Contemporary Music Industry Undergraduate Major (BA, BS, HBA, HBS)
This program is available at the following location:
- Ecampus
The Contemporary Music Industry program provides the history and practice of contemporary musics within a broad cultural, creative and project-based context. Students develop and apply their skills through understanding established and emergent musical styles and creative problem-solving. Students explore their creative interests, learn their craft, and acquire adaptable skills to be able to express themselves through music. In addition, they work in a variety of contexts that demand current knowledge, problem-solving aptitude, and a rich understanding of the evolving nature of contemporary music including popular, global, experimental, conceptual, media and platforms, and entertainment industries. Throughout the program, students will develop entrepreneurial skills that enable them to be competitive leaders and active influencers in the ever-changing fields of the music, cultural production and entertainment industry.
The program prepares students for careers in commercial music and industry, music education, and entertainment by providing them with industry-standard skills in several contemporary music genres. A diverse range of stylistic practices are explored, in the context of performance practice, research and writing, media, and music as a contemporary and global innovative enterprise. Students will master a variety of tools and skills to prepare them for careers in numerous fields.
Major Code: 028
Upon successful completion of the program, students will meet the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate formative and extensive genre and discipline-specific knowledge of modern, contemporary and popular music processes and history.
- Describe and analyze works of contemporary, popular and modern music critically and relate them to historical and contemporary contexts, issues, and cultural meaning.
- Articulate discipline specific concepts through applied theory, through technical writing, oral traditions, notation and sound practice.
- Create original music and/or research projects by applying discipline-specific tools, skills, methods, and sources.
Bachelor of Arts
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Baccalaureate Core | 48 | |
| Liberal Arts Core | 15 | |
| BA Language Requirement | 24 | |
| Upper-Division Electives | 7 | |
| Lower-Division Core | 41 | |
| Upper-Division Core | 45 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Bachelor of Science
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Baccalaureate Core | 49 | |
| Liberal Arts Core | 15 | |
| BS Required Courses | 15 | |
| Electives (7 credits of upper-division) | 15 | |
| Lower-Division Core | 41 | |
| Upper-Division Core | 45 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Lower-Division (41 credits) | ||
| MUS 102 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION II: PERIODS AND GENRES (take three times; select genres Reggae/Musical Theatre/Film, Hip Hop Music & Culture and Rock & Roll) | 9 |
| MUS 103 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION III: GREAT COMPOSERS | 3 |
| MUS 104 | *SURVEY OF JAZZ | 3 |
| MUS 107 | INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS AND PUBLISHING | 3 |
| MUS 114 | FOUNDATIONS: APPLIED LISTENING AND THEORY | 3 |
| MUS 115 | FOUNDATIONS: APPLIED LISTENING, THEORY, AND PRACTICE | 3 |
| MUS 190 | APPLIED MUSICIANSHIP: BEGINNER BEAT MAKING (DAW) | 2 |
| MUS 200 | AMERICAN MUSIC TRADITION | 3 |
| MUS 216 | THE MUSIC BUSINESS | 3 |
| MUS 237 | CRITICAL STUDIES IN CONTEMPORARY & POPULAR MUSIC | 3 |
| MUS 255 | INTERMEDIATE DAW AND MUSIC PUBLISHING | 3 |
| MUS 279 | INTRODUCTION TO SONGWRITING 1 | 3 |
| Upper-Division (45 credits) | ||
| MUS 331 | *GENRE STUDIES: POPULAR MUSIC AND CULTURE IN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| MUS 334 | CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TECHNIQUE & PRACTICE (take twice) | 8 |
| MUS 336 | 3 | |
| MUS 338 | APPLIED MUSICIANSHIP: GROUP GUITAR | 2 |
| MUS 349 | 3 | |
| MUS 415 | SCORING VISUAL MEDIA I | 3 |
| MUS 428 | SENIOR PROJECT (take twice) | 8 |
| MUS 442 | GENRE STUDIES (select genres Global Pop and MTV) | 3 |
| MUS 443 | THEORY AND COMPOSITION STUDIES | 3 |
| MUS 451 | INTRODUCTION TO ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 |
| MUS 475 | ^CREATIVITY AND THE CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL IMAGINATION | 3 |
| MUS 493 | BASIC RECORDING TECHNIQUES | 3 |
| Total Credits | 86 | |
- *
Baccalaureate Core Course (BCC)
- ^
Writing Intensive Course (WIC)
Major Code: 028
Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them. Contact details for advisors can be found on the Academic Advising page.
