Music AA Degree Program

Music Associate in Arts Degree Program

Related Degrees & Certificates

Program	Units
AA-T Associate in Arts Degree for Transfer
Music for Transfer	60 units

Career Opportunities

Music education fosters creativity, builds cooperative skills, encourages independent thinking, cultivates persistence/resilience, refines sensory perception, enhances fine and gross motor skills, increases brain power and functionality, improves mental health, and develops personal expression. Music is a broad field where one may apply foundational music training to a wide range of careers that may include music performer, music composer or arranger, music conductor or director, music educator or researcher, arts administrator (for schools, performing organizations, or media outlets), music journalist, musician manager or promoter, music event manager or producer, music retailer, live audio or recorded music producer or technician, DJ, music copyist or engraver, music publisher, instrument builder or tuner, and music law specialist (such as entertainment or copyright lawyer and music licensing consultant). Music and music-related careers usually require additional training and/or expertise beyond the two-year degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing this program will be able to:

Demonstrate technical fluency, artistic growth, and personal enrichment in musical performance on a given instrument and/or voice in a solo and/or ensemble context along with an introductory keyboard proficiency.
Analyze and interpret common elements and underlying structures of Western music and use these components to compose music, sight-read music, and/or notate music upon listening.
Distinguish a range of music cultures through recognition of the scope, variety, structure, and form of musical works from these cultures, awareness of historical and social contexts of these cultures, and ability to respond critically to musical works in these cultures by articulating an informed personal reaction.

Program Overview

The Associate of Arts Degree in Music provides technical and artistic foundations to students interested in pursuing careers in music and music-related fields. In addition to basic courses in reading and writing music, students gain beginning performance skills through class instruction on an instrument (or voice) and as part of a music ensemble. Studies in the aesthetic and historical traditions of various music cultures provide students with an introductory knowledge of the roles and functions of music in society. This degree can also serve as the preparation for additional music studies or degrees (such as the AA-T in Music) for students wishing to transfer to a baccalaureate degree program as a music major.

Program Requirements

Required Core Courses (13-14 units)		Units
MUS. 100	Fundamentals of Music	3 units
	OR
MUS. 107	Music Theory III	3 units
MUS. 105	Music Theory I	3 units
MUS. 106	Music Theory II	3 units
MUS. 111	Musicianship I	1 unit
MUS. 112	Musicianship II	1 unit
MUS. 301	Piano I	2 units
	OR
MUS. 205	Piano for General Education	3 units

Select 3 units from the following:		Units
MUS. 115	Music, Art and Ideas	3 units
MUS. 202	Music Appreciation	3 units

Select 3 units from the following:		Units
MUS. 100 *	Fundamentals of Music	3 units
MUS. 250	World Music	3 units
MUS. 275	History of Jazz	3 units
MUS. 277	African American Music	3 units
MUS. 294	Introduction to Music Technology	3 units
MUS. 299	Electronic Music Production	3 units

Select 4 units from the following:		Units
MUS. 302	Piano II	2 units
MUS. 303	Piano III	2 units
MUS. 304	Piano IV	2 units
MUS. 355	Violin/Viola I	2 units
MUS. 356	Violin/Viola II	2 units
MUS. 357	Violin/Viola III	2 units
MUS. 358	Violin/Viola IV	2 units
MUS. 377	Guitar I	2 units
MUS. 378	Guitar II	2 units
MUS. 379	Guitar III	2 units
MUS. 380	Guitar IV	2 units
MUS. 401	Voice I	2 units
MUS. 402	Voice II	2 units
MUS. 403	Voice III	2 units
MUS. 404	Voice IV	2 units

Select 4 units from the following:		Units
MUS. 383.1	Guitar Ensemble I	1 unit
MUS. 383.2	Guitar Ensemble II	1 unit
MUS. 383.3	Guitar Ensemble III	1 unit
MUS. 383.4	Guitar Ensemble IV	1 unit
MUS. 410.1	Vocal Ensemble for the Musical Theater Production I	1 unit
MUS. 410.2	Vocal Ensemble for the Musical Theater Production II	1 unit
MUS. 410.3	Vocal Ensemble for the Musical Theater Production III	1 unit
MUS. 410.4	Vocal Ensemble for the Musical Theater Production IV	1 unit
MUS. 420.1	Orchestra for the Musical Theater Production I	1 unit
MUS. 420.2	Orchestra for the Musical Theater Production II	1 unit
MUS. 420.3	Orchestra for the Musical Theater Production III	1 unit
MUS. 420.4	Orchestra for the Musical Theater Production IV	1 unit
MUS. 430.1	Concert Band I	1 unit
MUS. 430.2	Concert Band II	1 unit
MUS. 430.3	Concert Band III	1 unit
MUS. 430.4	Concert Band IV	1 unit
MUS. 440.1	Symphony Orchestra I	1 unit
MUS. 440.2	Symphony Orchestra II	1 unit
MUS. 440.3	Symphony Orchestra III	1 unit
MUS. 440.4	Symphony Orchestra IV	1 unit
MUS. 450.1	Jazz Band I	1 unit
MUS. 450.2	Jazz Band II	1 unit
MUS. 450.3	Jazz Band III	1 unit
MUS. 450.4	Jazz Band IV	1 unit
MUS. 470.1	Concert Choir I	1 unit
MUS. 470.2	Concert Choir II	1 unit
MUS. 470.3	Concert Choir III	1 unit
MUS. 470.4	Concert Choir IV	1 unit
MUS. 485.1	Vocal Jazz Ensemble I	1 unit
MUS. 485.2	Vocal Jazz Ensemble II	1 unit
MUS. 485.3	Vocal Jazz Ensemble III	1 unit
MUS. 485.4	Vocal Jazz Ensemble IV	1 unit
MUS. 456.1	Latin Music Ensemble I	1 unit
MUS. 456.2	Latin Music Ensemble II	1 unit
MUS. 456.3	Latin Music Ensemble III	1 unit
MUS. 456.4	Latin Music Ensemble IV	1 unit

* MUS. 100 may only be taken as an elective if MUS. 107 was selected as the Required Core Course.

Total Required Major Units: 27 - 28

And required General Education coursework and electives as needed to meet the minimum 60 units required for the Associate degree.

Please refer to the AA/AS Degree Requirements for more information.