We help prepare you for careers as performing artists, recording technicians and music teachers. Our goal is to provide you with music and performing arts skills and knowledge for use in a rapidly changing technological world. In the process, you will have the opportunity to learn about American forms of music and the value of aesthetic expression.

Our comprehensive program addresses the complex issues of performing artists and their relationship to other arts. You will learn fundamental skills of listening, recording, expressing, interpreting and relating sound and movement to the social environment. Importantly, our MPA program develops essential workplace qualities of pluralism, teamwork, collaboration, flexibility and respect for others' ideas and personal expressions.

To learn more about the major, visit the Music & Performing Arts website.

Required Courses

In order to graduate, you will also need to complete your general education and university requirements.

Students are required to take a Musicianship and Theory placement assessment and complete a diagnostic audition. MPA 100: Introduction to Music will be required for any student who does not successfully pass the Musicianship and Theory diagnostic assessment with a C- or higher.

Complete ALL of the following courses:

Take each of the following courses for TWO semesters:

Complete TWO of the following courses:

Complete FOUR UNITS from the following course list:

Select one of the following concentrations to complete the requirements of the Music degree:

Contemporary Studies Concentration 

Complete ALL of the following courses:

Recording Technology Concentration 

Complete ALL of the following courses:

  • MPA 307: Audio Production
  • MPA 308: Analogue Mixing and Digital Editing
  • MPA 408: Advanced Audio Production

Learning Outcomes

MLO 1: Historical and Theoretical Analysis

Students identify genres from different periods and integrate historical and theoretical perspectives in analyzing contemporary styles.

MLO 2: Community Issues Analysis

Students understand and analyze societal issues associated with the production, dissemination and consumption of music.

MLO 3: Comparative Analysis

Students understand compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces.

MLO 4: Moral and Ethical Analysis

Students understand and address moral and ethical issues.

MLO 5: Performance Skills

Students express themselves artistically in at least one major performance area at a level appropriate for the particular music emphasis.

MLO 6: Technological Skills

Students understand how technology serves music and use the technological tools applicable to a specific area of concentration.

Course Pathways

These pathways are examples of how you might complete all the requirements for your degree in an order that makes sense given prerequisites. They are meant to give you a general sense of what your education will look like.

Your own unique situation and a number of other factors may mean your actual pathway is different. Perhaps you'll need an extra math or language class, or one of the courses we've listed isn't offered in a particular semester. Don't worry — there is flexibility built into the curriculum. You'll want to work closely with an advisor and use the academic advisement report to take all that into account and develop a pathway that's customized for you.

In the meantime, use this example as a starting point for choosing classes or discussing your plans with an advisor. Your advisor is your best resource when it comes to figuring out how to fit all the courses you need, in the right sequence, into your personal academic plan.

Freshman Contemporary Studies Pathway

Fall Freshman

Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: B4
Course: FYS 143: Philosophy of Nonviolence, FYS 144: Art, Religion and the Americas, FYS 145: Digital Media Arts & Culture or FYS 146: Comp. Ethnic Experiences
Units: 4
Requirement: C2
Course: MPA 110: Keyboard I
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: HCOM 211S: Reading, Writing and Critical Thinking SL
Units: 6
Requirements:

* This FYS class is just an example. The FYS class you choose might meet a different GE area, so you would have to adjust your actual pathway accordingly.

Spring Freshman

Course: Language 102
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • C3
  • Language Proficiency
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: MPA 101: Musicianship and Theory I
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 210: Keyboard II
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: D2

Fall Sophomore

Course: Language 201
Units: 4
Requirement: Language Proficiency
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement:
Course: MPA 102: Musicianship and Theory II
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: D1

Spring Sophomore

Course: MPA 103: Musicianship & Theory III
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: B1
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: B2

Fall Junior

Course: MPA 300: Major ProSeminar
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 337: MusHistory I 500-1750 ONLINE
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 345: Improvisation
Units: 2
Requirement: Concentration
Course: Any Ensemble Course
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: A4
Course: MPA 440: Master Classes/Lecture Demos
Units: 1
Requirement: Major

Spring Junior

Course: MPA 317S: Community Involvement SL
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • D4
  • Major
Course: MPA 338: MusHistory II 1750-1900 ONLINE
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 310: Gospel Choir or MPA 320: Chorale or MPA 420: Advanced Voice Ensemble or MPA 405: Ensembles I
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 401: Conducting
Units: 2
Requirement: Concentration
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: E

Fall Senior

Course: MPA 306: Music and Computers
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 335: Reflections on America
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 310: Gospel Choir or MPA 320: Chorale or MPA 405: Ensembles I
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 475: Senior Capstone
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 440: Master Classes/Lecture Demos
Units: 1
Requirement: Major

Spring Senior

Course: MPA 336: Jazz History
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 365: Survey of Global Music
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 340: Music Prod & Artistic Dev
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 475: Senior Capstone
Units: 2
Requirement: Major

Freshman Music Recording Technology Pathway

Fall Freshman

Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: C2
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: A1
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: B4
Course: MPA 110: Keyboard I
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 220: From Gregorian Chants to Hip-Hop
Units: 4
Requirement: C1

* This FYS class is just an example. The FYS class you choose might meet a different GE area, so you would have to adjust your actual pathway accordingly.

