2025-2026 Catalog

Requirements

Major

 

Required Courses (26 units):

All students pursuing a Music major must complete the following courses:

MUSC 151Music Theory II

4 units

MUSC 231Keyboard Musicianship I

1 unit

MUSC 232Keyboard Musicianship II

1 unit

MUSC 251Music Theory III

4 units

MUSC 263Western Music and Culture: 1830 to the Present

4 units

MUSC 285Topics in the Critical Study of Popular and Non-Western Music

4 units

MUSC 351Music Theory IV

4 units

MUSC 490Senior Seminar

4 units

Please note the following: 1) All Theory courses include a 0-unit Musicianship, and 2) MUSC 261 (Western Music and Culture: 1580-1829), offered in the fall semester, is a prerequisite for MUSC 490 (Senior Seminar) and thus must be taken before one's senior year.

In addition to these 26 units required of all Music majors, students majoring in Music must choose one of the following focuses and may choose to pursue an additional concentration. Students who pursue a composition concentration must complete a composition focus. And similarly, students who pursue a production concentration must complete a production focus.

Production Focus (44 total units)

Required Courses (16 units):

MUSC 113Learning to Compose

4 units

MUSC 148Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

4 units

MUSC 245Introduction to the Music Industry

4 units

MUSC 247Pro Tools Fundamentals

4 units

Required Ensemble Participation (2 units):

Students must participate in two semesters of a faculty-led large Ensemble.

Production Concentration (60 total units):

Students must complete two semesters (4 units total) of MUSC 474 (Senior Production Comprehensive Preparation), which is required in the fall and spring semesters of their senior year.

Required Courses in addition to the Production Focus (12 units):

MUSC 249Recording Techniques

4 units

MUSC 348Mixing and Mastering

4 units

Two semesters (4 units total) of:

MUSC 474Senior Production Comprehensives Preparation

2 units

Required Elective (4 units):

Students must complete one 200-level Production or Composition elective: MUSC 242 (Music and Artificial Intelligence), MUSC 246 (Live Sound Engineering), MUSC 248 (Advanced Production: Sampling and Synthesis), MUSC 252 (Introduction to Songwriting), MUSC 257 (Composition Seminar) or MUSC 258 (Introduction to Film Scoring) 

Composition Focus (44 total units):

Required Courses (16 units):

MUSC 113Learning to Compose

4 units

MUSC 148Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

4 units

MUSC 245Introduction to the Music Industry

4 units

MUSC 257Composition Seminar

4 units

Required Ensembles Participation (2 units):

Students must participate in two semesters of a faculty-led large Ensemble.

Composition Concentration (60 total units):

Students must complete at least three additional semesters (12 units minimum) of MUSC 257 (Composition Seminar). MUSC 257 is required in the fall and spring semesters of their senior year.

Required Courses in addition to the Composition Focus (14 units):

Three semesters (at least 12 units) of:

MUSC 257Composition Seminar

4 units

MUSC 272Conducting

2 units

Required Lessons Participation (2 units):

Students must participate in at least two semesters of private study (200-level MUSA) courses.

Music Creation Focus (48 total units):

Required Courses (16 units):

MUSC 113Learning to Compose

4 units

MUSC 148Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

4 units

MUSC 245Introduction to the Music Industry

4 units

MUSC 257Composition Seminar

4 units

Required Elective, Lessons, and Ensembles Participation (6 units):

Students must complete one 200-level Production or Composition elective: MUSC 242 (Music and Artificial Intelligence), MUSC 246 (Live Sound Engineering), MUSC 248 (Advanced Production: Sampling and Synthesis), MUSC 252 (Introduction to Songwriting), MUSC 257 (Composition Seminar) or MUSC 258 (Introduction to Film Scoring) (4 units).

Students must participate in at least one semester of private study (200-level MUSA) courses (1-unit). 

Students must participate in at least one semester of a faculty-led large Ensemble (1-unit).

Instrumental Performance Focus (48 total units):

Students pursuing the instrumental performance focus are highly encouraged to participate in lessons and an ensemble starting their Freshman year.

Required Courses (9 units):

MUSC 113Learning to Compose

4 units

MUSC 131Improvisation

1 unit

MUSC 271Instrumental and Vocal Arranging

2 units

MUSC 272Conducting

2 units

Required Lessons and Ensembles (13 units):

Students must complete six semesters of private study (200-level MUSA courses) on their principal instrument during the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years (6 units).

Students must complete six semesters of ensemble participation MUSC 127 (Jazz Ensemble) or MUSC 130 (Symphony Orchestra) or a combination of both (6 units). 

Students must complete at least one semester of MUSC 129 (Chamber Music) or MUSC 128 (Chamber Jazz) (1-unit). 

Vocal Performance Focus (46 total units):

Students pursuing the vocal performance focus are highly encouraged to participate in lessons and an ensemble starting their Freshman year and to take at least six semesters of Glee Club.

Required Courses (8 units):

MUSC 107Voice Class II

1 unit

MUSC 115Topics in Vocal Music

4 units

MUSC 131Improvisation

1 unit

MUSC 271Instrumental and Vocal Arranging

2 units

Required Lessons and Ensembles (12 units):

Students must complete six semesters of private study (200-level MUSA courses) in Voice or Jazz and Commercial Voice during the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Years (6 units).

Students must complete six semesters of MUSC 121 (Glee Club: Sopranos/Altos) or MUSC 122 (Glee Club: Tenor/Basses) (6 units required at minimum).

Music Studies Focus (46 total units):

Students wanting to pursue musicology, ethnomusicology, or music theory should elect this focus.

Required Courses (12 units):

MUSC 113Learning to Compose

4 units

Four semesters (8 units total) of:

MUSC 293Directed Research

2 or 4 units

Required Elective, Lessons, and Ensembles Participation (8 units):

Students must complete one 100-level MUSC course elective (4 units).

Students must participate in two semesters of private study (200-level MUSA) courses (2 units). 

Students must participate in two semesters of a faculty-led large Ensemble.

Minor (22-23 total units):

Required Courses (16 units):

MUSC 113Learning to Compose

4 units

MUSC 148Introduction to Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)

4 units

MUSC 151Music Theory II

4 units

And one course from:

MUSC 261Western Music and Culture: 1580-1829

4 units

Or

MUSC 263Western Music and Culture: 1830 to the Present

4 units

Or

MUSC 285Topics in the Critical Study of Popular and Non-Western Music

4 units

Required Elective, Lessons and Ensembles Participation (6-7 units):

Students must complete one 200-level or 300-level MUSC elective in their area of interest (4 units).

Students must participate in at least one semester of private study (200-level MUSA) courses (1-unit). 

Students must participate in at least one semester of a faculty-led large Ensemble (1-2 units).

Note: MUSC 101 (Music Theory I) does not count towards this 22-23 unit requirement.