Contemporary Music Industry BA
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| MUS 102 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION II: PERIODS AND GENRES | 3 |
| MUS 114 | FOUNDATIONS: APPLIED LISTENING AND THEORY | 3 |
| MUS 200 | AMERICAN MUSIC TRADITION | 3 |
| WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| Bacc Core: PAC | 1 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| MUS 107 | INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS AND PUBLISHING | 3 |
| MUS 115 | FOUNDATIONS: APPLIED LISTENING, THEORY, AND PRACTICE | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Difference, Power & Discrimination | 3 | |
| Bacc Core: Speech | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 103 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION III: GREAT COMPOSERS | 3 |
| MUS 190 | APPLIED MUSICIANSHIP: BEGINNER BEAT MAKING (DAW) | 2 |
| Bacc Core: Mathematics | 3-4 | |
| Bacc Core: Cultural Diversity | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 104 | *SURVEY OF JAZZ | 3 |
| MUS 237 | CRITICAL STUDIES IN CONTEMPORARY & POPULAR MUSIC | 3 |
| MUS 255 | INTERMEDIATE DAW AND MUSIC PUBLISHING | 3 |
| Bacc Core: WR II | 3 | |
| Foreign Language, 1st year | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| MUS 102 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION II: PERIODS AND GENRES | 3 |
| MUS 279 | INTRODUCTION TO SONGWRITING 1 | 3 |
| HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
| Bacc Core: Physical Science | 4 | |
| Foreign Language, 1st year | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 102 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION II: PERIODS AND GENRES | 3 |
| MUS 216 | THE MUSIC BUSINESS | 3 |
| MUS 338 | APPLIED MUSICIANSHIP: GROUP GUITAR | 2 |
| Bacc Core: Western Culture | 3 | |
| Foreign Language, 1st year | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 443 | THEORY AND COMPOSITION STUDIES | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Biological Science | 4 | |
| Bacc Core: Literature & The Arts | 3 | |
| Foreign Language, 2nd year | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| MUS 415 | SCORING VISUAL MEDIA I | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Additional Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Foreign Language, 2nd year | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 334 | CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TECHNIQUE & PRACTICE | 4 |
| MUS 475 | ^CREATIVITY AND THE CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL IMAGINATION | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Social Processes & Institutions | 4 | |
| Foreign Language, 2nd year | 4 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 336 | 3 | |
| MUS 442 | GENRE STUDIES | 3 |
| MUS 493 | BASIC RECORDING TECHNIQUES | 3 |
| CLA Core: Additional Upper Division | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| MUS 331 | *GENRE STUDIES: POPULAR MUSIC AND CULTURE IN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| MUS 349 | 3 | |
| MUS 428 | SENIOR PROJECT | 4 |
| Bacc Core: Contemporary Global Issues | 3 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 334 | CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TECHNIQUE & PRACTICE | 4 |
| MUS 428 | SENIOR PROJECT | 4 |
| MUS 451 | INTRODUCTION TO ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Science, Technology & Society | 3 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |
Contemporary Music Industry BS
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| MUS 102 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION II: PERIODS AND GENRES | 3 |
| MUS 114 | FOUNDATIONS: APPLIED LISTENING AND THEORY | 3 |
| MUS 200 | AMERICAN MUSIC TRADITION | 3 |
| WR 121Z | *COMPOSITION I | 4 |
| CLA Core: Humanities | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| MUS 107 | INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATIONS AND PUBLISHING | 3 |
| MUS 115 | FOUNDATIONS: APPLIED LISTENING, THEORY, AND PRACTICE | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Difference, Power & Discrimination | 3 | |
| Bacc Core: Speech | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Social Science | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 103 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION III: GREAT COMPOSERS | 3 |
| MUS 190 | APPLIED MUSICIANSHIP: BEGINNER BEAT MAKING (DAW) | 2 |
| Bacc Core: Cultural Diversity | 3 | |
| BS: Mathematics | 4 | |
| Computer Science Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 237 | CRITICAL STUDIES IN CONTEMPORARY & POPULAR MUSIC | 3 |
| MUS 255 | INTERMEDIATE DAW AND MUSIC PUBLISHING | 3 |
| MTH 245 | *MATHEMATICS FOR MANAGEMENT, LIFE, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES | 4 |
| Bacc Core: WR II | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| MUS 102 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION II: PERIODS AND GENRES | 3 |
| MUS 279 | INTRODUCTION TO SONGWRITING 1 | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Physical Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Bacc Core: Science, Technology & Society | 4 | |
| Bacc Core: PAC | 1 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 102 | *MUSIC APPRECIATION II: PERIODS AND GENRES | 3 |
| MUS 216 | THE MUSIC BUSINESS | 3 |
| MUS 338 | APPLIED MUSICIANSHIP: GROUP GUITAR | 2 |
| HHS 231 | *LIFETIME FITNESS FOR HEALTH | 2 |
| Science Course | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 104 | *SURVEY OF JAZZ | 3 |
| MUS 443 | THEORY AND COMPOSITION STUDIES | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Biological Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Winter | ||
| MUS 415 | SCORING VISUAL MEDIA I | 3 |
| MUS 349 | 3 | |
| Bacc Core: Additional Science with Lab | 4 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 4 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 334 | CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TECHNIQUE & PRACTICE | 4 |
| MUS 475 | ^CREATIVITY AND THE CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL IMAGINATION | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Social Processes & Institutions | 4 | |
| Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MUS 442 | GENRE STUDIES | 3 |
| MUS 493 | BASIC RECORDING TECHNIQUES | 3 |
| Bacc Core: Western Culture | 4 | |
| CLA Core: Non-Western Culture | 3 | |
| CLA Core: Additional Upper Division | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Winter | ||
| MUS 331 | *GENRE STUDIES: POPULAR MUSIC AND CULTURE IN LATIN AMERICA | 3 |
| MUS 428 | SENIOR PROJECT | 4 |
| Bacc Core: Literature & The Arts | 4 | |
| Bacc Core: Synthesis | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUS 334 | CONTEMPORARY MUSIC TECHNIQUE & PRACTICE | 4 |
| MUS 336 | 3 | |
| MUS 428 | SENIOR PROJECT | 4 |
| MUS 451 | INTRODUCTION TO ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP | 3 |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Total Credits | 180 | |