Learning Outcomes

1. The ability to hear, identify, and work conceptually and analytically with the elements of music – rhythm, harmony, and structure.
2. A basic understanding of compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces.
3. An acquaintance with a wide selection of musical literature, the principal eras, genres, and cultural sources, including, but not limited to, jazz, popular, classical, and world music forms.
4. The ability to defend musical judgements.
5. A functional proficiency in at least one area of instrumental or vocal performance.
6. An overview understanding of the music industry, including the functions and organizational structures of its basic component sectors, and the relationships of these sectors together.
7. A working knowledge of the multiple ways the music industry and its sectors use principles and techniques of marketing, promotion, management, and merchandising, including the development, manufacturing, distribution and retailing of musical products.
8. A basic knowledge of the fundamental principles, issues, and systems associated with creative and intellectual property, including but not limited to copyright, publishing, licensing, patents, and trademarks.
9. A functional knowledge of artist and concert management, including but not limited to promotion and production.
10. An overview and understanding of organizational structures, practices, and standard issues associated with music organizations.
11. A basic understanding of how computers and information technologies influence the business environment, e-commerce, and the decisions of various sectors of the music industry.
12. A basic knowledge of the major information and data sources that support or influence decision-making in the music industry and in business more generally.
13. An understanding of the fundamental principles of micro- and macro-economics sufficient to apply them to basic economics analysis, evaluation, and decisions-making.
14. A functional knowledge of accounting, including financial and managerial accounting.
15. A basic understanding of principles, techniques, and common practices in business law, management, business ethics, and marketing, including but not limited to consumer behavior, market research, publicity, and public relations.
16. A basic understanding of international business practices.

Admissions

Entrance Requirements

All applicants to the School of Music must audition on their principal instrument or voice. Admission to any specific degree is dependent on the qualifying audition. A student who wishes to enter the School of Music from another college on the Columbia campus must be in good standing and have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher. A student who wishes to enter the School of Music from another USC campus must fulfill one of the following:

1. Be in good standing, meet the admission requirements for a baccalaureate degree on the Columbia campus, and have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher.
2. Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with a GPA of 2.25 or higher on a USC campus. Transfer applicants from regionally accredited colleges and universities are required to have a minimum GPA of 2.25 (on a 4.00 scale) on all college-level courses attempted. If fewer than 30 semester hours of college-level work have been attempted, the applicant must meet both transfer and freshman entrance requirements.

Degree Requirements (120 hours)

Program of Study

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers.  This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective.  Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

Requirements (120 hours)

¹

Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

²

Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Music Industry Studies, B.S. 

Music Industry Studies, B.S. Audio 

Music Industry Studies, B.S. Live Promotion 

Music Industry Studies, B.S. Record Label 

Music Industry Studies, B.S. 

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA on all MUSC & MUED courses and a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

Applied Music Courses (8 hours): MUSC 104 and 3 courses (6 hours) selected from: MUED 165, 265 and/or MUSC 101A-Z, 111A-Z, 211A-Z, MUSC 103, MUSC 105, MUSC 203.

⁴

Students are required to participate in an ensemble for 4 semesters. Major ensembles require an audition for membership. Students enrolling in an ensemble to fulfill a degree requirement must register for at least 1 credit hour. Select 4 semesters of Music Ensemble from the following: MUSC 123, 124, 125, 126, 129, 130A-Z, 131, 133, 134, 135B-E.

⁵

Students in the Music Industry Studies, BS program are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁶

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. The Carolina Core AIU course must be passed with a C or higher and must not be an MUSC course.

⁷

Students in the Music Industry Studies major must take additional hours if no concentration is selected: MUSC 496, 497 or 498; MUSC 565; MUSC 566 or 564; MUSC 590

⁸

Major Electives (9 hours): Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives to be selected from any MUSC or MUED courses

⁹

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the School of Music. The School of Music allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the School of Music.

Program Notes:

• ENGL 101 & 102 must be completed within the first 60 semester hours of work in order to be credited toward graduation.
• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.

Music Industry Studies, B.S. Audio Concentration

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA on all MUSC & MUED courses and a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

Applied Music Courses (8 hours): MUSC 104 and 3 courses (6 hours) selected from: MUED 165, 265 and/or MUSC 101A-Z, 111A-Z, 211A-Z, MUSC 103, MUSC 105, MUSC 203.

⁴

Students are required to participate in an ensemble for 4 semesters. Major ensembles require an audition for membership. Students enrolling in an ensemble to fulfill a degree requirement must register for at least 1 credit hour. Select 4 semesters of Music Ensemble from the following: MUSC 123, 124, 125, 126, 129, 130A-Z, 131, 133, 134, 135B-E.

⁵

Students in the Music Industry Studies, BS program are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁶

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. The Carolina Core AIU course must be passed with a C or higher and must not be an MUSC course.

⁷

Major Electives (9 hours): Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives to be selected from any MUSC or MUED courses

⁸

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the School of Music. The School of Music allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the School of Music.

Program Notes:

• ENGL 101 & 102 must be completed within the first 60 semester hours of work in order to be credited toward graduation.
• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.

Music Industry Studies, B.S. Live Promotion Concentration

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA on all MUSC & MUED courses and a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

Applied Music Courses (8 hours): MUSC 104 and 3 courses (6 hours) selected from: MUED 165, 265 and/or MUSC 101A-Z, 111A-Z, 211A-Z, MUSC 103, MUSC 105, MUSC 203.

⁴

Students are required to participate in an ensemble for 4 semesters. Major ensembles require an audition for membership. Students enrolling in an ensemble to fulfill a degree requirement must register for at least 1 credit hour. Select 4 semesters of Music Ensemble from the following: MUSC 123, 124, 125, 126, 129, 130A-Z, 131, 133, 134, 135B-E.

⁵

Students in the Music Industry Studies, BS program are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁶

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. The Carolina Core AIU course must be passed with a C or higher and must not be an MUSC course.

⁷

Major Electives (9 hours): Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives to be selected from any MUSC or MUED courses

⁸

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the School of Music. The School of Music allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the School of Music.

Program Notes: 

• ENGL 101 & 102 must be completed within the first 60 semester hours of work in order to be credited toward graduation.
• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.

Music Industry Studies, B.S. Record Label Concentration

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.50 GPA on all MUSC & MUED courses and a 2.00 cumulative GPA.

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses. Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study.

³

Applied Music Courses (8 hours): MUSC 104 and 3 courses (6 hours) selected from: MUED 165, 265 and/or MUSC 101A-Z, 111A-Z, 211A-Z, MUSC 103, MUSC 105, MUSC 203.

⁴

Students are required to participate in an ensemble for 4 semesters. Major ensembles require an audition for membership. Students enrolling in an ensemble to fulfill a degree requirement must register for at least 1 credit hour. Select 4 semesters of Music Ensemble from the following: MUSC 123, 124, 125, 126, 129, 130A-Z, 131, 133, 134, 135B-E.

⁵

Students in the Music Industry Studies, BS program are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the 122 course through course credit or the corresponding foreign language placement score.

⁶

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. The Carolina Core AIU course must be passed with a C or higher and must not be an MUSC course.

⁷

Major Electives (9 hours): Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives to be selected from any MUSC or MUED courses

⁸

No courses of a remedial, developmental, skill-acquiring, or vocational nature may apply as credit toward degrees in the School of Music. The School of Music allows the use of the Pass-Fail option on elective courses. Further clarification on inapplicable courses can be obtained from the School of Music.

Program Notes:

• ENGL 101 & 102 must be completed within the first 60 semester hours of work in order to be credited toward graduation.
• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.