Information and Policies
The Music Department at UC Santa Cruz offers two undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Music (B.M.). The B.A. degree offers a uniquely diverse curriculum, with the option of completing a concentration in either global musics or Western art music. The B.M. degree is designed for students who intend to pursue a career in music performance. The department also offers minors in electronic music, jazz and Western art music, providing more access for music students and students in other disciplines to engage with music during their studies at UC Santa Cruz. Both B.A. and B.M. degrees are distinctive in that they integrate elements of performance, theory, composition, literature, and history and culture. Students leave UC Santa Cruz prepared for graduate studies and music careers in performance, teaching, and the digital arts.
Through these curricular offerings, students will encounter an extraordinarily rich variety of performance opportunities. Specifically, our students engage with music:
● As a cultural practice in ensembles focusing on musical traditions from Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, North America, South Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia;
● Temporally in ensembles based on Baroque, Classical and contemporary idioms to deepen their understanding of performance practices;
● Technologically in electronic music ensembles and workshops where students experiment with innovative technologies to develop their own projects with the support of their advisers and peers.
Students at UC Santa Cruz have extraordinary performance and professionalization opportunities. All instrument and voice faculty are celebrated professional musicians, who provide unparalleled guidance for students in performance and professional development. Ensemble courses culminate in an end-of-quarter performance, providing students with regular performance opportunities in a world-class recital hall. The electronic music minor provides hands-on opportunities for students to learn a variety of techniques related to electronic sound production, composition and recording in a state-of-the-art studio facility. The Opera Program allows students to be involved in every step of a major production, from concept and design considerations to marketing and arts management. As performers, composers, artistic collaborators and event-organizers, these programs allow students to develop musically and professionally for diverse career paths and industries.
Our programs shape responsible, independent and highly capable young artists that will push the frontiers of their fields. Graduates from the Music Department at UC Santa Cruz are musically attuned and socially engaged global citizens in the 21st century.
Introduction
The B.M. degree is for students who aspire to academic excellence and an advanced performance level. The B.M. degree is designed for exceptionally talented performers. It requires considerably more performance credits and slightly fewer courses in theoretical disciplines. B.M. students will major in an instrument or voice.
Once accepted to the B.M. program, students must take two juries per academic year: at the end of both fall and spring quarter, for continuing review and criticism of proficiency at their primary instrument.
If a student fails to participate in continuing B.M. juries, or does not attain, or maintain, an advanced level, and fails to maintain academic excellence, the Bachelor of Music Committee will re-examine the student's continued participation in the B.M. degree in consultation with the applied instructor. In cases in which the B.M. Committee finds the student did not meet these requirements the students will be dismissed from the B.M. program with an option to switch to the B.A. degree.
Time to degree: The determination of a dismissal can be made by the committee as long as a student has three remaining quarters before their expected graduation date. This will ensure enough time to make course changes from a B.M. to B.A. degree. A change to the B.A. degree is 10 to 25 fewer credits to be completed than the B.M. degree.
Students may appeal a dismissal of the B.M. degree by petition to the chair of the Music Department. A letter to the department chair must be submitted within 15 days from the date the notification was mailed. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student, college, and Office of the Registrar of the decision.
Academic Advising for the Program
General information about the music degrees is available on the department website. Students are also strongly encouraged to consult early with the Music Department adviser to create an academic plan for the major or a minor far in advance of declaration, as early as the summer before beginning at the university.
Transfer students should consult the Transfer Information and Policy section.
Please contact the department adviser by emailing music@ucsc.edu or calling (831) 459-2292. You may also use Slug Success to make an appointment.
Getting Started in the Major
It is essential that students begin the MUSC 30 sequence, ensembles, and applied instruction in fall of their second year or as early as possible to make satisfactory progress toward their degree objectives.
The theory placement exam is for placement of students, including transferring or re-entering students, into the appropriate music core course (MUSC 13, MUSC 14, or MUSC 30A). It includes written sections in the areas of theory and musicianship that emphasize aural recognition and identification of musical structures (intervals, chords, rhythms, meters, etc.), and brief definition of terms relating to music history. Students may prepare for the exam by honing skills in reading both bass and treble clef and in recognizing of melodic and harmonic structures, and complex rhythmic patterns.
Students with a theory background should plan to take the theory placement exam to place into MUSC 30A. Students without any theory background or weak aural skills are not required to take the placement exam and are encouraged to enroll in MUSC 13 or MUSC 14 in their first year. Taking MUSC 13, MUSC 14, or MUSC 15 will help prepare students for the theory placement exam. However, admission to MUSC 30A will be based solely on the theory placement exam scores and not on the final grades of the Preparatory theory courses (MUSC 13, MUSC 14, and MUSC 15).
