Music AA Degree

Associate in Arts | SC Program: AA.1360

The AA curriculum in Music is designed to provide preparation for either transfer to a CSU or UC as a music major and/or assist in development for a career in music within a variety of music career choices. A few of these career options could be: working in the music industry, music performance, music education, music publishing, musical theater, composition, retail music merchandising, and private music instruction. Additionally the music curriculum creates an opportunity for local amateur and professional musicians to perform within the music department's music performance ensembles (Choirs, Orchestras, Symphonic Bands, and Jazz Ensembles) and/or to advance their music skills.

This degree is approved through the California Community College Chancellor’s Office. Upon satisfactory completion of all degree requirements and filing an application for graduation with Admissions and Records, the student’s transcript will reflect completion of this degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this degree, the student should be able to:

• Describe major concepts, vocabulary, theoretical perspectives, and creative performance practices of music.
• Demonstrate ensemble specific performance practices and professional standards of conduct expected of ensemble participants.
• Perform solo literature with an accompanist (if appropriate) using stylistically accurate rhythm, pitch, diction (or articulation) and musical expression. Included will be performance within formal recital settings.
• Demonstrate the ability to “audiate” a musical score by sight singing tonal music and performing rhythms.
• Demonstrate the ability to recognize and analyze patterns and musical function by aurally identifying and transcribing scales, modes, melodies, and harmonic progressions.
• Demonstrate keyboard proficiency at the level required to perform theoretical concepts studied in music theory courses.

Degree Requirements

The Associate in Arts in Music (A.A.) is designed to prepare the student for transfer to and satisfy the lower division requirements for the Baccalaureate in Arts in Music at the California State University and University of California.  In addition to the 37-39-unit general education pattern for CSU or IGETC, students must complete the “CORE” music courses listed below for the Associate of Arts in Music (A.A.).

Suggested Course Sequences (by semester):  ##= required core music course(s), **= suggested GE course(s), #**=GE courses that may be directly relevant to the music major program. 

First Year Fall Semester

• ##MUS 2 (Diatonic Harmony & Musicianship, 4 units)
• ##MUS 31-47 (Large Ensembles, 1 unit per ensemble, required one ensemble per semester but students are strongly encouraged to take multiple ensembles each semester)
• ## MUS 48 (Applied Music, .5 unit)
• #** MUS 10 (Music Appreciation, 3 units)
• ##MUS 61A (Performance Analysis, .5 unit)
• **ENGL 1A (College Composition, 4 units)
• ** CMST 60 (Public Speaking, 3 units)

Total Semester Units: 16

First Year Spring Semester

• ## MUS 3 (Advanced Diatonic Harmony & Musicianship, 4 units)
• ##MUS 31-47 (Large Ensembles, 1 unit per ensemble, required one ensemble per semester but students are strongly encouraged to take multiple ensembles each semester)
• ## MUS 48 (Applied Music, .5 unit)
• ##MUS 61B (Performance Analysis, .5 unit)
• **MATH 13 (College Algebra for Liberal Studies, 3 units)
• **HIST 17A or 17B (U.S. History, 3 units, CSU graduation requirement)
• **POLS 2 (American Government, 3 units, CSU graduation requirement)

Total Semester Units: 15

Second Year Fall Semester

• ## MUS 4 (Chromatic Harmony, 4 units)
• ##MUS 31-47 (Large Ensembles, 1 unit per ensemble, required one ensemble per semester but students are strongly encouraged to take multiple ensembles each semester)
• ## MUS 48 (Applied Music, .5 unit)
• ##MUS61C (Performance Analysis, .5 unit)
• ##MUS 64 (Keyboard Skills, 1 unit)
• #** MUS 11 (History of Jazz and Early Rock, 3 units) or MUS 14 (World Music, 3 units)
• **ANTH 1 (Physical Anthropology, 3 units)
• ** ENG 1C (Critical Reasoning/Reading/Writing, 3 units)

Total Semester Units: 16

Second Year Spring Semester

• ##MUS 5 (Twentieth Century Harmony, 4 units)
• ##MUS 31-47 (Large Ensembles, 1 unit per ensemble, required one ensemble per semester but students are strongly encouraged to take multiple ensembles each semester)
• ## MUS 48 (Applied Music, .5 unit)
• ##MUS61D (Performance Analysis, .5 unit)
• ##MUS 65 (Keyboard Skills, 1 unit)
• **CMST 10 (Interpersonal Communication, 3 units)
• **CHEM 10 (Chemistry for Liberal Arts, 3 units)
• **CHEM 11 (Chemistry Lab for Liberal Arts, 1 unit)
• **ENG 10A or ENG 10B (World Literature, 3 units, Global Cultures GE requirement)

Total Semester Units: 17

Total Two-Year Units:  64 units

Special Notices:

1. If students are transferring to a CSU, then add **HLTH 1: (Health and Wellness, 3 units) for two-year units of 63 (For general education CSUs require Category E but UCs do not).
2. IGETC certification requires passing two years of foreign language in high school.