BA in Music

Units required for Major: 40
Total units required for BA: 120

Program Description

The fundamental purpose of the Sacramento State music curriculum is threefold:

  1. to promote excellence in all aspects of music performance and academic coursework,
  2. to provide basic preparation for careers in music, and
  3. to promote interest in all musical and artistic endeavors at the University and in the Sacramento community.

The main emphasis of the School of Music is upon performance. Sustaining this concept is the School's faculty, which remains committed to individual and ensemble performances as a means of enhancing the teaching quality of the institution and the cultural climate of the campus and community.

Students majoring in Music are not only expected to be technically proficient in the art but are required to have broad training in the liberal arts and sciences that are the core of the University's program.

Grade "C-" or better required in all courses applied to the major.

General Requirements

The following are required for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degree programs:

Performance Evaluation: Upon entering the music major, each student is required to:

  1. declare his/her major performance medium (instrument or voice);
  2. perform an entering placement audition before the appropriate applied faculty; and
  3. continue the development of his/her performance ability through regular study in accordance with Departmental requirements.

This development in performance is demonstrated at end-of-semester auditions before the applied music faculty. See applied music numbers for appropriate courses.

Soloist: Each student in the BA program of sophomore standing or above should appear as a soloist in at least one student recital or repertoire class each semester. Students in the BM program must do either a repertoire class performance or one student recital each semester.

Ensemble: Assignment to performing ensemble(s) is to be made in consultation with the student’s applied teacher and the ensemble director(s), and by audition or hearing.  Students in the BM programs are required to enroll in the appropriate large ensemble course, as stipulated in the requirements for their concentration, for eight semesters. BA students are required to enroll in a MUSC 142-series course for four semesters. After completing this requirement, students are encouraged to enroll in at least one ensemble per semester, but they are not obligated to do so. 

Piano: All undergraduate students majoring in music must have basic facility in piano to graduate from the University. For BM students other than keyboard majors, completion of MUSC 14D meets this requirement. For BA students, completion of MUSC 14C meets this requirement.

Attendance/concerts-recitals: Each music major is required to attend a minimum of ten concerts and/or recitals each semester. Attendance is monitored electronically. Students may choose to earn academic credit for this requirement by enrolling in MUSC 100A as an elective.

Teacher Preparation: Teaching credential candidates must also complete the Professional Education Program in addition to the BM Music Education requirements. See the College of Education section of this catalog for admission procedures and consult the department credential advisor for details.

Marching Band: Wind and percussion majors who are credential candidates must include at least one semester of marching band (MUSC 142M) as their Large Performance Ensemble experience.

Program Requirements

Required Lower Division Courses (20 Units)
MUSC 9Music In World Cultures 13
MUSC 10ASurvey of Music Literature I 13
or MUSC 10C Survey of Music Literature III
MUSC 10BSurvey of Music Literature II 13
MUSC 11AMusic Theory I2
MUSC 11BMusic Theory II2
MUSC 11CMusic Theory III2
MUSC 14CBasic Piano for Majors1
Select 4 units of Applied Music (lower division)4
Additional Requirements for Concentration (17 Units)
Upper Division Performance Studies
Select 3 units from either applied study, large/small ensembles, rep classes or conducting3
MUSC 142 Series (a Large Performing Ensemble) 24
Upper Division Music History/Literature or Theory
Select three of the following:9
Contemporary Music Theory and Musicianship
Instrumentation and Arranging
Research in Music History 1
MUSC 118 series (Music History)
MUSC 119 series (World Music)
The American Musical Theater 1
American Society and Its Music 1
Senior Seminar
MUSC 184Senior Seminar1
Total Units37
1

Course also satisfies General Education (GE)/Graduation Requirement.

2

A course from the MUSC 142 series must be taken 4 times for a total of 4 units; each student is assigned to a specific MUSC 142 series course each semester as appropriate for their instrument/voice type and skill level. Students enrolled in Applied Voice as their major instrument: A minimum of 4 semesters of MUSC 142 in a choral ensemble (142C or 142U, placement based on audition with the Director) is required. Transfer students in Voice may receive up to 2 semesters of credit toward this requirement from another institution upon approval from the Director of Choral Activities.

General Education Requirements1

Area 1: English Communication (9 Units)
1A - English Composition3
2B - Critical Thinking3
1C - Oral Communication3
Area 2: Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (6 Units)
Area 2 Course - Lower Division3
Area 2 Course - Upper Division3
Area 3: The Arts and Humanities (6-12 Units)
3A - Arts3 - 6
3B - Humanities3 - 6
Area 4: Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 Units)
Area 4 Course3
Area 4 Course3
Area 4 Course3
Area 5: Physical and Biological Sciences (7-10 Units)
5A - Physical Science3
5B - Biological Science3
5C - Laboratory1
Upper Division 5 - Physical and Biological Sciences0 - 3
Area 6: Ethnic Studies (3 Units)
Area 6 Course3
Total Units40-49
1

To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.

Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.

2

Required in Major; also satisfies GE.

3

Department offers students a "select from the following" option:

  • If student chooses to take MUSC 127 or MUSC 129, they will meet upper division Area C.

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (6-9 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History3
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government3
Writing Intensive (WI) 20 - 3
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units)
English Composition II3
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE)3
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 36
1

To help you complete your degree in a timely manner and not take more units than absolutely necessary, there are ways to use single courses to meet more than one requirement (overlap). For further information, please visit the General Education page.

Note: There is no way to list all possible overlaps so please consult with a professional advisor. The Academic Advising Center can be visited online, by phone (916) 278-1000, or email.

2

Department offers students a "select from the following" option:

3

If not satisfied before entering Sacramento State, it may be satisfied in General Education Area C2 (Humanities). "C- or better required." The alternative methods for satisfying the Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement are described here: https://www.csus.edu/college/arts-letters/world-languages-literatures/foreign-language-requirement.html 

The following roadmaps are sample planning resources. Please consult your academic advisor and Academic Catalog for graduation requirements as you develop your individualized academic plan.

Music, BA: 4-Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
First SemesterUnits
MUSC 4 Elements Of Music 2
MUSC 9 Music In World Cultures 3
Lower Division Applied Music Course 3 1
MUSC 142 Series - Large Performance Ensemble 3 1
GE Area 1A - English Composition 2 3
GE Area 1B - Critical Thinking 2 3
GE Area 2 - Mathematical Concepts & Quantitative Reasoning 2 3
 Units16
Second Semester
MUSC 11A Music Theory I 2
MUSC 14B Basic Piano for Majors 1
Lower Division Applied Music 3 1
MUSC 142 Series - Large Performance Ensemble 3 1
GE Area 1C - Oral Communication 2 3
GE Area 3B - Humanities 2 3
GE Area 6 - Ethnic Studies 2 3
 Units14
Year 2
First Semester
MUSC 10A
Survey of Music Literature I 3
or Survey of Music Literature III
3
MUSC 11B Music Theory II 2
MUSC 14C Basic Piano for Majors 1
Lower Division Applied Music 3 1
MUSC 142 Series - Large Performance Ensemble 3 1
ENGL 20 College Composition II 3
Foreign Language Semester 1 2 4
 Units15
Second Semester
MUSC 10B Survey of Music Literature II 3
MUSC 11C Music Theory III 2
Lower Division Applied Music 3 1
MUSC 142 Series - Large Performance Ensemble 3 1
Upper Division Music History/Literature or Theory Course 3 3
Upper Division Performance Studies 3 1
Foreign Language Semester 2 2 4
 Units15
Year 3
First Semester
Upper Division Music History/Literature or Theory Course 3 3
Upper Division Performance Studies 3 1
GE Area 5A - Physical Science 2 3
GE Area 5C - Laboratory 2 1
GR American Institutions (US History) 2 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units14
Second Semester
Upper Division Music History/Literature or Theory Course (UD GE Area 3) 3 3
Upper Division Performance Studies 3 1
GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 3
GE Area 5B - Biological Science 2 3
GR American Institutions (GOVT) 2 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units16
Year 4
First Semester
Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 3
Writing Intensive 2 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Upper Division Elective 3
 Units15
Second Semester
MUSC 184 Senior Seminar 1
Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Upper Division Elective 3
 Units16
 Total Units121

Music, BA: 2-Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
First SemesterUnits
Upper Division Performance Studies 3 1
Upper Division Music History/Literature or Theory Course 3 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Elective of Choice 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units16
Second Semester
Upper Division Performance Studies 3 1
Upper Division Music History/Literature or Theory Course 3 3
Writing Intensive 2 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units16
Year 2
First Semester
Upper Division Performance Studies 3 1
Upper Division Music History/Literature or Theory Course (UD GE Area 3) 2 3
Upper Division GE Area 4 - Social & Behavioral Sciences 2 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Elective of Choice 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units16
Second Semester
MUSC 184 Senior Seminar 1
Upper Division GE Area 5 or 2 - Science or Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning 2 3
Upper Division Elective 3
Elective of Choice 3
Elective of Choice 3
 Units13
 Total Units61
1.

Any course not completed in the first semester should be taken in the second or a later semester.

2.

Please see General Education/Graduation Requirement course options.

3.

Please see an academic advisor for elective options.