberal arts students.
Requirements for All Physics or Physics and Astronomy Majors
Students who wish to graduate with any of the majors offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy must follow these general rules and requirements:
- Attain a minimum QPA of 2.00 overall in physics courses. Honors majors must attain a minimum QPA of 3.00 in physics courses.
- There are no restrictions on the S/N grade option for BA majors, but BS majors must take all physics courses beyond the introductory level for letter grades.
- Students should consult with a department advisor about the W course requirement.
- All majors in the physics and astronomy department automatically fulfill the A&S requirement for a 12-credit related area by taking the mathematics courses required for majors.
- Students considering graduate studies should have a reading knowledge of one or two foreign languages selected from German, French, and Russian.
Curriculum for a BS in Physics and Astronomy
The following courses are required for a BS degree in physics and astronomy:
- PHYS 0174 and 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2 or 0475 and 0476 UHC (University Honors College) Introduction Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2. The department recommends the honors sequence.
- PHYS 0219 Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering
- PHYS 0160 Intermediate Electricity/Magnetism
- PHYS 0167 Undergraduate Seminar
- PHYS 0368 Wave Motion and Optics
- PHYS 1150 Mechanics
Note: PHYS 0577 UHC Modern Physics Measurements may replace PHYS 0219 Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering and PHYS 1225 Analog and Digital Electronics.
- PHYS 1151 Computational Methods in Physics
- PHYS 1119 and 1120 Principles of Modern Physics 1 and 2
- PHYS 1225 Analog and Digital Electronics
- ASTRON 0113 Introduction to Astronomy
- ASTRON 1120 Stars: Stellar Structure and Evolution
- ASTRON 1121 Galaxies and Cosmology
- ASTRON 1263 Techniques of Astronomy
- GEOL 1701 Geology of the Planets
- MATH 0220, 0230, 0240 (Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1, 2, and 3)
- MATH 0250 Matrix Theory and Differential Equations
- CHEM 0110 and 0120 General Chemistry 1 and 2; honors versions may be substituted or CS 0401 and 0445 Introduction to Computer Science and Introduction to Information Structures, unless Certificate in Photonics is desired
Curriculum for an Honors BS in Physics and Astronomy
The following courses are required for an honors BS in physics and astronomy in addition to the standard requirements for a BS in physics and astronomy degree:
- PHYS 1141 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- PHYS 1170 and 1171 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 1 and 2
- PHYS 1172 Electromagnetic Theory
- MATH 1550 Vector Analysis and Applications and 1560 Complex Variables and Applications
Curriculum for a BS in Physics
The following courses are required for a BS in physics:
- PHYS 0174 and 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2 or 0475 and 0476 UHC Introduction to Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2. The department recommends the honors sequence.
- PHYS 0219* Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering
- PHYS 1150 Mechanics
- PHYS 0160 Intermediate Electricity/Magnetism
- PHYS 0167 Undergraduate Seminar
- PHYS 0368 Wave Motion and Optics
- PHYS 1119 and 1120 Principles of Modern Physics 1 and 2
- PHYS 1151 Computational Methods in Physics
- PHYS 1225* Analog and Digital Electronics
- PHYS 1226 Modern Physics Laboratory
- PHYS 1141 Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- MATH 0220, 0230, 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1, 2, and 3
- MATH 0250 Matrix Theory and Differential Equations
- CHEM 0110 and 0120 General Chemistry 1 and 2 or 0710 and 0720 UHC General Chemistry 1 and 2 or CS 0401 and 0445 Introduction to Computer Science and Introduction to Information Structures
*Note: The UHC lab PHYS 0577 Modern Physics Measurements may replace PHYS 0219 Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering and 1225 Analog and Digital Electronics.
Curriculum for an Honors BS in Physics
The following courses are required for an honors BS in physics in addition to the standard requirements for a BS in physics degree:
- PHYS 1170 and 1171 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 1 and 2
- PHYS 1172 Electromagnetic Theory
- MATH 1550 Vector Analysis and Applications
- MATH 1560 Complex Variables and Applications
- Although not required for the program, PHYS 0475 and 0476 UHC Introduction to Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2 and 0577 Modern Physics Measurements are particularly appropriate for honors students.
Curriculum for the BA in Physics and Astronomy
The following courses are required for a BA degree in physics and astronomy:
- PHYS 0174 and 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2 or 0475 and 0476 UHC Introduction to Physics for Science and Engineering 1 and 2
- PHYS 0219 Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering
- PHYS 1119 Principles of Modern Physics 1
- PHYS 1120 Principles of Modern Physics 2
- ASTRON 0113 Introduction to Astronomy
- Two upper-level courses from the following list:
- ASTRON 1120 Stars: Stellar Structure and Evolution
- ASTRON 1121 Galaxies and Cosmology
- ASTRON 1263 Techniques of Astronomy
- GEOL 1701 Geology of the Planets
- MATH 0220, 0230, and 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1, 2, and 3
- At least one course in history or philosophy of science is also required.
Minor in Physics (16 credits)
Introductory physics sequence:
- PHYS 0174 (4 credits) Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 1
- PHYS 0175 (4 credits) Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 2
Alternatively, students could take the honors version of these courses, namely:
- PHYS 0475 (4 credits) UHC Introduction to Physics for Science and Engineering 1
- PHYS 0476 (4 credits) UHC Introduction to Physics for Science and Engineering 2
Laboratory Experience:
- PHYS 0219 (2 credits) Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering
- The requirement of PHYS 0219 would be waived for students who took PHYS 0577 (4 credits) UHC Modern Physics Measurements.
Modern Physics Sequence:
- PHYS 1119 (3 credits) Principles of Modern Physics 1
- PHYS 1120 (3 credits) Principles of Modern Physics 2
Co- and Prerequisites:
The same co- and prerequisites as those for the major will apply to the physics minor. In particular, the introductory physics sequence has a corequisite of MATH 0220 and 0230 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 1 and 2. PHYS 0219 Basic Lab Physics for Science and Engineering has the corequisite of PHYS 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 2 (or 0476 UHC Introduction to Physics for Science and Engineering 2); PHYS 1119 Principles of Modern Physics 1 has the prerequisites of PHYS 0175 Basic Physics for Science and Engineering 2 (or 0476 UHC Introduction to Physics for Science and Engineering 2) and Math 0240 Analytic Geometry and Calculus 3; and PHYS 1120 Principles of Modern Physics 2 has the prerequisite of PHYS 1119 Principles of Modern Physics 1.
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