Bachelor of Arts in Music

Any student accepted for admission to CSUSB can declare music as major and pursue the BA in Music degree. Students may pursue any of three concentrations offered within the BA in Music degree: General Music Studies (GMS), Music Industry Studies (MIS), or Music, Sound, & Technology (MST).

All new music majors should schedule an audition with department faculty in order to determine placement in applied music lessons and performance ensembles. Incoming students are also encouraged to take a keyboard skills proficiency diagnostic examination and a music theory diagnostic examination.

Applied instruction is available only to declared music majors. Students interested in applied composition (MUS 2460) will be required to complete one year of applied vocal or instrumental music instruction (MUS 1400-MUS 1450) as a prerequisite. Students in applied music technology (MUS 3480) or applied commercial music (MUS 3490) will be required to complete two years of applied vocal or instrumental music instruction (MUS 1400-MUS 1450 and MUS 2400-MUS 2450) as a prerequisite. Students may enroll in a maximum of four units at any one collegiate level of applied instruction (MUS 1400-MUS 1450MUS 2400-MUS 2460MUS 3400-MUS 3490, or MUS 4400-MUS 4480). After four semesters at one level, students unable to satisfy completion requirements for that level will be counseled to select a major in a different discipline and will be denied enrollment in any higher level of applied instruction.

All students enrolled as full-time music majors in the General Music Studies concentration are required to participate each semester until graduation (8 total) in a major performing ensemble (MUS 3800, 3810, 3850, or 3860) most appropriate to a student's applied emphasis. Students enrolled in the Music Industry Studies and the Music, Sound, & Technology concentrations are required to participate for at least 4 semesters in a major performing ensemble.

Total units required for graduation: 120

Core Requirements for the B.A. in Music

MUS 2120Music Theory I: Diatonic Harmony3
MUS 2125Musicianship I2
MUS 2130Music Theory II: Chromatic Harmony3
MUS 2135Musicianship II2
MUS 3500Global Music (double counts for General Education C4 requirement)3
MUS 2660Electronic Music Production3
Four units chosen from the student's instrument of study:4
MUS 1400-MUS 1450 (1000-level Applied Study)
MUS 2400-MUS 2460 (2000-level Applied Study)
Four units chosen from:4
Participation in one of the major performance organizations most appropriate to the student's applied emphasis.
Large Music Ensemble
Symphony Orchestra
Symphonic Band
Concert Choir
Chamber Singers
MUS 1000Music Forum (must take at least 4 times)4
MUS 5980Senior Project1
Concentration chosen below26-28
Total Units55-57

General Music Studies Concentration

(Program Code: pending Chancellor's Office Approval)

MUS 2140Music Theory III: Analysis of Musical Form3
MUS 2145Musicianship III2
MUS 2150Music Theory IV: 20th-21st Century Music Theory3
MUS 2155Musicianship IV2
MUS 3040Western Music History to 17003
MUS 3050Western Music History from 1700 to 19003
MUS 3060Western Music History from 1900 to the present3
MUS 2230Class Piano IV (or passing of an equivalent piano proficiency examination)1
Two upper-division units of applied study:2
MUS 3400-MUS 3490 (3000-level applied study)
Four additional units of large performance ensemble most relevant to student's applied vocal/instrumental emphasis:4
Large Music Ensemble
Symphony Orchestra
Symphonic Band
Concert Choir
Chamber Singers
Total Units26

Music Industry Studies Concentration

(Program Code: pending Chancellor's Office Approval)

Concentration Requirements (16)
MUS 2210Class Piano II (or passing of an equivalent piano proficiency exam)1
MUS 1270History of Electronic Music3
or MUS 1865 Global Hip Hop
MUS 2670Sound Recording3
CAL 1140Sustaining a Life in the Arts (similar lower-division course in a related field may be substituted with department consent)3
or CAL 1000 You/U: Applied Humanities and Arts
or ADMN 1001 Leadership for Global Challenges: Exploring the Entrepreneurial Mindset
or ADMN 1002 Leadership for Global Challenges: Citizenship in a Sustainable World
or ADMN 1003 Leadership for Global Challenges: Exploring the Digital Mindset
CAL 4000The Artist Entrepreneur: Innovation and Leadership in the Arts3
CAL 4100The Artist Entrepreneur's Toolkit3
Concentration Electives (12)12
12 units chosen from:
Introduction to Music Composition
Music Theory III: Analysis of Musical Form
Music Theory IV: 20th-21st Century Music Theory
Creating Digital Media Using Personal Electronic Technology
Commercial Songwriting
Western Music History from 1700 to 1900
Western Music History from 1900 to the present
Upper-Division Composition I
Applied Technology I
Applied Commercial Music
Music in Video Games
Commercial Arranging and Scoring
Composition for Films and Television
Topics in Music Technology (Topics classes may be repeated multiple times for credit)
Four on the Floor: Electronic Dance Music in Practice and Culture
Upper-Division Composition II
Applied Technology
Advanced Electronic Music
Venture Ideation, Analysis, and Development in the Arts
The Artist Entrepreneur Launch
Total Units28

Music, Sound, & Technology Concentration

(Program Code: pending Chancellor's Office Approval)

Concentration Requirements (16)
MUS 2210Class Piano II (or passing of an equivalent piano proficiency exam)1
MUS 1270History of Electronic Music3
MUS 2670Sound Recording3
MUS 1337Real-Time Audio Systems3
MUS 3337Real-Time Multimedia Systems3
MUS 4660Advanced Electronic Music3
Concentration Electives (12)12
12 units chosen from:
Global Hip Hop
Introduction to Music Composition
Creating Digital Media Using Personal Electronic Technology
Commercial Songwriting
Upper-Division Composition I
Applied Technology I
Electronic and Electroacoustic Music Composition
New Music Ensemble
Instrumentation and Arranging
Music in Video Games
Commercial Arranging and Scoring
Composition for Films and Television
Film Soundtrack Recording
Topics in Music Technology (may be repeated multiple times for credit)
Four on the Floor: Electronic Dance Music in Practice and Culture
Upper-Division Composition II
Applied Technology
Advanced Studio Recording Techniques
Total Units28