Music AFA
Code: AFA.MUSC
Concentrations: Music Performance (Classical/Jazz), Popular Music, Music Production
The Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) in Music concentrates student learning on music skills and knowledge, preparing students for further academic study of Music in a variety of music applications such as music production, music business, music education, music performance and composition, and music therapy, at the junior and senior college levels. Through applied and theoretical courses, students will develop the basic competencies of musicianship, knowledge acquisition, critical thinking, and analytic writing skills that potentially encompass a wide range of degree possibilities. The music course variety potentially includes performance, composition, critical listening, and theoretical skill sets necessary for a pathway towards a bachelor’s degree in music.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate the ability to hear, identify and engage with the elements of music (melody, harmony, rhythm, form, texture, timbre, etc.) in both sound and musical notation.
- Demonstrate the ability to think critically, analyze and communicate about the historical, cultural and sociological importance of music in a wide variety of styles and genres.
- Demonstrate proficiency and creativity in musical performance and music composition.
- Exhibit knowledge of how the music industry shapes the music we consume and create.
- Demonstrate facility with music technology and its applications.
Career Pathways
Music Educator (K-12, College, Community)
|
Sound Engineer: Recording studio, Live events, Television, Film, Radio, Internet and Video Games
|
Musician (Classical, Jazz, Popular Music) |
Music Composer: Television, Film, Radio, Internet and Video Games |
Performing Arts Manager |
Music Editor: Television, Film, Radio, Internet and Video Games |
Music Therapist
|
|
Recommended Semester Sequence
First Semester
MUA1...
|
Applied Music I**
|
1
|
MAT-130 | Contemporary Math | 3 |
- | Humanities Elective** | 3 |
MUS-103 | Fundamentals of Music | 3 |
MUS-163 | Careers in Music | 3 |
WRT-101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Second Semester
MUA1..
|
Applied Music II* |
1 |
|
Science Elective*
|
4
|
MUS-131 | Class Piano I | 1 |
MUS-132 | Music Theory I | 3 |
MUS-134 | Ear Training and Musicianship I | 1 |
- | Program Concentration Requirement | 3 |
WRT-201 | English Composition II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Third Semester
MUS...
|
Performance Ensemble I***
|
1
|
MUS/MUA
|
Music Elective
|
1
|
|
Social Science Elective |
3 |
|
Free Elective
|
3
|
- | Program Concentration Requirement | 3 |
MUS-231 | Class Piano II | 1 |
MUS-232 | Music Theory II | 3 |
MUS-234 | Ear Training and Musicianship II | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Fourth Semester
MUS1..
|
Performance Ensemble II**
|
1
|
MUS/MUA
|
Music Elective(s)
|
3
|
|
Humanities Elective
|
3
|
|
Free Elective(s)
|
3
|
- | Program Concentration Requirement | 3 |
- | Program Concentration Requirement | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Program Concentrations
After the first semester, students will select a track that aligns with the career they wish to pursue.
Music Performance (Classical/Jazz)
MUS/MUA
|
Applied Music or Performance Ensemble Elective
|
1 |
MUS-102 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
MUS-236 | Music Theory III | 3 |
MUS-235 | Ear Training and Musicianship III | 1 |
MUA-241 | Piano III | 1 |
MUS-105 | History of Jazz in America | 3 |
- | or | |
MUS-107 | History of Western Music before 1750 | 3 |
- | or | |
MUS-108 | History of Western Music after 1750 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
For transfer to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music programs in Music Performance (Classical/Jazz), Music Education, Jazz Studies, Music Management (Classical/Jazz), or Music Technology (Classical/Jazz).
Popular Music
MUS-119 | Songwriting Workshop | 3 |
MUS-151 | Music Production Technology | 3 |
MUS-152 | Introduction to Music Business | 3 |
MUS-252 | Music in the Marketplace | 3 |
- | or | |
MUS-262 | Concert Promotion and Production | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
For transfer to Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music programs in Popular Music Studies and Music Industry.
MUS-111 recommended to fulfill Humanities credit.
Music Production
For transfer to Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Science programs in
Music Production, Recording Arts and Music Technology.
PHY-185 recommended to fulfill Natural Science Elective.
General Education Requirements
Communication
WRT-101 | English Composition I | 3 |
WRT-201 | English Composition II | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Humanities Electives**†
Two general education courses selected from the following fields, with no more than one course in any one field: Arts (Art [ART], Music [MUS], Theatre Arts [THR], Cinema Studies [CIN]); History (HIS); Literature (LIT); Philosophy and Religion (PHR); World Languages and Cultures (LAN).
Social Science
|
Social Science Elective |
3
|
Mathematics, Natural Science, and Technology
|
Natural Science Elective |
4 |
Additional General Education Elective
MAT-130 | Contemporary Math | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 22
Program Requirements
MUS/MUA
|
Program Concentration Requirements
|
12
|
MUA1...
|
Applied Music I* |
1 |
MUA2... |
Applied Music II* |
1 |
MUS1..
|
Performance Ensemble I** |
1 |
MUS2..
|
Performance Ensemble II** |
1
|
MUS/MUA
|
Music or Applied Music Electives‡ |
1
|
MUS...
|
Music Elective
|
3 |
MUA-1, MUA-2: Applied music courses include half-hour private lessons with an instructor in Bass (MUA-101, MUA-231, MUA-232, MUA-233); Guitar (MUA-102, MUA-234, MUA-235, MUA-236); Percussion (MUA-103, MUA-237, MUA-238, MUA-239); Piano (MUA-104, MUA-240, MUA-241, MUA-242); Strings (MUA-105, MUA-243, MUA-244, MUA-245); Voice (MUA-106, MUA-246, MUA-247, MUA-248); or Woodwinds/Brass (MUA-107, MUA-249, MUA-250, MUA-251).
MUS-1, MUS-2: Performance ensembles include Chamber Ensemble (MUS-125, MUS-258, MUS-259, MUS-260); Chorus (MUS-121, MUS-255, MUS-256, MUS-257); Jazz Ensemble (MUS-140, MUS-246, MUS-247, MUS-249); and Pop/Rock Ensemble (MUS-120, MUS-220, MUS-221, MUS-222).
Free Electives
Total Credit Hours: 42
Total Credit Hours: 64
Specific Program Notes
**General Education Elective(s).
*Applied music courses include half-hour private lessons with an instructor in Bass (MUA-101, MUA-231, MUA-232, MUA-233); Guitar (MUA-102, MUA-234, MUA-235, MUA-236); Percussion (MUA-103, MUA-237, MUA-238, MUA-239); Piano (MUA-104, MUA-240, MUA-241, MUA-242); Strings (MUA-105, MUA-243, MUA-244, MUA-245); Voice (MUA-106, MUA-246, MUA-247, MUA-248); or Woodwinds/Brass (MUA-107, MUA-249, MUA-250, MUA-251).
***Performance ensembles include Chamber Ensemble (MUS-125, MUS-258, MUS-259, MUS-260); Chorus (MUS-121, MUS-255, MUS-256, MUS-257); Jazz Ensemble (MUS-140, MUS-246, MUS-247, MUS-249); and Pop/Rock Ensemble (MUS-120, MUS-220, MUS-221, MUS-222).
†Music courses that may fulfill 3 credits of the humanities requirement are: MUS-101; MUS-105; MUS-106; MUS-107; MUS-108; MUS-109; MUS-110; and MUS-111.
Students enrolled in this program ARE REQUIRED to successfully complete a course in basic algebra if indicated by the Basic Skills Placement Test.