Music Industry Studies, B.S.
Learning Outcomes
- The ability to hear, identify, and work conceptually and analytically with the elements of music – rhythm, harmony, and structure.
- A basic understanding of compositional processes, aesthetic properties of style, and ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural forces.
- 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.
- The ability to defend musical judgements.
- A functional proficiency in at least one area of instrumental or vocal performance.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- A functional knowledge of artist and concert management, including but not limited to promotion and production.
- An overview and understanding of organizational structures, practices, and standard issues associated with music organizations.
- 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.
- 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.
- An understanding of the fundamental principles of micro- and macro-economics sufficient to apply them to basic economics analysis, evaluation, and decisions-making.
- A functional knowledge of accounting, including financial and managerial accounting.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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 (121 hours)
Program of Study
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 32-44 |
| 2. College Requirements | 0 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 0-7 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 82 |
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.
1. Carolina Core Requirements (32-44 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6 hours)
- two CC-ARP courses
SCI – Scientific Literacy (8 hours)
- two 4-credit hour CC-SCI courses
GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)
Demonstration of proficiency in one foreign language equivalent to the minimum passing grade on the exit examination in the 122 course is required, if not already met through Carolina Core or the foreign language placement exam.
GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)
- any CC-GHS course
GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)
- any CC-GSS course
AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
- any CC-AIU course, other than MUSC
CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-CMS course
INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course
- 1
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.
2. College Requirements (0 hours)
No college-required courses for this program.
3. Program Requirements (0-7 hours)
Supporting Courses (0-3hours)
Foreign Language (0-3 hours)
- only if needed to meet 122-level proficiency
Electives (0-7 hours)
- The number of non-music electives needed depends on how Carolina Core courses are fulfilled. The number of hours of Carolina Core courses and non-music electives must equal 39 hours. 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.
4. Major Requirements (82 hours)
A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses.
Major Courses
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 100 | Music Convocation (must complete 2 semesters with a grade of satisfactory) | 0 |
| MUSC 100A | Music Advocacy I: Understanding the Power of Your Music | 0 |
| MUSC 100L | Recital Class Laboratory | 1 |
| MUSC 150 | Music Industry Convocation 1 | 0 |
- 1
Must complete 5 semesters
Musicianship (17 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 113 | Special Topics in Popular Music | 3 |
| or MUSC 140 | Jazz and American Popular Music | |
| MUSC 115 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUSC 215 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUSC 117 | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| MUSC 118 | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| MUSC 210 | Understanding the Psychology of Music | 3 |
| MUSC 230 | Introduction to Beat Making and Digital Audio Production | 3 |
| or MUSC 231 | Introduction to Digital Music Creation | |
| Total Credit Hours | 17 | |
Applied Music Courses (8 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 104 | Introduction to Piano | 2 |
| Select 3 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Group Piano | ||
| Group Piano | ||
| Class Voice (Basic) | ||
| Class Voice (Intermediate) | ||
| Basic Guitar | ||
| Introduction to Singing | ||
| Basic Guitar II | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 8 | |
Ensembles (4 hours)
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.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 semesters of Music Ensemble from the following: | 4 | |
| The Marching Band | ||
| Symphonic Winds | ||
| University Concert Choir | ||
| University Orchestra | ||
| University Chorus | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Wind Ensemble | ||
| Ensemble - Chamber Orchestra | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 4 | |
Music Electives (6 hours)
Students must complete a minimum of 6 hours of music major electives.
- any MUSC or MUED courses
Music Industry (46 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 224 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| MGMT 371 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| MUSC 305 | Introduction to Music Industry Studies | 1 |
| MUSC 365 | An Introduction to Audio Recording Techniques | 3 |
| MUSC 498 | Music Industry Capstone | 6 |
| MUSC 565 | Advanced Audio Recording Techniques | 3 |
| MUSC 566 | Fundamentals of Sound Use for Media | 3 |
| or MUSC 567 | Recording Studio Techniques | |
| MUSC 582 | Music and Money | 3 |
| MUSC 588 | Business of Music | 3 |
| MUSC 590 | Seminar in Music Industry | 3 |
| MUSC 593 | Arts Marketing | 3 |
| SPTE 202 | Introduction to Live Entertainment Management | 3 |
| SPTE 240 | Business Law | 3 |
| SPTE 302 | Artist Representation and Management | 3 |
| SPTE 303 | Live Entertainment Tour Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 46 | |
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.