About Music

The Music Department offers a comprehensive set of programs and services designed to give students the opportunity to study music theory, history, and instrumental and vocal practice in classroom and performance environments.

The Music program provides you with degree and transfer general education, as well as degree and transfer preparation for various music majors and minors. Choose from music appreciation and theory, instruction in specific instruments and voice, and vocal and instrumental ensembles, as well as a number of courses that focus on the music of various world cultures. The full program is offered at the Ocean Campus and several selected courses are offered at the Mission center. Additionally, each semester we offer online sections in Music Appreciation, The History of Rock, Asian Music History, American Music, Jazz History and soon in the future a variety of online electronic music courses.

Explore Potential Careers

Studying Music can lead to a variety of different jobs or career paths. Below are just some of the many options you will have!

  • Music Directors
  • Music Composers and Arrangers
  • Singers
  • Musicians, Instrumental
  • Audio and Video Equipment Technicians
  • Sound Engineering Technicians
  • Music Therapists
  • Music Teachers
  • Musical Instrument Repairers and Tuners

Program Options

Click on the degree or certificate you're interested in earning to see a sample map of courses to take to complete your goal from start to finish.

Please note that the course maps provided are just an example to help you get started. Please meet with a counselor to personalize the plan to you and your Academic goals.

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
MUS 100 Music Fundamentals 3  
MUS 128 Survey of Contemporary and Electronic Music 3  
MUS 29 Electronic Music I 3  

Total Units: 9 

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
MUS 30  Electronic Music II 3  
CS 110A Intro to Programming 3  
CS 177 Software Engineering 4  

Total Units: 10

Overall Total Units: 19

View Requirements in College Catalog

Required courses

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
MUS 1A Beginning Musicianship 3  
MUS 1B Intermediate Musicianship 3  
MUS 3A  Diatonic Harmony 3  
MUS 3B Chromatic Harmony 3  

MUS 9A

or

MUS 9B

Beginning Piano

 

Intermediate Piano

 3

Students who test out of MUS 9A may take MUS 9B instead.

 

Students who test out of MUS 9B may choose one of the electives listed in this certificate instead.

Total Units: 15

Students must take a total of 12 elective units not already used in the core section. At least 3 units must be selected from each of the three areas below.

Ensembles

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
MUS 11 Guitar Workshop 3  
MUS 12 Choir 3  
MUS 13A Jazz/Rock Improvisation Workshop 3  
MUS 13B Jazz Rock Arranging & Composition 3  
MUS 15 Orchestra 3  
MUS 17 Woodwind Ensemble 3  
MUS 18 Brass Ensemble 3  
MUS 20 String Ensemble 3  
MUS 46 Stage Band 3  
MUS 48A Beginning Labor Heritage Chorus 3  
MUS 200A Ensemble Role- Musical Theatre Rehearsal and Presentation 1  

 

Vocal, Instrumental, and Composition Instruction

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
MUS 5A Introduction to Composition 3  
MUS 6A Beginning Classical Guitar 3  
MUS 7P1 Beginning Percussion 3  
MUS 7V1 Beginning Violin 3  
MUS 7W1 Beginning Woodwind 3  
MUS 8A Beginning Jazz & Other Popular Piano 3  
MUS 9B Intermediate Piano 3  
MUS 9C Keyboard Harmony 3  
MUS 10AA Beginning Voice 3  

 

Survey

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
MUS 21 Traditional African Music 3  
MUS 22A History of Music in Western Culture: Medieval and Renaissance Music 3  
MUS 22B History of Music in Western Culture: Baroque and Classical Music 3  
MUS 22C History of Music in Western Culture: Romanticism 3  
MUS 23 History of Jazz: Musical Traditions of the African-American 3  
MUS 24 Music of East Asia 3  
MUS 25 Music of Latin America and the Caribbean 3  
MUS 26 Music in American Culture 3  
MUS 27A Music Appreciation 3  
MUS 27B Musical Awareness 3  
MUS 27Q Music and Queer Identity 3  
MUS 27R The History of Rock and Popular Music 3  
MUS 29 Electronic Music I 3  
MUS 30 Electronic Music II 3  
MUS 128 Survey of Contemporary and Electronic Music 3  

Total Units: 12

Overall Total Units: 27

View Requirements in College Catalog

Semester 1 

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
MUS 100 Music Fundamentals 3  
MUS 29 Electronic Music I 3  
BCST 119 Digital Media Skills 3  
MUS 128 Survey of Contemporary and Electronic Music 3  

Total Units: 12

Semester 2

Course Number Course Title Units Notes
MUS 30 Electronic Music II 3  
BCST 120 Audio Production 4  

Total Units: 7

Overall Total Units: 19

Transfer Options

The program coursework you complete at City College will satisfy lower-division requirements for related majors at several colleges and universities.

Have questions about transfer? Visit the Transfer Center for help, transfer information, and/or to speak with college representatives.