The theory placement exam is held twice a year: on the Tuesday before instruction begins in fall quarter, from 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and at the beginning of spring quarter (schedule TBA), both in the Music Center Recital Hall. No signup is necessary. Students should bring a pencil. Students can visit the Music Department website to view the sample exam.
Program Learning Outcomes
The B.A. and B.M. programs in music are designed to accomplish the following learning outcomes:
- Attainment of knowledge and understanding of music in an integrated way, through historical and cultural studies, musicianship, theory, composition, and performance. These studies prepare students to pursue a career in some aspect of music, to further develop their skills in graduate study, and/or to maintain music as a central part of their lives.
- Acquisition of musical competency, including literacy (the use of music notation in reading, performing, composing, analyzing, and hearing music).
- Developing skills of critical thinking and writing about music by taking courses on past and present musical cultures in European and other heritages.
- Creating music by performing, composing, and improvising.
Major Qualification Policy and Declaration Process
Major Qualification
In order to declare the music major, students must successfully complete MUSC 30A with a grade of "C" or better. A "Pass" grade is also acceptable since letter grades are not required for lower-division courses.
Bachelor of music students must also audition in the fall or spring juries as a "B.M. Audition." Applied instructor approval is required to sign-up for this audition. If the B.M. committee determines that the performance level demonstrated is appropriate for the B.M. program, the student can then declare the B.M. major (in addition to passing MUSC 30A). Students can consult with their applied instrument instructor about this potential. If faculty supports this option they can sign up with the undergraduate adviser for the next available jury.
Transfer students should also see the "Transfer Information and Policy" section below.
Appeal Process
Students may appeal a dismissal of the B.M. degree by petition to the chair of the Music Department. A letter to the department chair must be submitted within 15 days from the date the notification was mailed. Within 15 days of receipt of the appeal, the department will notify the student, college, and Office of the Registrar of the decision. Appeals should be submitted in person at Music Center 244, or sent to music@ucsc.edu care of the undergraduate adviser.
If a student is not accepted into the B.M. program via the results of their B.M. audition, they can sign up for the next available jury. Students may audition for the B.M. program a maximum of two times. The latest that they can audition for the B.M. program is in spring quarter of their junior year.
How to Declare a Major
To declare the music major or minor, all students meet with the academic adviser to begin the declaration process either by making an appointment (via Slug Success), by email to music@ucsc.edu, or by stopping by the department office in the Music Center, room 244 or 248. Students are also required to meet with a faculty adviser (assigned with help from the academic adviser) as part of the declaration process.
Transfer Information and Policy
Transfer Admission Screening Policy
Students planning to apply in this major are not required to complete specific courses for consideration of admission to UC Santa Cruz.
Transfer students are strongly recommended to take some music theory courses before transfer to UCSC, which generally enables them to test into MUSC 30A. They should also have completed most general education requirements. Voice students should have completed one introductory college-level language course each in Italian, French, and German.
Getting Started at UCSC as a Transfer Student
Transfer students should plan to take the theory placement exam to place into MUSC 14 or MUSC 30A. Students that place into MUSC 14 will be required to take three years to graduate. Students that place into MUSC 30A will be able to graduate within two years.
All transfer students should take the theory placement exam during fall of their first quarter (see below for exam schedule). It is an option for transfer students to take the exam prior to applying to UCSC as a practice guide for future preparation. However, students can also visit the Music Department website to view the sample exam.
Transfer students can also take MUSC 14 or MUSC 15 during Summer Session at UCSC prior to fall of their arrival. Taking MUSC or MUSC 15 will help prepare students for the theory placement exam and generally results in students placing into MUSC 30A. However, admission to MUSC 30A will be based solely on the theory placement exam scores and not on the MUSC 15 grades.
The theory placement exam is held twice a year: on the Tuesday before instruction begins in fall quarter, from 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and at the beginning of spring quarter (schedule TBA), both in the Music Center Recital Hall. No signup is necessary. Students should bring a pencil. Students can visit the Music Department website to view the sample exam.
All transfer students are strongly encouraged to email music@ucsc.edu to schedule a phone-advising appointment with the undergraduate adviser prior to application.
Letter Grade Policy
All upper-division courses applied toward the music majors must be taken for a letter grade.
Lower-division courses may be taken Pass/No Pass.
Double Majors and Major/Minor Combinations Policy
Double majors are possible for the music major. A student can double major with a Music B.A. or B.M. degree, and a major from another department. Students that plan to double major should meet with the Music Department undergraduate adviser for course planning in fall quarter of their first year.
It is not possible to double major as a music B.A. and a music B.M. However, it is possible to pursue the B.M. or the B.A. (with a Western art music concentration)., and additionally add the jazz minor or electronic music minor. It is not possible to add the Western art music minor to either of these majors.
