The Bachelor of Arts in Music and Sound Design offers extensive training in music fundamentals such as music theory, music history and literature, composition, and ear training, as well as training and project work in music technology, audio recording, and technical sound design. Students have the opportunity to work on both individual and team-based projects to produce musical scores and soundscapes for video games, animation, and other interactive media. Through lab courses in each of the eight semesters, these students gain expertise in working with computer software and audio recording hardware that is essential to the sound design and synthesis process. The balance between music fundamentals – including composition, performance, and ear training – and lab and studio recording projects gives the student the technical and creative experience to be a composer/sound designer.
The Bachelor of Arts in Music and Sound Design prepares musicians for a wide variety of music- and audio-related careers and job opportunities in existing and emerging industries such as video games, film and animation, theater, radio, television, and web/new media. This four-year undergraduate degree program includes training in music composition and performance, audio recording technology, and music and sound design production and implementation for video games and new media.
Graduates of this program are prepared for the following entry and intermediate level positions: Sound Designer, Music Composer, Music Arranger, Recording Engineer, Audio Production Editor, Dialog Editor, Music Supervisor, Music Editor, Copyist/Engraver, Music Librarian, Music Supervisor, Music Performer, and Music Teacher.
Number of Credits and GPA
The Bachelor of Arts in Music and Sound Design requires completion of 140 semester credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. The program usually spans eight semesters of 15 weeks each, or four academic years.
Computer Science
The following courses are required:
Film
The following courses are required:
General Studies
The following courses are required:
Humanities and Social Sciences
The following courses are required:
Courses with the COL designation are excluded.
Mathematics
The following course is required:
Music
The following courses are required:
Open Electives
Sufficient additional credits to meet the required 140 semester credits for the program.
Physics
The following courses are required:
Note on General Education Courses
The following courses satisfy the general education requirement for the Bachelor of Arts in Music and Sound Design:
Courses with the COL designation are excluded.
Any course.
Any course.