Jun 08, 2025

2025-2026 University Catalog

Music, B.A. - General Subplan/Option: 120 units

Offered by: College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, Music Department

Major Required
Subplan/Option Required
Subplan/Option Electives

Unrestricted Electives
General Education Requirements

In order to progress in the major, the department requires student to earn a C- or better in any individual Major Required course. In order to graduate, the university requires an overall core GPA of 2.0. Students must also complete, within the first 4 semesters as a music major: MU 1040 , MU 1121A , MU 1131A , MU 1201 , and MU 2211A , plus a minimum of 2 primary ensemble units.

Students in the CPP Department of Music are required to participate in a primary performing ensemble each semester they are enrolled in studio and performance seminar. In addition to participating in a primary ensemble, students are strongly encouraged to participate in a secondary ensemble to enrich their learning and breadth of repertory. See department for assigned primary ensemble.

Major Required: 47 units

MU 1030 - World of Music (3) [GE 3A]
MU 1040 - Careers in Music (3)
MU 1080 - Introduction to Music Technology (3)
MU 1090 - History of American Popular Music (3)
MU 1121A - Class Piano I (1)
MU 1131A - Class Piano II (1)
MU 2211A - Musicianship I (1)
MU 2221A - Musicianship II (1)
MU 2281 - The Digital Audio Workstation (3)
MU 3100 - History of Technology in Music (3) [GE 3C, 4C, or 5D]
MU 4180 - Western Classical Traditions I (3)
MU 4190 - Western Classical Traditions II (3)
MU 4240 - Beatlemania (3) [GE 3C or 4C]
Music Theory Coursework: Students choose four courses from this category. Faculty administer a music theory placement exam to determine a student’s initial course of either MU 1050 or MU 1201 . Students who begin with MU 1201 should not enroll in MU 1050 . (12 units total)
MU 1050 - Music Foundations (3)
MU 1201 - Introduction to Music Theory (3)
MU 2202 - Music Theory: Classical I (3)
MU 2203 - Jazz and Pop Harmony and Techniques (3)
MU 2204 - 20th and 21st Century Music Theory (3)
MU 3020 - Tonal Counterpoint (3)
MU 3202 - Music Theory: Classical II (3)
Senior Project or Internship: 2 units
Senior Project: enroll in MU 4601 - Senior Project Research and Preparation during a term that precedes enrollment in MU 4620 , or complete 2 units (200 hours) of an internship
MU 4601 - Senior Project Research and Preparation (1) and
MU 4620 - Senior Project (1)
OR
MU 3920 - Music Industry Studies Internship (1-2) (2 units required) *
Applied Music (Studio): 2 units
Students should also enroll in MU 2700 - Performance Seminar and a minimum of one ensemble when enrolled in a studio. Students who exceed this core requirement may apply additional units to fulfill Music Electives. Choose one of the following for two terms.
MU 1710 - Studio Strings (1) (2 units required)
MU 1720 - Studio Brass (1) (2 units required)
MU 1730 - Studio Woodwind (1) (2 units required)
MU 1740 - Studio Percussion (1) (2 units required)
MU 1750 - Studio Keyboard (1) (2 units required)
MU 1760 - Studio Guitar (1) (2 units required)
MU 1770 - Studio Voice (1) (2 units required)
MU 1780 - Studio Electric Bass (1) (2 units required)

Note(s):

*Students in the Music Industry Subplan/Option choosing to complete the internship are required to complete 200 hours/2 units beyond what is already required in the Subplan/Option Required courses.

Subplan/Option Required: 20 units

MU 2700 - Performance Seminar (1) (2 units required)
MU 3181 - Ethnomusicology: Theory, History, and Field Methods (3)
MU 3211A - Musicianship III (1)
MU 3940S - Music Studies Integration - Service Learning (1)
MU 3950W - Non-Profit Music (3)
MU 4171W - Theory, History, and Design of Musical Instruments (3) [GE 3C]
PHY 1050 - The Physics of Musical Sound (3) [GE 5A]
PHY 1050L - Physics of Musical Sound Laboratory (1) [GE 5C]
Music Theory Course: TAKE ONE ADDITIONAL Music Theory Course beyond those chosen in Major Required
MU 2202 - Music Theory: Classical I (3)
MU 2203 - Jazz and Pop Harmony and Techniques (3)
MU 2204 - 20th and 21st Century Music Theory (3)
MU 3020 - Tonal Counterpoint (3)
MU 3202 - Music Theory: Classical II (3)

Subplan/Option Electives: 12 units

Studios: 2 units

Students may, with department approval, enroll in 2 additional units of studio in addition to the 2 units required for the Major. Students may also choose other music electives.

Performance Ensembles: 4 units

MU 3410A - Brass Ensemble (1)
MU 3420A - Woodwind Ensemble (1)
MU 3430A - Percussion Ensemble (1)
MU 3440A - String Ensemble (1)
MU 3450A - Collaborative Piano (1)
MU 3460A - Guitar Ensemble (1)
MU 3470A - World Music Ensemble (1)
MU 3480A - Piano Ensemble (1)
MU 3510L - Orchestra (1)
MU 3520L - Symphonic Winds (1)
MU 3530L - Wind Ensemble (1)
MU 3540L - Jazz Band (1)
MU 3550A - Concert Band (1)
MU 3560A - Jazz Combo (1)
MU 3571A - New Music Ensemble (1)
MU 3580A - Latin American Ensemble (1)
MU 3585L - Mariachi (1)
MU 3590A - Electronic Music Ensemble (1)
MU 3610L - Concert Choir (1)
MU 3621L - Music Theatre Workshop (1)
MU 3631L - Music Theatre Production (1)
MU 3640L - Chamber Singers (1)
MU 3650A - African American Vocal Ensemble (1)
MU 3690L - Songwriter Showcase (1)
Students must be enrolled in a Primary Performance Ensemble while enrolled in Studio, and must complete a minimum of 4 units of Performance Ensembles overall. The Primary Ensemble is assigned based on the student’s primary instrument in studio (see instruments below).
MU 3455L - Cal Poly Pomona Collaborative Piano Ensemble (1)
MU 3475L - Black Music Ensemble (1)
MU 3485L - Cal Poly Pomona Piano Ensemble (1)

