California State University, East Bay · Department of Music
B.A. in Music with the Music Education Certificate
First-year entry, catalog year 2027–2028
program: b.a. in musicentry: first-yearcatalog: 2027–2028degree total: 120 unitsstatus: current
unit summary
requirement
units
lower division required
15
upper division required
18
applied & ensembles required
9
music electives
12
b.a. music total
54
music education certificate
31
certificate units that also satisfy a b.a. requirement
7
With general education and university graduation requirements, the degree totals 120 units. With the certificate, the plan totals 134 units.
General education paths differ from student to student. The GE courses shown are a typical selection for music majors, not a fixed sequence. Build your own GE plan with your advisor.
music majorgeneral educationfree elective
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 (placement audition)
1
large ensemble
MUS 351–359
Major Performing Ensemble
1
certificate
MUS 233
Basic Brass Techniques
1
semester total
16
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
certificate
MUS 231
Basic String Techniques
1
semester total
17
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
certificate
MUS 232
Basic Woodwind Techniques
1
certificate
MUS 236
Basic Vocal Techniques
1
semester total
20
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
certificate
MUS 234
Basic Percussion Techniques
1
certificate
MUS 235
Basic Guitar Techniques
1
semester total
18
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
music elective
Music Electives (filled by certificate courses)
0
certificate
MUS 331
Foundations of Music Education (also a music elective)
3
certificate
MUS 341
Basic Conducting (also a music elective)
3
semester total
17
sixth semester (spring a)
requirement
course
title
units
UD Area 5 / SUS
UD Science/Quantitative Reasoning (completion of Areas 1 & 2)
3
UWR
University Writing Requirement
3
UD music major / DIV
MUS 324
History of American Music
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 433
Choral Music Teaching Methods (also a music elective)
3
certificate
MUS 441
Intermediate Conducting (also a music elective)
3
semester total
20
seventh semester (fall b)
requirement
course
title
units
UD music major / UD Area 3
MUS 304
World Music & Culture (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
chamber ensemble
MUS 360–369
Chamber Ensemble
1
free elective
Free Elective Units / Other
3
certificate
MUS 431
Elementary Music Teaching Methods (fills free elective units)
3
semester total
12
eighth semester (spring b)
requirement
course
title
units
music elective
MUS 461–469
Applied Music Study (jury)
1
music elective
MUS 351–359
Major Performing Ensemble
1
free elective
Free Elective Units / Other
5
certificate
MUS 335
Technology for Music Educators (fills free elective units)
3
certificate
MUS 432
Instrumental Music Teaching Methods (fills free elective units)
3
certificate
MUS 495
Music Education Practicum (fills free elective units)
1
semester total
14
music electives
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 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 335
Technology for Music Educators
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 as electives. Up to 4 additional units of Major Performing Ensembles (MUS 351–359) 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)
The East Bay Jazz Singers (MUS 369C)
A Cappella Ensemble (MUS 369D)
unit count
Counted from the semesters above.
category
units
b.a. music requirements and electives
54
music education certificate, units beyond the b.a.