Study Abroad
The department encourages students to explore studying abroad while attending UC Santa Cruz. In particular, the UCSC Music Department has an exchange program agreement with the Music Department at the University of Sussex. University of Sussex offers many courses that can be substituted for music major or minor requirements.
However, due to the intense nature of the Music B.M. program, students are encouraged to plan potential study abroad far in advance to ensure they are able to maintain their UCSC studies.
For more information on approved course substitutions and the exchange program please visit Study Abroad Courses.
Honors
Honors in the major are conferred by vote of the music faculty. B.A. or B.M. students can be awarded honors for excellent work in individual areas, including coursework, senior project (thesis or recital), or a capstone course. Excellent work in any two of these areas normally results in honors in the major.
To be considered for highest honors in the major, B.A. students must complete a senior project (not required for the B.A. degree) and B.M. students must complete a capstone course (not required for the B.M. degree). Honors in all three areas—coursework, senior project, and capstone course—normally results in highest honors in the major.
How Music Majors are Assessed
- Placement exams at the outset of studies assess students' musical competence, and determine their place in the required lower-division theory and harmony courses.
- Admission to most performance ensembles is by audition. Assessment is based on successful public performances.
- A juried "advisory audition" is required for students enrolled in MUSC 30A to give students feedback so that they can work toward meeting the requirements for the proficiency audition at the end of the next fall quarter.
- A juried "proficiency audition" is required for students enrolled in MUSC 130. All students must exhibit an upper-intermediate or higher level on their major instrument or voice.
- Auditions for admission to the B.M. program are held at the end of each fall quarter. Students accepted to the program are required to audition twice a year for continuing review and critique. Students in the B.M. program present a Senior Recital which is evaluated by faculty.
- In required and elective seminars, critical thinking and writing are assessed when students present a major independent project at the end of term.
- Compositional skills are assessed through the rehearsal and public performance of student works.
Requirements and Planners
Course Requirements
Lower-Division Courses
Take each of the following courses:
| MUSC 30A | Theory, Literature, and Musicianship | 5 |
| MUSC 30B | Theory, Literature, and Musicianship | 5 |
| MUSC 30C | Theory, Literature, and Musicianship | 5 |
The following course is taken concurrently with the MUSC 30 sequence:
| MUSC 60 | Fundamental Keyboard Skills | 2 |
May be waived by instructor approval, or if the student is taking piano lessons from a UCSC instructor.
Foreign Language Requirement
FREN 1, GERM 1, and ITAL 1 are required for B.M. voice students. High school transcripts or Advanced Placement (AP) examination scores may satisfy this requirement. Students may take these courses during Summer Session or through any other college. The quarter varies for when each class is offered. Students should check with the departments offering these courses to determine when they are regularly offered.
There are no foreign language requirements for other students in the B.A. or B.M. programs; however, students who are planning to apply for graduate school are strongly advised to study a language pertinent to their research area.
Upper-Division Courses
Take each of the following courses:
| MUSC 101A | History of Western Art Music (Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque) | 5 |
| MUSC 101B | History of Western Art Music | 5 |
| MUSC 101C | History of Western Art Music | 5 |
| MUSC 130 | Harmony and Form in 19th-Century and Early 20th-Century Music | 5 |
One course from the MUSC 105 series, Special Topics in History
One course from the MUSC 150 series, Special Topics in Theory
| MUSC 150A | Music Analysis for Performers | 5 |
| MUSC 150C | Special Topics in Music Theory: Tonal Counterpoint | 5 |
| MUSC 150I | Special Topics in Music Theory: Hindustani Music | 5 |
| MUSC 150P | Special Topics in Music Theory: 20th-Century Popular Song | 5 |
| MUSC 150S | Focus on Spontaneous Composition | 5 |
| MUSC 150T | Post Tonal Analysis | 5 |
| MUSC 150X | Theoretical Practices of American Music | 5 |
One course from the MUSC 180 series, Studies in World Musics
| MUSC 180A | Studies in World Musics: Asia and the Pacific | 5 |
| MUSC 180B | Studies in World Musics: Africa and the Americas | 5 |
| MUSC 180C | Studies in World Musics: Central Asia | 5 |
| MUSC 180D | Music of Insular Southeast Asia | 5 |
B.M. students who wish to specialize in jazz
Take all the following three courses instead of one course from the MUSC 180 series:
A minimum of 12 quarters of ensembles
All ensembles are 2 credits each and may be repeated. A maximum of one ensemble per quarter can be counted toward fulfillment of the total 12-quarter requirement.
Transfer students are required to take six quarters of ensembles.
If two ensembles in one quarter need to be taken to meet time to degree plans approval can be requested to the department Curriculum Committee by email to music@ucsc.edu.
A minimum of 11 quarters of individual lessons.