Spring Freshman

Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: E
Course: Language 102
Units: 4
Requirement: C3
Course: MPA 101: Musicianship and Theory I
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 210: Keyboard II
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: D1

Fall Sophomore

Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: B1
Course: Language 201
Units: 4
Requirement: Language Proficiency
Course: MPA 102: Musicianship and Theory II
Units: 4
Requirement: Major

Spring Sophomore

Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirements:
Course: ENSTU 212S: Ethics, Equity & Environmental SL
Units: 6
Requirements:
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: D2

Fall Junior

Course: MPA 300: Major ProSeminar
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 306: Music and Computers
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 335: Reflections on America
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 345: Improvisation
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 370: Composition/Arranging I
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 440: Master Classes/Lecture Demos
Units: 1
Requirement: Major

Spring Junior

Course: MPA 307: Audio Production
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 340: Music Prod & Artistic Dev
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 405: Ensembles I
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 317S: Community Involvement SL
Units: 4
Requirements:
  • D4
  • Major
Course: MPA 440: Master Classes/Lecture Demos
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: Elective Course
Units: 3
Requirement:

Fall Senior

Course: MPA 308: Analogue Mixing and Digital Editing
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 337: MusHistory I 500-1750 ONLINE
Units:
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 475: Senior Capstone
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: Any Approved Ensemble
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: A4

Spring Senior

Course: MPA 408: Advanced Audio Production
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 475: Senior Capstone
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 338: MusHistory II 1750-1900 ONLINE
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: Any Approved Ensemble
Units: 1
Requirement: Major

Transfer Contemporary Studies Pathway

All transfers are considered to have taken lower division requirements (such as Musicianship & Theory and Keyboard), however you will be required to take a Musicianship & Theory Diagnostic Placement Assessment to ensure success in the concentration, as there is an emphasis on music literacy and mastery of theory. If a student does not pass the assessment with a C- or above, they will need to enroll in our Musicianship and Theory sequence as per the assessments outcome. It is highly recommended that all transfer students complete American Institutions and language proficiencies before coming to CSUMB. If a transfer student has not completed these requirements prior to CSUMB, the course work will be added to their learning plan.

Fall Junior

Course: MPA 300: Major ProSeminar
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 337: MusHistory I 500-1750 ONLINE
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: A4
Course: Any Approved Ensemble
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 110: Keyboard I
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: Language 101
Units: 4
Requirement: C3

Spring Junior

Course: MPA 317S: Community Involvement SL
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 338: MusHistory II 1750-1900 ONLINE
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 401: Conducting
Units: 2
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 440: Master Classes/Lecture Demos
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 210: Keyboard II
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: Language 102
Units: 4
Requirement: Language Proficiency

Fall Senior

Course: MPA 306: Music and Computers
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 335: Reflections on America
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: Any Approved Ensemble
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 475: Senior Capstone
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 345: Improvisation
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: Language 201
Units: 4
Requirement: Language Proficiency
Course: MPA 440: Master Classes/Lecture Demos
Units: 1
Requirement: Major

Spring Senior

Course: MPA 365: Survey of Global Music
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 336: Jazz History
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 475: Senior Capstone
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: D2

Transfer Music Recording Technology Pathway

All transfers are considered to have taken lower division requirements (such as Musicianship & Theory and Keyboard), however you will be required to take a Musicianship & Theory Diagnostic Placement Assessment to ensure success in the concentration, as there is an emphasis on music literacy and mastery of theory. If a student does not pass the assessment with a C- or above, they will need to enroll in our Musicianship and Theory sequence as per the assessments outcome. It is highly recommended that all transfer students complete American Institutions and language proficiencies before coming to CSUMB. If a transfer student has not completed these requirements prior to CSUMB, the course work will be added to their learning plan.

Fall Junior

Course: MPA 300: Major ProSeminar
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 306: Music and Computers
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 310: Gospel Choir MPA 320: Chorale or MPA 420: Advanced Voice Ensemble
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 110: Keyboard I
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: Language 101
Units: 4
Requirement: C3
Course: MPA 337: MusHistory I 500-1750 ONLINE
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 440: Master Classes/Lecture Demos
Units: 1
Requirement: Major

Spring Junior

Course: MPA 307: Audio Production
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 317S: Community Involvement SL
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 210: Keyboard II
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 338: MusHistory II 1750-1900 ONLINE
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: Language 102
Units: 4
Requirement: Language Proficiency

Fall Senior

Course: MPA 308: Analogue Mixing and Digital Editing
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 310: Gospel Choir or MPA 320: Chorale or MPA 340: Music Prod & Artistic Dev
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 335: Reflections on America
Units: 4
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 475: Senior Capstone
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: Any Language 201
Units: 4
Requirement: Language Proficiency
Course: MPA 345: Improvisation
Units: 2
Requirement: Concentration

Spring Senior

Course: MPA 408: Advanced Audio Production
Units: 4
Requirement: Concentration
Course: MPA 401: Conducting
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 440: Master Classes/Lecture Demos
Units: 1
Requirement: Major
Course: MPA 475: Senior Capstone
Units: 2
Requirement: Major
Course: Any approved course
Units: 4
Requirement: D2