GUITAR

PIANO

PRIMARY ENSEMBLE (REQUIRED)
MU 3480A - Piano Ensemble (1)
MU 3485L - Cal Poly Pomona Piano Ensemble (1)
MU 3450A - Collaborative Piano (1)
MU 3455L - Cal Poly Pomona Collaborative Piano Ensemble (1)
SECONDARY ENSEMBLE (RECOMMENDED)
MU 3590A - Electronic Music Ensemble (1)
MU 3571A - New Music Ensemble (1)
MU 3510L - Orchestra (1)
MU 3530L - Wind Ensemble (1)
MU 3610L - Concert Choir (1)
MU 3640L - Chamber Singers (1)

MARIACHI INSTRUMENTS

COMMERCIAL PERCUSSION/KEYBOARD/ELECTRIC GUITAR & BASS

CLASSICAL PERCUSSION

PRIMARY ENSEMBLE (REQUIRED)
MU 3530L - Wind Ensemble (1) or
MU 3520L - Symphonic Winds (1)
(placement determined by audition)
SECONDARY ENSEMBLE (RECOMMENDED)
MU 3430A - Percussion Ensemble (1)
MU 3510L - Orchestra (1)
MU 3571A - New Music Ensemble (1)

WOODWINDS

PRIMARY ENSEMBLE (REQUIRED)
MU 3530L - Wind Ensemble (1) or
MU 3520L - Symphonic Winds (1)
(placement determined by audition)
SECONDARY ENSEMBLE (RECOMMENDED)
MU 3510L - Orchestra (1)
MU 3420A - Woodwind Ensemble (1)
MU 3455L - Cal Poly Pomona Collaborative Piano Ensemble (1)
MU 3540L - Jazz Band (1)
MU 3571A - New Music Ensemble (1)
MU 3580A - Latin American Ensemble (1)
MU 3585L - Mariachi (1)

BRASS

PRIMARY ENSEMBLE (REQUIRED)
MU 3530L - Wind Ensemble (1) or
MU 3520L - Symphonic Winds (1)
(placement determined by audition)
SECONDARY ENSEMBLE (RECOMMENDED)
MU 3410A - Brass Ensemble (1)
MU 3455L - Cal Poly Pomona Collaborative Piano Ensemble (1)
MU 3510L - Orchestra (1)
MU 3540L - Jazz Band (1)
MU 3571A - New Music Ensemble (1)
MU 3580A - Latin American Ensemble (1)
MU 3585L - Mariachi (1)

Music Electives: 6 units

Choose AT LEAST 6 ADDITIONAL MUSIC units beyond major required and option required courses. 3 units minimum must be upper-division. You may enroll in additional ensemble units.

Unrestricted Electives: 0-11 units

Select a sufficient number of courses so that the total from Major Required, Subplan/Option Required, Subplan/Option Electives, Unrestricted Electives, Graduation Requirements, and GE is at least 120 units.

Graduation Requirements: 9 units

American Institutions: 6 units

The CSU requires all students complete coursework in US History, US Government, and California and local Government. At CPP, this is a 2-course requirement: American Institutions Part A - US History and American Institutions Part B - US and California Government. Part A can be satisfied through the completion of coursework both inside and outside of GE, while Part B can be satisfied through the completion of GE Area 4B or by select courses in 4C. If students satisfy these requirements through GE or have satisfied this requirement at a previous institution, Unrestricted Electives may increase by 6 units.

University Writing Requirement (UWR): 3 units

Students must complete a minimum of 3-units of a writing-intensive course or courses with a grade of C or higher. Students are eligible to take their UWR when they have completed 60 semester units. Writing-intensive courses are marked with a “W” in the catalog.

General Education Requirements: 43 units

Students should view their Degree Progress Report (DPR) for information regarding their General Education requirements. Unless specific GE courses are required for their major, please refer to the list of approved courses in the General Education Program in the University Catalog, https://catalog.cpp.edu. When viewing the catalog, students should select the catalog year associated with the GE requirements listed in their Degree Progress Report.

Area 1. English Communication (9 units)

1A. English Communication (3)
1B. Critical Thinking (3)
1C. Oral Communication (3)

Area 2. Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (3 units)

Area 3. Arts and Humanities (9 units)

3A. Arts (3)
3B. Humanities (3)
3C. Upper Division Arts or Humanities (3)

Area 4. Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 units)

4A. Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)
4B. Social and Behavioral Sciences - American and California Government (3)
4C. Upper Division Social and Behavioral Sciences (3)

Area 5. Physical and Biological Sciences (10 units)

5A. Physical Science (3)
5B. Biological Science (3)
5C. Laboratory (1)
5D. Upper Division Scientific Inquiry or Quantitative Reasoning (3)

Area 6. Ethnic Studies (3 units)

Summer Sponsored Experience: 0 unit

CPU 3003 - Cal Poly Pomona Undergraduate Sponsored Summer Experience (0)