Music Industry and Technology BA
Total Units Required: 120
The Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry and Technology prepares students for diverse roles in the audio and music industry. Our hands-on curriculum, coupled with practicum experiences in CSU system-leading studios, ensures students acquire valuable skills to prepare them for the music and audio business.
The option in music industry. Areas of study include copyright, publishing, record company administration, management, marketing, and contracting. School of the Arts Productions, the program's practical learning and student-run component, teaches students business skills and how to organize, manage, network, promote, and produce live concerts and events on and off campus.
The option in recording arts. Students build a strong foundation for a successful career in music and sound engineering. Through courses in music, audio recording and mixing, studio operations, and sound design, students develop technical proficiency applicable to diverse contexts, including record production, sound reinforcement, theater sound design, mobile recording, broadcast, studio design, AV installation, and post-production. These skills position our alumni to have successful careers in the professional music and audio technology industry.
Grading Requirement
All courses taken to fulfill program course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as credit/no credit grading only.
For those courses taken for a letter grade, students must earn a grade of C- or higher.
Course Requirements for the Major: 53-57 units
Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree. Courses in this program may complete more than one graduation requirement.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Core | ||
| MUSC 101 | Theory I | 3 |
| MUSC 102 | Theory II | 3 |
| MUSC 103 | Aural Musicianship I | 1 |
| MUSC 104 | Aural Musicianship II | 1 |
| MUSC 105 | Beginning Piano I | 1 |
| MUSC 108 | Computer Software for Musicians | 3 |
| MUSC 118 | Music Industry Forum | 1 |
| MUSC 291 | American Music: Its History and International Influence | 3 |
| MUSC 294 | History of Rock Music | 3 |
| MUSC 309 | Music Industry Studies and Analysis | 3 |
| Select two units from the following: | 2 | |
| Music Performance Groups: A Cappella Choir | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Band | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Pep Band | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Symphonic Wind Ensemble | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Orchestra | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Jazz Ensemble I | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Jazz Ensemble II | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Brass Choir | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Woodwind Quintet | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Mixed Ensembles | ||
| Chamber Singers | ||
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Select six units from the following: 1 | 6 | |
| The Appreciation of Music | ||
| History of Jazz | ||
| African American Music | ||
| Theory III | ||
| Music from a Global Perspective | ||
| Composition I | ||
| Music Performance Groups: A Cappella Choir | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Band | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Pep Band | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Symphonic Wind Ensemble | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Orchestra | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Jazz Ensemble I | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Jazz Ensemble II | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Brass Choir | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Woodwind Quintet | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Mixed Ensembles | ||
| Chamber Singers | ||
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Songwriting | ||
| Major Option | ||
| Select one of the following options: | 23-27 | |
| Music Industry | ||
| Recording Arts | ||
| Total Units | 53-57 | |
- 1
Music Performance Groups courses can be taken for a maximum of three units.
Major Option Course Requirements
Students must select one of the following options for completion of the major course requirements.
The Option in Music Industry: 27 units
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 350 | School of the Arts Production I | 3 |
| MUSC 351 | School of the Arts Production II | 3 |
| MUSC 452W | Legal Issues in Music (W) | 3 |
| MUSC 453 | Music and Media Solutions | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| School of the Arts Production III | ||
| Dir Field Proj in Music | ||
| Select 12 units from the following: 1, 2 | 12 | |
| Introduction to Financial Accounting | ||
| Introduction to Economics | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Social Media Storytelling | ||
| Basic Web Design | ||
| Survey of Management | ||
| Leadership and Motivation | ||
| Managing Teams and Conflict in Organizations | ||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship | ||
| Digital Entrepreneurship | ||
| Survey of Marketing | ||
| Introduction to Music Technology | ||
| Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Brass | ||
| Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Guitar | ||
| Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Keyboard | ||
| Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Percussion | ||
| Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Strings | ||
| Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Voice | ||
| Studio Instruction in Applied Music: Woodwinds | ||
| Music Performance Groups: A Cappella Choir | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Band | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Pep Band | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Symphonic Wind Ensemble | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Orchestra | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Jazz Ensemble I | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Jazz Ensemble II | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Brass Choir | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Woodwind Quintet | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Music Performance Groups: Mixed Ensembles | ||
| Chamber Singers | ||
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Invention and Innovation | ||
| Foundations of Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management | ||
| Total Units | 27 | |
- 1
At least three units must be upper division.
- 2
Music Performance Groups courses can be taken for a maximum of three units.
The Option in Recording Arts: 23-27 units
Studio instruction is available to students in the option in recording arts who can qualify by audition.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 109 | Introduction to Music Technology | 3 |
| MUSC 341 | Fundamentals of Digital Audio | 3 |
| MUSC 342 | MIDI and Synthesis | 3 |
| MUSC 344 | Audio Recording I | 3 |
| MUSC 345W | Audio Recording II (W) | 3 |
| MUSC 441 | Sampling and Sound Design | 3 |
| MUSC 444 | Audio Seminar | 3 |
| Select two of the following: | 2-6 | |
| Advanced Electronic Media | ||
| Audio Seminar | ||
| Audio for Visual Media | ||
| Sound Reinforcement | ||
| Remote Audio Recording | ||
| Dir Field Proj in Music | ||
| Special Problems | ||
| Total Units | 23-27 | |
Electives Requirement
To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.
See Bachelor's Degree Requirements for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 39 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.
General Education Requirements: 48 units
See General Education and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Requirements and course offerings.
Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units
You must complete a minimum of two courses that focus primarily on cultural diversity. At least one course must be in US Diversity (USD) and at least one in Global Cultures (GC). See Diversity Requirements for a full list of courses. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education.
Upper-Division Writing Requirement
Writing Across the Curriculum (EM 17-009) is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of four Writing (W) courses, two of which are designated by the major department. See Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning and Writing Requirements for more details on the four courses. The first of the major designated Writing (W) courses is listed below.
- Any upper-division Writing (W) course.
The second major-designated Writing course is the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GW) (EO 665). Students must earn a C- or higher to receive GW credit. The GE Written Communication (A2) requirement must be completed before a student is permitted to register for a GW course.
Notice to Prospective Applicants
In recent years there has been high student demand for the option in recording arts. Students interested in this program should apply to the University during the priority application filing period. A supplemental recording arts application must be submitted in April of the spring semester. Information on any current enrollment restrictions is available from the Admissions Office and the Music, Theatre, and Dance Department.
Special Music Requirements
- Advising is required each semester for all music students.
- Incoming students who wish to articulate units from another institution in theory, aural musicianship, or beginning piano classes must take the Placement Exam in those curriculum areas. Students who wish to receive units as “credit only” in the curricular areas listed above must take the Challenge Exam in those areas. (For students that believe they have the necessary skills and do not need to take the class in question). Students may only take the Challenge Exam for a class in a semester where they are already enrolled in that class. Consult with the department office with any questions.
- Students wishing to be enrolled as a music major should contact the advisor in the option in which they are interested. The advisor will help you determine if your choice of major/option is appropriate. Consult the department website to locate the advisor of the option or contact the department office with any questions.
- It is strongly suggested that students enrolled in studio instruction (MUSC 110/310) be concurrently enrolled in a performance ensemble (MUSC 411, 412, 413). Students who have completed their requirements in studio instruction MUST be concurrently enrolled in an ensemble to be qualified for additional studio instruction units.
- Admission procedures for the option in recording arts include applying to the University during the initial filing period, being placed in a pre-recording arts option, and passing supplemental recording arts criteria. Consult with the Music, Theatre, and Dance Department office for details.