California State University, East Bay · Department of Music and Performing Arts
B.A. in Music with the Certificate in Music Education
First-year entry, catalog year 2027–2028
unit summary
| requirement | units |
|---|---|
| lower division required | 15 |
| upper division required | 18 |
| applied & ensembles required | 9 |
| music electives | 12 |
| b.a. music total | 54 |
| Certificate in Music Education | 31 |
The certificate courses count within the 120 units of the B.A. The certificate starts in the third year and runs one full rotation, with MUS 495 Music Education Practicum in the last semester. Students plan the certificate with John Eros, the Music Education Coordinator.
General education paths differ from student to student. The GE courses shown are one typical selection for music majors. Students build their own GE plan with an advisor.
music major
general education
certificate
entry term
Department courses are offered on a two-year rotation of fall A, spring A, fall B, and spring B. Fall A is in even years (2026, 2028, and so on), and fall B is in odd years (2027, 2029, and so on). Each entry term has its own plan.
entering in fall A (even years)
lower division
first semester (fall A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 100 | College Writing: Stretch I | 3 | |
| ENGL 109 | College Writing Lab | 1 | |
| Area 4 / US2-3 / SJ | ES 121 | People’s History I | 3 |
| Area 4 / US1-2 | HIST 110 | United States to 1877 | 3 |
| Area 3A | MUS 108 | The Language of Music | 3 |
| applied studies | MUS 261–269 | Applied Music Study (applied area placement) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| semester total | 15 |
second semester (spring A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1A | ENGL 101 | College Writing: Stretch II | 2 |
| ENGL 109 | College Writing Lab | 1 | |
| Area 1C | COMM 100 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | MATH 118E | Mathematics for the Arts and Humanities | 4 |
| LD music major | MUS 111 | Music Theory I | 2 |
| LD music major | MUS 115 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| LD music major | MUS 118 | Keyboard Musicianship I | 1 |
| applied studies | MUS 261–269 | Applied Music Study | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| semester total | 16 |
third semester (fall B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1B / 2nd Comp | PHIL 100 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Area 3B | Humanities | 3 | |
| Area 5A | Physical and Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| LD music major | MUS 112 | Music Theory II | 2 |
| LD music major | MUS 116 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| LD music major | MUS 119 | Keyboard Musicianship II | 1 |
| UD music major | MUS 381 | Essentials of Music Technology | 3 |
| applied studies | MUS 261–269 | Applied Music Study | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| semester total | 18 |
fourth semester (spring B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 5B-C | Physical and Biological Sciences + Lab | 4 | |
| Area 6 / SJ | Ethnic Studies | 3 | |
| LD music major / 2nd Comp | MUS 202 | Writing About Music | 3 |
| LD music major | MUS 211 | Music Theory III | 2 |
| LD music major | MUS 215 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| LD music major | MUS 218 | Keyboard Musicianship III | 1 |
| applied studies | MUS 261–269 | Applied Music Study | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| semester total | 16 |
upper division
fifth semester (fall A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD Area 4 / SJ | UD Social and Behavioral Sciences (completion of Areas 1 & 2) | 3 | |
| UD music major | MUS 323 | Topics in Western Music History | 3 |
| UD music major | MUS 312 | Form and Analysis | 3 |
| music elective | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| music elective | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 233 | Basic Brass Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 331 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| certificate | MUS 341 | Basic Conducting | 3 |
| semester total | 18 |
sixth semester (spring A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UWR | University Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| UD music major / DIV | MUS 324 | History of American Music | 3 |
| music elective | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| music elective | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 231 | Basic String Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 433 | Choral Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| certificate | MUS 441 | Intermediate Conducting | 3 |
| semester total | 15 |
seventh semester (fall B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD music major / UD Area 3 | MUS 304 | World Music & Culture (also a certificate course) (completion of Areas 1 & 2) | 3 |
| UD music major | MUS 410 | 20th and 21st C Styles and Techniques | 3 |
| music elective | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| music elective | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| chamber ensemble | MUS 360–369 | Chamber Ensemble | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 232 | Basic Woodwind Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 236 | Basic Vocal Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 431 | Elementary Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| semester total | 14 |
eighth semester (spring B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD Area 5 / SUS | UD Science/Quantitative Reasoning (completion of Areas 1 & 2) | 3 | |
| music elective | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| music elective | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 234 | Basic Percussion Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 235 | Basic Guitar Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 335 | Technology for Music Educators | 3 |
| certificate | MUS 432 | Instrumental Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| certificate | MUS 495 | Music Education Practicum | 1 |
| semester total | 14 |
entering in fall B (odd years)
lower division
first semester (fall B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGL 100 | College Writing: Stretch I | 3 | |
| ENGL 109 | College Writing Lab | 1 | |
| Area 4 / US2-3 / SJ | ES 121 | People’s History I | 3 |
| Area 4 / US1-2 | HIST 110 | United States to 1877 | 3 |
| Area 3A | MUS 108 | The Language of Music | 3 |
| applied studies | MUS 261–269 | Applied Music Study (applied area placement) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| semester total | 15 |
