Skip to main content
College of the Arts »

Music

Information » Programs » MUS Courses »

Bachelor of Music - Options in Performance, Composition and History and Literature (132 units)

The Bachelor of Music degree is a high-unit professional degree and requires 132 units for graduation. Music units include the core requirements and one option. Students interested in the BM program must successfully complete an audition for entrance to the program. This should be accomplished prior to entrance to the University. Students wishing to consider the BM program after they have enrolled at CSULB may not apply after they have completed more than a maximum of 96 units.

Core Requirements

Music History and Literature:

Take all the following courses:

  • MUS 160 History of Music: Baroque/Classical (3)
    Prerequisite: MUS 190.
  • MUS 190* Listener's Approach to Music (3)
    Prerequisites/Corequisites: ENGL 100 or GE Composition (Area A1) or another GE Foundation course.
  • MUS 360 History of Music: Medieval/Renaissance (3)
    Prerequisites: MUS 190.
  • MUS 374 History of Music: 19th/20th Century (3)
    Prerequisites: MUS 190, MUS 160 or consent of instructor.
  • MUS 490* Introduction to Music Cultures (3)
    Prerequisite: GE Foundation requirements.

* Section by advisement, double-counts as GE – C.1

Music Theory:

Take all the following courses:

  • MUS 141A Musicianship I (2)
    Corequisite: MUS 142A.
  • MUS 141B Musicianship II (2)
    Prerequisite: MUS 141A or satisfactory score on theory placement test. Corequisite: MUS 142B.
  • MUS 142A Harmony I (3)
    Corequisite: MUS 141A.
  • MUS 142B Harmony II (3)
    Prerequisites: MUS 141A & MUS 142A or satisfactory score in theory placement test. Corequisite: MUS 141B.
  • MUS 240 Advanced Musicianship (2)
    Prerequisites: MUS 141B and MUS 142B or satisfactory score on theory placement test.
  • MUS 341 Form and Analysis (3)
    Prerequisites: MUS 142B or consent of instructor.
  • MUS 342 Materials of Modern Music (3)
    Prerequisite: MUS 341.

Major Performance Organization:

MUS 100/300 Major Performance Organization (MPO), one topic each semester in residence: Piano majors take a maximum of 4 semesters of MPO; String students take Symphony Orchestra; Winds and Percussion students take Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band or Concert Band; Voice students take Chamber Choir, University Choir or 49er Chorus; Opera majors take Chamber Choir, University Choir or 49er Chorus for six semesters, and then substitute Opera (MUS 330) for two semesters; Jazz Studies majors take at least 4 units of Concert Jazz Orchestra, Studio Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz Ensemble I or Vocal Jazz Ensemble II; Composition majors who have passed the UDSE substitute New Music Ensemble (MUS 400B) after 4 semesters of MPO.

Keyboard Proficiency:

Successful completion of conservatory's piano proficiency examination (equivalent to MUS 220B)
(piano majors excepted)


College of the Arts
University Course Listings
PDF Document IconPrint (PDF) Versions of the Catalog