M.A. in Music with the Certificate in Music Education · CSU East Bay Department of Music and Performing Arts

unit summary

requirement	units
graduate seminars (eight courses)	16
Graduate Applied Study (MUS 661–668, four semesters)	8
ensemble (MUS 351–355, 360–369, four semesters)	4
capstone (MUS 693, four semesters)	4
m.a. total	32
Certificate in Music Education	31
plan total	63

Each semester has 8 M.A. units. The certificate courses are in addition to the M.A. and run one full rotation alongside it, with MUS 495 Music Education Practicum in the last semester. Students plan the certificate with John Eros, the Music Education Coordinator. Students declare one area of emphasis at admission: Performance (Classical or Jazz), Choral Conducting, or Composition. The graduate seminars are common to all three emphases.

m.a. in music certificate

note

The comprehensive examination is a degree requirement that has no units. It’s in the final semester, with the capstone.

2026–2027 cohort

The 2026–2027 cohort has a different distribution of units. In the 2026–2027 catalog, MUS 603 is 3 units, and MUS 693 Capstone is 3 units over three semesters (the second, third, and fourth).

four semesters

Seminars and certificate courses are offered on a two-year rotation. 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)

first semester (fall A)

requirement	course	title	units
graduate seminar	MUS 601	Analysis of Musical Styles: Birth and Death of Tonality	2
graduate seminar	MUS 603	Entrepreneurship in the Arts	2
applied study	MUS 661–668	Graduate Applied Study	2
ensemble	MUS 351–355, 360–369	Ensemble	1
capstone	MUS 693	Capstone, 1 of 4	1
certificate	MUS 233	Basic Brass Techniques	1
certificate	MUS 331	Foundations of Music Education	3
certificate	MUS 341	Basic Conducting	3
		semester total	15

second semester (spring A)

requirement	course	title	units
graduate seminar	MUS 605	History and Theory of Jazz	2
graduate seminar	MUS 606	Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Music	2
applied study	MUS 661–668	Graduate Applied Study	2
ensemble	MUS 351–355, 360–369	Ensemble	1
capstone	MUS 693	Capstone, 2 of 4	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

third semester (fall B)

requirement	course	title	units
graduate seminar	MUS 602	Analysis of Musical Styles: Post-Tonality and Beyond	2
graduate seminar	MUS 630	Advanced Conducting	2
applied study	MUS 661–668	Graduate Applied Study	2
ensemble	MUS 351–355, 360–369	Ensemble	1
capstone	MUS 693	Capstone, 3 of 4	1
certificate	MUS 232	Basic Woodwind Techniques	1
certificate	MUS 236	Basic Vocal Techniques	1
certificate	MUS 304	World Music & Culture	3
certificate	MUS 431	Elementary Music Teaching Methods	3
		semester total	16

fourth semester (spring B)

requirement	course	title	units
graduate seminar	MUS 631	Teaching Music in Higher Education	2
graduate seminar	MUS 604	Sounding Justice: Unveiling the Ecological and Social Dimensions of Music	2
applied study	MUS 661–668	Graduate Applied Study	2
ensemble	MUS 351–355, 360–369	Ensemble	1
capstone	MUS 693	Capstone, 4 of 4	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	17

entering in fall B (odd years)

first semester (fall B)

requirement	course	title	units
graduate seminar	MUS 602	Analysis of Musical Styles: Post-Tonality and Beyond	2
graduate seminar	MUS 630	Advanced Conducting	2
applied study	MUS 661–668	Graduate Applied Study	2
ensemble	MUS 351–355, 360–369	Ensemble	1
capstone	MUS 693	Capstone, 1 of 4	1
certificate	MUS 232	Basic Woodwind Techniques	1
certificate	MUS 236	Basic Vocal Techniques	1
certificate	MUS 304	World Music & Culture	3
certificate	MUS 431	Elementary Music Teaching Methods	3
		semester total	16

second semester (spring B)

requirement	course	title	units
graduate seminar	MUS 631	Teaching Music in Higher Education	2
graduate seminar	MUS 604	Sounding Justice: Unveiling the Ecological and Social Dimensions of Music	2
applied study	MUS 661–668	Graduate Applied Study	2
ensemble	MUS 351–355, 360–369	Ensemble	1
capstone	MUS 693	Capstone, 2 of 4	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

third semester (fall A)

requirement	course	title	units
graduate seminar	MUS 601	Analysis of Musical Styles: Birth and Death of Tonality	2
graduate seminar	MUS 603	Entrepreneurship in the Arts	2
applied study	MUS 661–668	Graduate Applied Study	2
ensemble	MUS 351–355, 360–369	Ensemble	1
capstone	MUS 693	Capstone, 3 of 4	1
certificate	MUS 233	Basic Brass Techniques	1
certificate	MUS 331	Foundations of Music Education	3
certificate	MUS 341	Basic Conducting	3
		semester total	15

fourth semester (spring A)

requirement	course	title	units
graduate seminar	MUS 605	History and Theory of Jazz	2
graduate seminar	MUS 606	Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Music	2
applied study	MUS 661–668	Graduate Applied Study	2
ensemble	MUS 351–355, 360–369	Ensemble	1
capstone	MUS 693	Capstone, 4 of 4	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	16

milestones

Advancement to candidacy is at the end of the first year, after 2 units from MUS 601 or MUS 602, 2 units from MUS 604, MUS 605, or MUS 631, 4 units of Graduate Applied Study, and 2 units of ensemble, with a grade point average of at least 3.0. It must be on record before the final semester. The requirements are in the Graduate Handbook.

The capstone (a public recital, conducting performance, or lecture on a composition portfolio, by emphasis) and the comprehensive examination are in the final semester. Both are described in section 03 of the Graduate Handbook.