Discover the Music Curriculum
The Department of Music equips students with foundational knowledge and skills to pursue a life in music beyond graduation. Together, students and faculty critically consider the practice and reception of music-making in the world, both historically and today.
Major
The General Music major is for students who wish to obtain a deeper appreciation and understanding of music as well as gain proficiency in the creation and performance of music. Additionally, students can choose to major in Music with a particular emphasis, including:
- Performance
- Theory
- Composition
- History and Culture
- Music Education
Review the major tab below for more information about the General Music major as well as the Music major with an Emphasis.
Minor
The Department of Music offers two types of minors: the Comprehensive minor provides foundational offerings in music theory, history/culture, and performance, while the General Minor allows students to creatively select music courses according to their interest and curiosity.
Explore Music Courses
Read descriptions of our Music classes on our Courses page! Not all courses offered below will be available every semester. Make sure to check course offerings on the registration portal for each upcoming semester.
Program Requirements
Each student declares their major(s) and minor(s) under a single catalog of record that is identified on the student's degree audit (available on Degree Works).
The program requirements below are based on the current course catalog and may not be applicable if a student is declared in an earlier catalog.
Find all previous course catalogs under on our Archived Catalogs of Record page.
50-51 units
Major
22 units
Minor
Major unit estimates include preparation for the major courses as well as major unit requirements.
- Major
- Minor
- Learning Outcomes
The Music Major
Preparation for the Major
All majors are required to complete the following courses (26 units):
Theory/Composition | ||
MUSC 120 | Fundamentals of Music Theory | 3 |
MUSC 205 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
MUSC 210 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
MUSC 211 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
MUSC 220 | Harmony I | 3 |
MUSC 221 | Harmony II | 3 |
History/Culture | ||
Select one of the following: | 3 | |
MUSC 140 | Music in World Cultures | |
MUSC 141 | Music and Culture in Asia | |
MUSC 142 | Music of Latin America | |
MUSC 143 | Music of Africa and the Middle East | |
And select one of the following: | 3 | |
MUSC 101 | American Music | |
MUSC 102 | Jazz | |
MUSC 103 | Music for the Stage | |
MUSC 106 | We Shall Overcome: Singing for Justice, Freedom and Peace | |
MUSC 104 | Music in San Diego | |
MUSC 109 | Introduction to Sonic Arts | |
MUSC 115 | Music Teaching and Learning: The Creative Experience | |
MUSC 116 | Music and Disability | |
MUSC 122 | Technologies for Music Making | |
MUSC 130 | Music in Society | |
MUSC 131 | Music Videos in America: MTV, Youth Culture, and Musical Aesthetics | |
MUSC 132 | Music & Conflict | |
MUSC 133 | Music and Film | |
Performance | ||
Four semesters of a performance ensemble, to be chosen from the following: | 4 | |
MUSC 150/350 | Ensemble X | |
MUSC 151/351 | USD Strings | |
MUSC 152/352 | Choral Scholars | |
MUSC 153/353 | Concert Choir | |
MUSC 154/354 | Song/Story/Stage: A Music and Theatre Workshop | |
MUSC 155/355 | Jazz Ensemble | |
MUSC 156/356 | Band: Wind Ensemble | |
MUSC 157/357 | Gamelan Ensemble | |
MUSC 158/358 | Mariachi and Folklórico Dance Ensembles | |
MUSC 159/359 | Gospel Choir | |
MUSC 250/450 | Small Group Performance | |
Applied Lessons | ||
Four semesters of individual music lessons (main instrument or voice), to be chosen from the following: (Students in the Music major with Performance Emphasis should take at least two of the four semesters of applied lessons in the Preparation for the Major at the upper-division level) | 4 | |
MUSC 160 - MUSC 182/MUSC 360 - MUSC 382 | ||
Total Units | 26 | |
The General Music Major
The General Music Major is suitable for students who wish to obtain a sophisticated appreciation and understanding of music and gain proficiency in the creation and performance of music without an emphasis in one area.
In order to obtain a General major in music, the student must satisfy the Preparation for the Major requirements and enroll in at least 24 units of upper-division courses in Music, including the courses below. No more than 8 units of upper-division ensembles (MUSC 350 - MUSC 359, MUSC 450) may be applied toward this requirement. Note also that upper-division courses taken in fulfillment of the 24-unit major requirement cannot also be used to fulfill a requirement of the Preparation for the Major.
