Music AA-T Degree
Provides students with a common core of lower division courses required to transfer and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Music in the CSU system.
Associate in Arts for Transfer | SC Program: AA-T.1008
Music majors acquire valuable skills that are useful in pretty much any field. You can highlight these skills when you're applying for a job or graduate program. The Shasta College Music Department offers a wide variety of music classes, and is dedicated to serving all student clientele, including music majors, pre-music majors, general education students, and community / returning students.
The Associate in Arts in Music for Transfer Degree is designed to prepare the student for transfer to four-year institutions of higher education and specifically intended to satisfy the lower division requirements for the Baccalaureate in Arts in Music at the California State University. This degree is designed to prepare students to demonstrate competence and discipline in the study of music theory, music analysis, music composition, and musicianship skills, and to demonstrate proficiency in ensemble skills and solo performance skills. Completion of this curriculum will demonstrate commitment to the serious study of Music in practice and in theory and provide comprehensive preparation for upper-division work



Choose your path
Map your education by viewing the program map for the degree or certificate you’re interested in earning below. Meet with a counselor to create your official comprehensive education plan.
A program map shows all the required and recommended courses you need to graduate and a suggested order in which you should take them. The suggested sequence of courses is based on enrollment and includes all major and general education courses required for the degree.
Fall Semester, First Year
15.5 Units TotalThis course is a survey of the history of the United States from Pre-Columbian Peoples to the end of Reconstruction. Topics include contact and settlement of America, the movement toward independence, the formation of a new nation and Constitution, westward expansion and manifest destiny, the causes and consequences of the Civil War, and Reconstruction. This course satisfies the CSU requirement for US History (US-1). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
A study of scales and modes, key signatures and intervals, handwritten notation of pitch, and rhythms of simple and compound meters. Anatomy of harmony and melody. Four part harmonic writing, basic progressions, cadential formulas and integration of both with ear training and sight-singing. Analysis of music and composition will be concurrent with materials studied, which include phrase structure, figured bass symbols, and introductory dominant sevenths. Course is designed for the Music Core Program and is the first course of the four semester music theory sequence required to satisfy the Music Core Program and lower division music transfer. Course may be challenged and is transferable.
This course consists of individualized instrumental or vocal study using appropriate techniques and repertoire. The emphasis is on the progressive development of skills needed for solo performance in preparation for transfer to a CSU/UC music degree program. Achievement is evaluated through a juried performance. Entrance by audition. Note: This course may be repeated three times for a total of four enrollments since skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice.
This course is a performing mixed choir (S.A.T.B.) that sings a variety of music, both historical and contemporary. This course teaches fundamentals of reading choral music, using examples from choral literature. Note: This course may be repeated three times for a total of four enrollments since skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice.
Spring Semester, First Year
14.5 Units TotalThis is a college level course that introduces functions and function algebra for majors in the Liberal Arts. The main focus is on linear, polynomial, rational, radical, absolute value, logarithmic and exponential functions and equations. Students will learn algebraic techniques, modeling techniques and technology-based techniques for solving equations and inequalities involving these functions and for investigating the graphs of these functions. This course also covers systems of equations. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course is an introduction to United States and California government and politics, including their constitutions, political institutions and processes, and political actors. An examination of political behavior, political issues, and public policy, this course satisfies the CSU requirement in U.S. Constitution and California State and local government (US-2 and US-3). This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course consists of individualized instrumental or vocal study using appropriate techniques and repertoire. The emphasis is on the progressive development of skills needed for solo performance in preparation for transfer to a CSU/UC music degree program. Achievement is evaluated through a juried performance. Entrance by audition. Note: This course may be repeated three times for a total of four enrollments since skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice.
Note: Performances are required.
This course is organized for advanced singers, and admission to the class will be by audition to determine performance capability. This course provides performance by solos, duets, trios, quartets, and full ensemble. Literature is selected from all periods of music, and music may be sung in foreign languages. Field trips and performances are required. This course cannot be challenged, must be taken for a grade, and is transferable. Students are expected to progress in skill level to be able to master more advanced material. Note: This course may be repeated three times for a total of four enrollments since skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice.
Fall Semester, Second Year
14.5 Units TotalThis course is an introduction to the process of human communication with emphasis on public speaking. The subjects covered are speech topic selection, audience analysis, information competency (e.g. researching, evaluating and using supporting materials), presentation outlining, principles of effective speech delivery, critical evaluation of speeches, and presentation of informative and persuasive speeches. Most students will have the opportunity to be recorded and to use presentational technology. College level writing skills will be expected on all papers, outlines and short essays. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course consists of individualized instrumental or vocal study using appropriate techniques and repertoire. The emphasis is on the progressive development of skills needed for solo performance in preparation for transfer to a CSU/UC music degree program. Achievement is evaluated through a juried performance. Entrance by audition. Note: This course may be repeated three times for a total of four enrollments since skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice.
This class offers experience in the study and performance of big band commercial and jazz arrangements. This course may be repeated three times for a total of four enrollments since skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice.
Spring Semester, Second Year
15.5 Units TotalThis course is an introduction to the conservation or wise use of natural resources and incorporates discussions about the complex relationships of man to the environment. Students will learn about the diverse agencies that manage our resources along with their history and philosophies. The course will cover each of the major natural resources - such as water, air, energy, forests, wildlife, agriculture, and soils - as well as environmental policy and laws that govern the use of these resources. An emphasis is placed on the practical components of Environmental Science as it relates to social and economic aspects of conservation. This course may be offered in a distance education format.
This course consists of individualized instrumental or vocal study using appropriate techniques and repertoire. The emphasis is on the progressive development of skills needed for solo performance in preparation for transfer to a CSU/UC music degree program. Achievement is evaluated through a juried performance. Entrance by audition. Note: This course may be repeated three times for a total of four enrollments since skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice.
Note: Performances are required.
This course is for students interested in singing jazz and commercial music. Students will sing jazz music in parts and will learn improvisation, jazz style, basic jazz terminology, and common jazz patterns. Note: This course may be repeated three times for a total of four enrollments since skills are enhanced by supervised repetition and practice.
Please see a counselor to discuss options for meeting general education requirements for transfer to California State Universities (CSU) and/or University of California (UC) campuses, as well as any specific additional courses that may be required by your chosen institution of transfer.
*Alternative Courses: Please see a Shasta College counselor for alternative course options. You can also view the following to find other courses to meet degree/certificate requirements:
- California State Universities – General Education
- IGETC – Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum
Need a print out? Feel free to download and/or print out a copy of the sample program map(s).
- Music AA-T - Full-Time Pathway (PDF)
*These printouts are currently not yet available, but they will be linked as soon as they're ready!
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