B.A. in Music, 2-year transfer roadmap
notes for transfer students
This plan covers the upper-division B.A. in Music completed in residence at CSU East Bay. Students enter at junior standing with lower-division coursework and lower-division general education complete. Transfer admission information explains how completed coursework transfers to CSU East Bay.
The B.A. requires three semesters of keyboard musicianship: MUS 118, MUS 119, and MUS 218. Transfer students who haven’t completed the sequence take it at CSU East Bay or meet the requirement by credit by exam.
The B.A. requires MUS 202 Writing About Music. Transfer students who haven’t completed GE Second Composition will need to fulfill that requirement with this course.
The B.A. requires MUS 381 Essentials of Music Technology. Transfer students who haven’t completed a similar technology course will need to fulfill that requirement with this course during their first semester.
unit summary
| requirement | units |
|---|---|
| upper division required | 18 |
| applied & ensembles required | 9 |
| music electives | 12 |
| b.a. in music in residence* | 39 |
*Plus up to 6 units for transfer students: 3 for the keyboard sequence (MUS 118, MUS 119, and MUS 218) and 3 for MUS 202 Writing About Music. The notes for transfer students say who takes them.
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.
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)
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 |
| applied studies | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (applied area placement) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| music elective | Music Electives | 3 | |
| semester total | 14 |
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 |
| applied studies | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| music elective | Music Electives | 3 | |
| free elective | Free Elective Units / Other | 3 | |
| semester total | 17 |
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 |
| UD music major | MUS 410 | 20th and 21st C Styles and Techniques | 3 |
| applied studies | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| chamber ensemble | MUS 360–369 | Chamber Ensemble | 1 |
| music elective | Music Electives | 3 | |
| free elective | Free Elective Units / Other | 3 | |
| semester total | 15 |
eighth semester (spring B)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| applied studies | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| music elective | Music Electives | 3 | |
| free elective | Free Elective Units / Other | 9 | |
| semester total | 14 |
entering in fall B (odd years)
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 (completion of Areas 1 & 2) | 3 |
| UD music major | MUS 410 | 20th and 21st C Styles and Techniques | 3 |
| applied studies | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (applied area placement) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| music elective | Music Electives | 3 | |
| semester total | 14 |
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 | |
| applied studies | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| music elective | Music Electives | 3 | |
| free elective | Free Elective Units / Other | 6 | |
| semester total | 17 |
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 |
| applied studies | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| chamber ensemble | MUS 360–369 | Chamber Ensemble | 1 |
| music elective | Music Electives | 3 | |
| free elective | Free Elective Units / Other | 3 | |
| semester total | 15 |
eighth semester (spring A)
| requirement | course | title | units |
|---|---|---|---|
| UD music major / DIV | MUS 324 | History of American Music | 3 |
| applied studies | MUS 461–469 | Applied Music Study (jury) | 1 |
| large ensemble | MUS 351–359 | Major Performing Ensemble | 1 |
| music elective | Music Electives | 3 | |
| free elective | Free Elective Units / Other | 6 | |
| semester total | 14 |
Certificate in Music Education (add-on)
The Certificate in Music Education counts within the B.A. units in residence, with up to 4 units beyond the 60. Its semester placement is in the B.A. in Music with the Certificate in Music Education, 2-year transfer roadmap, and its course rotation is in the Certificate in Music Education roadmap.
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)
unit count
| category | units |
|---|---|
| music, major requirements and electives* | 39 |
| general education | 9 |
| free elective / other** | 12 |
| total in residence at csu east bay | 60 |
| aa-t | 60 |
| b.a. in music total | 120 |
*Plus up to 6 units for transfer students: 3 for the keyboard sequence (MUS 118, MUS 119, and MUS 218) and 3 for MUS 202 Writing About Music. The notes for transfer students say who takes them.
**These vary depending on each student’s path through the GE requirements and free electives, up to 120 units.