Take this History course: | 3 | |
MUSC 301 | From Monasteries to Movies: A Survey of Western Classical Music | |
and select one History course from the following: | 3 | |
MUSC 333 | Pro-Seminar in Musicology | |
MUSC 483 | Special Topics in Music History | |
Select one Theory course from the following: | 3 | |
MUSC 310 | Form and Analysis | |
MUSC 311 | Harmony III: Post-tonal Theory | |
MUSC 320 | Orchestration and Arranging | |
MUSC 322 | Rhythm and Time | |
MUSC 421 | Interactive Digital Music and Arts | |
MUSC 424 | Art and the Soundscape | |
MUSC 484 | Special Topics in Music Theory and Composition | |
Select six units of Ethnomusicology from the following: | 6 | |
MUSC 340 | Topics in World Music | |
MUSC 341 | Religion and the Performing Arts in Bali | |
MUSC 342 | Global Popular Music | |
MUSC 343 | K-Pop in Global Context | |
MUSC 357 | Gamelan Ensemble | |
MUSC 358 | Mariachi and Folklórico Dance Ensembles | |
MUSC 440 | Topics in Ethnomusicology | |
MUSC 445 | Sound and Spirit in Monsoon Asia | |
ETHN 323 | African American Music and Culture | |
Upper-Division Music Electives | 9 | |
Total Units | 24 | |
The Music Major with Emphasis
The Music Major with Emphasis is suitable for students who wish to pursue a career or advanced study in the music field. The student selects an emphasis in Performance, Theory, Composition, History and Culture, or Music Education. Entrance into the Performance Emphasis requires an audition by the end of the first year of study. The Music Education Emphasis should also be declared by the end of the first year.
In order to obtain a major in music with emphasis, the student must satisfy the Preparation for the Major requirements and complete at least 25 units of upper-division courses in Music, including the following emphasis requirements.
Take this History course: | 3 | |
MUSC 301 | From Monasteries to Movies: A Survey of Western Classical Music | |
and select one History course from the following: | 3 | |
MUSC 333 | Pro-Seminar in Musicology | |
MUSC 483 | Special Topics in Music History | |
Select two Theory courses from the following: | 6 | |
MUSC 310 | Form and Analysis | |
MUSC 311 | Harmony III: Post-tonal Theory | |
MUSC 320 | Orchestration and Arranging | |
MUSC 322 | Rhythm and Time | |
MUSC 421 | Interactive Digital Music and Arts | |
MUSC 424 | Art and the Soundscape | |
MUSC 484 | Special Topics in Music Theory and Composition | |
Select six units of Ethnomusicology from the following: | 6 | |
MUSC 340 | Topics in World Music | |
MUSC 341 | Religion and the Performing Arts in Bali | |
MUSC 342 | Global Popular Music | |
MUSC 343 | K-Pop in Global Context | |
MUSC 357 | Gamelan Ensemble | |
MUSC 358 | Mariachi and Folklórico Dance Ensembles | |
MUSC 440 | Topics in Ethnomusicology | |
MUSC 445 | Sound and Spirit in Monsoon Asia | |
ETHN 323 | African American Music and Culture | |
Take the following: | ||
MUSC 495 | Senior Project | 1 |
Upper-Division Emphasis Courses and Music Electives (see below) | ||
Total Units | 19 | |
Performance Emphasis
Four semesters of applied lessons on the instrument of emphasis, voice or conducting at the upper-division level (Juniors perform a Junior Recital, a half-length solo recital, in the spring semester of their junior year as part of their enrollment in applied lessons. Seniors enrolled in MUSC 495 Senior Project perform a full-length Senior Recital in the spring semester of their final year) | 4 | |
MUSC 360-MUSC 382 | ||
Upper-Division Music Elective(s) | 2 | |
Total Units | 6 | |
Theory Emphasis
Select one additional upper division course in Music Theory: | 3 | |
MUSC 310 | Form and Analysis | |
MUSC 311 | Harmony III: Post-tonal Theory | |
MUSC 320 | Orchestration and Arranging | |
MUSC 322 | Rhythm and Time | |
MUSC 421 | Interactive Digital Music and Arts | |
MUSC 424 | Art and the Soundscape | |
MUSC 484 | Special Topics in Music Theory and Composition | |
Upper-Division Music Elective(s) | 3 | |
Total Units | 6 | |
Composition Emphasis
Take all of the following: | 3 | |
MUSC 411 | Composition Studio 1 | |
MUSC 412 | Composition Studio 2 | |
MUSC 413 | Composition Studio 3 | |
Or substitute independent studies for each, prior to enrollment in MUSC 495 Senior Project | ||
Upper-Division Music Elective(s) | 3 | |
Total Units | 6 | |
History and Culture Emphasis
Select one additional upper-division course in Music History/Culture: | 3 | |
MUSC 333 | Pro-Seminar in Musicology | |
MUSC 340 | Topics in World Music | |
MUSC 341 | Religion and the Performing Arts in Bali | |
MUSC 342 | Global Popular Music | |
MUSC 343 | K-Pop in Global Context | |
MUSC 440 | Topics in Ethnomusicology | |
MUSC 445 | Sound and Spirit in Monsoon Asia | |
MUSC 483 | Special Topics in Music History | |
Upper-Division Music Elective(s) | 3 | |
Total Units | 6 | |
Teaching and Learning Emphasis
Select two additional upper-division courses in Music Teaching and Learning | 6 | |
MUSC 315 | Conducting and Music Leadership | |
MUSC 414 | Music Education for Social Change | |
MUSC 415 | Topics in Music Teaching and Learning | |
MUSC 416 | Empowering Song: Music Education from the Margins | |
MUSC 417 | Community Music | |
MUSC 491 | Music Advocacy and Classroom Management | |
Total Units | 6 | |