Eleven quarters of enrollment in any of the courses listed are acceptable for fulfillment of this requirement.
Transfer students are required to take six quarters of applied instruction.
Students can contact the applied instrument instructor of their primary instrument to arrange an audition prior to the start of the quarter. Applied instrument instructor emails are listed on the department website.
Students should work with the applied instructor of their primary instrument to determine which of the courses listed would be appropriate.
The lessons carry an additional course fee. Concurrent enrollment in an appropriate ensemble is required. Consult the Music Student Handbook for more details.
| MUSC 61 | Individual Lessons: Half Hour | 2 |
| MUSC 62 | Individual Lessons: One Hour | 3 |
| MUSC 161 | Individual Lessons: One Hour | 3 |
| MUSC 162 | Advanced Individual Lessons: One Hour | 5 |
Continuing B.M. Juries
Demonstration of an advanced level at Continuing B.M. juries each fall and spring quarter
Complete the following course
| MUSC 196B | Senior Recital Preparation (with individual lessons) | 5 |
Disciplinary Communication (DC) Requirement
Students of every major must satisfy that major’s upper-division Disciplinary Communication (DC) requirement. The DC requirement in music is satisfied by completing MUSC 101A and MUSC 101C (already a part of the core curriculum and required for the B.A. and B.M.).
Comprehensive Requirement
Students fulfill the comprehensive requirement by completing MUSC 196B.
Planners
B.M.—Four-Year Plan for Incoming Frosh
| |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (frosh) |
MUSC 11A
(recommended) |
MUSC 15 |
Language1 |
| Individual Lessons2 |
Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
| Ensemble |
Ensemble |
Ensemble
|
| 2nd (soph) |
MUSC 30A* |
MUSC 30B |
MUSC 30C** |
| |
MUSC 101A |
MUSC 101B |
| Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
| Ensemble |
Ensemble
|
Ensemble |
| 3rd (junior) |
MUSC 130** |
MUSC 105 |
MUSC 150** |
| MUSC 101C |
|
|
| Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
| Ensemble |
Ensemble |
Ensemble |
| 4th (senior) |
Language |
Language |
MUSC 180 |
| Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
MUSC 196B |
| Ensemble |
Ensemble |
Ensemble |
* Indicates a performance jury requirement at the end of the quarter.
**Following acceptance to the B.M. program via audition (can be done anytime up to the end of the third year), continuing B.M. students complete "Continuing B.M." juries at the end of each fall and spring quarter.
1Bachelor of music voice majors are required to take FREN 1, GERM 1, and ITAL 1. High school transcripts or AP scores may satisfy this requirement. Students may take these courses during Summer Session or through any other college. The quarter varies for when each class is offered. Students should check with the departments offering these courses to determine when they are regularly offered.
2Students fulfill the individual lessons requirement by taking one of the following courses: MUSC 61, MUSC 62, or MUSC 161.
General Education (GE) Codes
MUSC 11A will fulfill the IM general education requirement.
3Most, but not all, ensembles satisfy the PR-C or PR-E general education requirement. Students should check to confirm which courses from the ensembles course list satisfy GE codes.
Students must complete all other GE requirements.
B.M.—Two-Year Plan for Incoming Transfer Students
The two-year plan assumes that the student places into MUSC 30A, and has completed most GE requirements. Voice students are assumed to have completed introductory language courses prior to transfer. Transfer students are required to take six quarters of lessons and ensembles at UCSC.
| |
Fall |
Winter |
Spring |
| 1st (junior) |
MUSC 30A* |
MUSC 30B |
MUSC 30C** |
| |
MUSC 101A |
MUSIC 101B |
| Individual Lessons1 |
Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
| Ensemble2 |
Ensemble |
Ensemble |
| 2nd (senior) |
MUSC 130* |
MUSC 105 |
MUSC196B |
| MUSC 101C |
MUSC 150 |
MUSC 180 |
| Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
Individual Lessons |
| Ensemble |
Ensemble |
Ensemble |
* Indicates a performance jury requirement at the end of the quarter.
**Following acceptance to the B.M. program via audition (can be done anytime up to the end of the third year), continuing B.M. students complete "Continuing B.M." juries at the end of each fall and spring quarter.
1Students fulfill the individual lessons requirement by taking one of the following courses: MUSC 61, MUSC 62, or MUSC 161.
Bachelor of Music voice majors are required to take FREN 1, GERM 1, and ITAL 1. High School transcripts or AP scores may satisfy this requirement. Students may take these courses during Summer Session or through any other college. The quarter varies for when each class is offered. Students should check with the departments offering these courses to determine when they are regularly offered.
General Education Codes
2Most, but not all, ensembles satisfy the PR-C or PR-E general education requirement. Students should check to confirm which courses from the ensembles course list satisfy GE codes.