Bachelor of Arts in Music Roadmap

120 Total Units Required
Minimum Number of Units in the Major: 48

This roadmap is a suggested plan of study and does not replace meeting with an advisor. Please note that students may need to adjust the actual sequence of courses based on course availability. Please consult an advisor in your major program for further guidance.

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterUnits
ENG 114 Writing the First Year: Finding Your Voice (A2) 1 3
MUS 130/TH A 131 The Foundations of Music Theory (Major Lower-Division Core) 3
GE Area A 2 3
GE Area B: Quantitative Reasoning (B4) 3 3
GE Area D 3
 Units15
Second Semester
MUS 201 Class Piano I (Major Lower-Division Core - Piano) 1
MUS/TH A 221 Fundamentals of Ear Training and Musicianship I (Major Lower-Division Core - Ear Training) 2
MUS 232 Diatonic Harmony (Major Lower-Division Core - Theory) 3
GE Area A 3
GE Area B: Physical Science (B1) and Laboratory Science (B3) 4 3-4
GE Area E 3
 Units15-16
Third Semester
MUS 200/TH A 234 Modern Musicianship: Theory, Application, and Ear Training (Major Lower-Division Core - Theory ) 3
Select One (Major Lower-Division Core - Piano): 1
Class Piano II
Beginning Jazz/Pop Piano
Select One (Major Lower-Division Core - Ear Training): 2
Fundamentals of Ear Training and Musicianship II
Improvisation Techniques
GE Area B: Life Science (B2) and Laboratory Science (B3) 4 3-4
GE Area C 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 3
 Units15-16
Fourth Semester
GE Area C - Take Two 6
GE Area D 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 6
 Units15
Fifth Semester
MUS 542GW Music in Culture and Context - GWAR (Major Upper-Division Core) 3
Global Musicianship - Select One 6 3
GE Area F ± 3
GE Area UD-B: Upper-Division Physical and/or Life Sciences 3
U.S. and California Government 3
 Units15
Sixth Semester
MUS 237 Introduction to Music Technology (Major Upper-Division Core) 2
Global Musicianship - Select One 6 3
Western History - Select One 7 3
Ensemble 8 2
GE Area UD-C: Upper-Division Arts and/or Humanities 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 3
 Units16
Seventh Semester
Ensemble 8 2
Upper-Division Music Electives 9 6
GE Area UD-D: Upper-Division Social Sciences 3
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective 5 3
 Units14
Eighth Semester
MUS 598 Senior Thesis (Major Upper-Division Core) 1
Ensemble 8 2
Upper-Division Music Electives 9 6
Complementary Studies or SF State Studies or University Elective - Take Two 5 6
 Units15
 Total Units120-122
1

ENG 114 can only be taken if you complete Directed Self-Placement (DSP) and select ENG 114; if you choose ENG 104/ENG 105 through DSP you will satisfy A2 upon successful completion of ENG 105 in the second semester; multilingual students may be advised into alternative English courses.

2

To avoid taking additional units, it is recommended that you meet the SF State Studies (AERM, GP, ES, SJ) requirements within your GE or major.

3

To determine the best B4 course option, students should complete the online advising activity at mathadvising.sfsu.edu. Questions? Contact Gator Smart Start.

4

Consider taking a class combined with a laboratory or a separate lab to fulfill B3 if not already satisfied.

5

Complementary Studies

Twelve units of Complementary Studies are required of all candidates for the Bachelor of Arts in Music. These units must come from courses bearing a prefix other than MUS and not cross-listed with MUS. Music majors will be offered several pathways toward completing this requirement, each of which is designed to facilitate graduation in a timely manner. Music majors may, with the approval of a program advisor, satisfy the Complementary Studies requirement by completing 12 units in a single foreign language of their choosing; 12 units from courses taken in a study abroad program; 12 units from courses taken as partial completion of a second major, minor, or certificate; or 12 units from courses in related disciplines. Related disciplines typically include theater, dance, cinema, broadcast and electronic communications, creative writing, journalism, kinesiology, physical education, health education, holistic health, biology, elementary education, English, history, anthropology, business, and journalism. Up to 12 units of Complementary Studies may count toward the major for courses that are related to music, as determined by a major advisor.

6

Global Musicianship (6 units)

Select Two:

AFRS 514 African Musical Diaspora (3 units)

AIS 320 American Indian Music (3 units) (UD-C, AERM, SJ)

MUS 513 Asian Musical Diaspora (3 units)

MUS 515 Latin American Musical Diaspora (3 units)

7

Western History (3 units)

Select One:

MUS 550 Western European Music History from the Middle Ages to 1750 (3 units)

MUS 551 European and American Classical Music History of the 18th and 19th Century (3 units)

MUS 552 Classical Music History of Europe and the Americas in the 20th Century (3 units)

8

Ensembles (6 units)

Select 6 units from MUS 370 - MUS 380 or MUS 386 - MUS 390

9

Upper-Division Electives (12 units)

  • Courses may come from any MUS course numbered 300 and above
  • Courses may also include any of the above options not already taken to fulfill a requirement
  • Students may take a max of 4 semesters of MUS 303, MUS 313, MUS 353, MUS 450
±

Given catalog rights, fall 2023 transfer students do not need to complete an Area F course.