second semester (spring B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1A | ENGL 101 | College Writing: Stretch II | 2 |
| ENGL 109 | College Writing Lab | 1 | |
| Area 1C | COMM 100 | Oral Communication | 3 |
| Area 2 | MATH 118E | Mathematics for the Arts and Humanities | 4 |
| LD music major | MUS 111 | Music Theory I | 2 |
| LD music major | MUS 115 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| LD music major | MUS 118 | Keyboard Musicianship I | 1 |
| applied studies | MUS 261–269 | Applied Music Study | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| semester total | 16 |
third semester (fall A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 1B / 2nd Comp | PHIL 100 | Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Area 3B | Humanities | 3 | |
| Area 5A | Physical and Biological Sciences | 3 | |
| LD music major | MUS 112 | Music Theory II | 2 |
| LD music major | MUS 116 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| LD music major | MUS 119 | Keyboard Musicianship II | 1 |
| UD music major | MUS 381 | Essentials of Music Technology | 3 |
| applied studies | MUS 261–269 | Applied Music Study | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| semester total | 18 |
fourth semester (spring A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area 5B-C | Physical and Biological Sciences + Lab | 4 | |
| Area 6 / SJ | Ethnic Studies | 3 | |
| LD music major / 2nd Comp | MUS 202 | Writing About Music | 3 |
| LD music major | MUS 211 | Music Theory III | 2 |
| LD music major | MUS 215 | Aural Skills III | 1 |
| LD music major | MUS 218 | Keyboard Musicianship III | 1 |
| applied studies | MUS 261–269 | Applied Music Study | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| semester total | 16 |
upper division
fifth semester (fall B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD Area 4 / SJ | UD Social and Behavioral Sciences (completion of Areas 1 & 2) | 3 | |
| UD music major / UD Area 3 | MUS 304 | World Music & Culture (also a certificate course) (completion of Areas 1 & 2) | 3 |
| UD music major | MUS 410 | 20th and 21st C Styles and Techniques | 3 |
| music elective | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| music elective | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 232 | Basic Woodwind Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 236 | Basic Vocal Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 431 | Elementary Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| semester total | 16 |
sixth semester (spring B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD Area 5 / SUS | UD Science/Quantitative Reasoning (completion of Areas 1 & 2) | 3 | |
| UWR | University Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| music elective | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| music elective | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 234 | Basic Percussion Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 235 | Basic Guitar Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 335 | Technology for Music Educators | 3 |
| certificate | MUS 432 | Instrumental Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| semester total | 16 |
seventh semester (fall A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD music major | MUS 323 | Topics in Western Music History | 3 |
| UD music major | MUS 312 | Form and Analysis | 3 |
| music elective | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| music elective | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| chamber ensemble | MUS 360–369 | Chamber Ensemble | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 233 | Basic Brass Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 331 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| certificate | MUS 341 | Basic Conducting | 3 |
| semester total | 16 |
eighth semester (spring A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD music major / DIV | MUS 324 | History of American Music | 3 |
| music elective | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| music elective | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 231 | Basic String Techniques | 1 |
| certificate | MUS 433 | Choral Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| certificate | MUS 441 | Intermediate Conducting | 3 |
| certificate | MUS 495 | Music Education Practicum | 1 |
| semester total | 13 |
music electives
Students complete 12 units from the courses and ensembles below. Units follow the University Catalog.
| course | title | units |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 280 | Composers Workshop | 1 |
| MUS 303 | Entrepreneurship in the Arts (GE-UD-3) | 3 |
| MUS 305 | Global Hip-Hop (GE-UD-3) | 3 |
| MUS 317 | Improvisation Techniques | 1 |
| MUS 326 | Topics in Global Music | 3 |
| MUS 331 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| MUS 335 | Technology for Music Educators | 3 |
| MUS 341 | Basic Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 412 | Contrapuntal Techniques | 3 |
| MUS 414 | Contemporary Orchestration and Arranging | 3 |
| MUS 415 | MIDI Orchestration | 3 |
| MUS 431 | Elementary Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| MUS 432 | Instrumental Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| MUS 433 | Choral Music Teaching Methods | 3 |
| MUS 441 | Intermediate Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 445 | Piano Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUS 446 | Vocal Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUS 485 | Advanced Sound Design I: Sampling, Editing, and Mixing | 3 |
| MUS 486 | Advanced Sound Design II: Synthesis, Modulation & Creative Digital Signal Processing | 3 |
| MUS 490 | Independent Study | 1–3 |
| MUS 495 | Music Education Practicum | 1 |
| MUS 497 | Contemporary Issues in Music Education | 3 |
| MUS 498 | Internship | 1–3 |
Up to 4 additional units of Applied Music Study (MUS 261–269, MUS 461–469) beyond the 4 required may count toward electives. Up to 4 additional units of Major Performing Ensembles (MUS 351–359, or Chamber Orchestra, MUS 365, for string players) beyond the 4 required may count toward electives:
- East Bay Singers (MUS 351B)
- East Bay Jazz Orchestra (MUS 355)
- East Bay Wind Symphony (MUS 353)
- Chamber Orchestra (MUS 365), for string players
Up to 7 additional units of Chamber Ensembles (MUS 360–369) beyond the 1 required may count toward electives:
- Rock Band (MUS 360)
- Chamber Ensemble (MUS 361)
- Percussion Ensemble (MUS 363)
- Chamber Orchestra (MUS 365)
- Electronic Music Ensemble (MUS 366)
- Piano Ensemble (MUS 367)
- Jazz Combo (MUS 368)
- Vocal Repertory Ensemble (MUS 369A)
- Chamber Singers (MUS 369B)
- East Bay Jazz Singers (MUS 369C)
- A Cappella Ensemble (MUS 369D)