Performing and Visual Arts
Music B.A.
The B.A. in Music is a hands-on program that prepares students for careers in performance, composition for acoustic and electronic/interactive media, sound engineering, audio programming, and music education, across commercial, independent, and community sectors: Music students produce concerts, mixes, musicals, scores, performances, sound installations, texts, talks, electroacoustic compositions, and interactive and experimental multimedia work in a variety of collaborative, independent, and cross-disciplinary projects. Courses develop skills and experience in all aspects of music making, including producing, performing, analyzing, composing, songwriting, mixing, editing, documenting, marketing, and programming.
Rooted in the liberal arts tradition of critical, interdisciplinary thought and practice, the degree emphasizes well-rounded musicianship through a balance of experience in performance, composition, musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, acoustics, and music technology - each characterized by its own ways of thinking and doing - complemented by rigorous, fundamental training in critical listening, sight singing, keyboard skills, and the fluent reading, writing, and digital engraving of Common Western Music Notation. Beyond these fundamentals, students craft a personal, inquiry-driven degree emphasis in response to a chosen research and creative agenda, leading to an ambitious scholarly-creative capstone thesis project in a chosen area of expertise.
Distinction in the Major
MPA students graduating with a GPA in the major of 3.5 or higher or by recommendation of an MPA faculty member will be awarded Distinction in the Major.
Music Mission & Priorities
The department features a balanced curriculum that emphasizes composition, performance, critical analysis, and music technology skills.
Students seeking a Bachelors of Arts degree in music can look forward to a variety of learning experiences including opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. At the core of our collaborations are applied music and new technologies working together to enhance individual creativity. The Department brings composers, performers, and music technologists together to create new musical experiences.
MPA is committed to do its part in bringing CSUMB’s Founding Vision Statement into fruition through a distinctively excellent program that provides our students and broader service region with opportunities to articulate, explore, celebrate, and develop themselves through the performing arts.
Music Discipline Mission & Priorities
- Prepare students for careers in the performing arts across commercial, independent, and community sectors.
- Provide opportunities for all students interested in the performing arts to explore and develop critical and creative skills.
- Create distinctive excellence through mutually beneficial partnerships with performing arts organizations in our region.
- Provide stewardship of our region's intangible cultural heritage and support community partners in this work.