BA in Music Industry and Technology
California State University-Chico — Chico, CA
About this program
California State University, Chico's BA in Music Industry and Technology is offered through the NAST-accredited Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance within the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The program prepares students for diverse roles in the audio and music industry through a hands-on curriculum coupled with practicum experiences in what the department describes as CSU system-leading studios. Two options serve distinct career paths while sharing a common core. The shared Major Core covers Music Theory I and II, Aural Musicianship I and II, Beginning Piano I, Computer Software for Musicians, Music Industry Forum, American Music: Its History and International Influence, History of Rock Music, Music Industry Studies and Analysis, two units of ensemble participation, and six units of electives from music history, music performance groups, and composition coursework. The Option in Music Industry prepares students for careers in the business and management side of music. Required coursework includes two semesters of School of the Arts Production (a student-run component called SOTA Productions that organizes, manages, networks, promotes, and produces actual live concerts and events on and off campus), Legal Issues in Music, Music and Media Solutions, and a third production or directed field project course. An additional 12 elective units are chosen with advisor guidance from a list spanning accounting, economics, media arts, management, marketing, entrepreneurship, and additional music coursework. The option covers copyright, publishing, record company administration, management, marketing, and contracting. The Option in Recording Arts builds a strong foundation for careers in music and sound engineering. Core required coursework covers Introduction to Music Technology, Fundamentals of Digital Audio, MIDI and Synthesis, Audio Recording I, Audio Recording II, Sampling and Sound Design, and Audio Seminar. Six additional elective units are selected from Advanced Electronic Media, Audio for Visual Media, Sound Reinforcement, Remote Audio Recording, and further specialized audio coursework. The program covers record production, sound reinforcement, theater sound design, mobile recording, broadcast, studio design, AV installation, and post-production. Students work on industry-leading audio equipment from manufacturers including Solid State Logic, API, and Telefunken in the department's state-of-the-art recording studio and performance hall with variable acoustics in the Arts and Humanities Building. Studio instruction by audition is available to Recording Arts students who qualify. The practical, student-run SOTA Productions component is a signature feature of the Music Industry option, giving students direct real-world business experience organizing and producing live events. Internship opportunities throughout California, the United States, Europe, and Asia are available to students in both options. All major coursework must be taken for a letter grade with a minimum grade of C- or higher. Advising is required every semester.
Audition & application overview
- Requires a live or recorded audition
None for the Music Industry option; Recording Arts option requires supplemental criteria (not a traditional audition — contact the department for current format and standards)
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