Independent Music Production Certificate Plan of Study

Program at a Glance 

In the charts below, view the quarter offered and teaching format for all required and elective courses in this certificate.

Full-time students, jump to entry quarter-specific charts.

 

Course Format Legend

  • I = In-Person
  • R = Remote
  • O = Online
  • H (I) = Hybrid (In-Person)
  • H (R) = Hybrid (Remote)

See Instructional Format Descriptions

7 Required Independent Music Production Courses (28 units)

Production & Recording (12 units)

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
MUSC X 441.3
Audio Recording Theory +		 4 I O O O
MUSC X 448.6
The Record Production Process: Professional Practices		 4   I   R
MUSC X 440
Create and Produce Your Own Music Project		 4 I   I  

Select 1 Production Software Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
MUSC X 479.12
Introduction to Pro Tools +		 4 O O O O
MUSC X 480
Introduction to Logic Pro +		 4 O O O O

Required Marketing Courses (8 units)

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
MUSC X 448.80
Do-It-Yourself Music Marketing		 4 H(R) I O  
MUSC X 451
Entrepreneurship for the Indie Artist		 4   I I R

Select 1 Songwriting Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
MUSC X 401.5
Elements of Hit Songwriting		 4   I   I
MUSC X 404.4
Crafting Great Lyrics: A Songwriting Workshop		 4     I  
MUSC X 409.8
Professional Songwriting for the Commercial Market: A Weekly Workout		 4 I      

Select 2 Electives (8 units)

Students must complete 2 electives (8 units) from courses numbered X 400-499 in Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring. Below is a list of suggested electives. New electives are added regularly.

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring Summer
MUSC X 415.3
Making Your Mark in Music: Stage Performance Secrets		 4     I  
MUSC X 441.5
Creating Commercial Sounding Masters		 4   H(I)    
MUSC X 446.2
A&R: Making Music from Acquisition to Release		 4   I/R   I
MUSC X 447.31
The Insider’s Guide to Music Management		 4 I   I  
MUSC X 448.17
Music Publishing: Law and Business		 4     I  
MUSC X 448.14B
The Art and Craft of Music Mixing		 4 I   R  
MUSC X 448.35
Legal and Practical Aspects of the Music Business		 4   I/R   I
MUSC X 448.81
Music Publishing: A Creative and Business Perspective		 4 I/O I    
MUSC X 448.86
Touring, Tour Budgeting, and Merchandising		 4   I   R
MUSC X 449.2
Music Licensing: Turning Talent into Dollars		 4 I   I  
MUSC X 484.31
Music Supervision for Film and Television		 4 I/R R I/R  
MUSC X 499
Music Industry Internship		 4 I/R I/R I/R I/R

+ Complete these courses within the first 2 quarters of study.

Full-Time Students

Full-time students who wish to complete their program in 3 quarters may select their entry quarter below to find the recommended plan of study.

Darker shaded boxes represent the quarter in which the course is recommended to be taken. Lighter shaded boxes indicate available course options which may be taken to achieve full-time status during the specific quarter. Some courses have limited spaces; early enrollment is recommended.

Fall Entry Plan

7 Required Independent Music Production Courses (28 units)

Production & Recording (12 units)

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring
MUSC X 441.3
Audio Recording Theory +		 4 I O O
MUSC X 448.6
The Record Production Process: Professional Practices		 4   I  
MUSC X 440
Create and Produce Your Own Music Project		 4 I   I

Select 1 Production Software Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring
MUSC X 479.12
Introduction to Pro Tools +		 4 O O O
MUSC X 480
Introduction to Logic Pro +		 4 O O O

Required Marketing Courses (8 units)

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring
MUSC X 448.80
Do-It-Yourself Music Marketing		 4 H(R) I O
MUSC X 451
Entrepreneurship for the Indie Artist		 4   I I

Select 1 Songwriting Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring
MUSC X 401.5
Elements of Hit Songwriting		 4   I  
MUSC X 404.4
Crafting Great Lyrics: A Songwriting Workshop		 4     I
MUSC X 409.8
Professional Songwriting for the Commercial Market: A Weekly Workout		 4 I    

Select 2 Electives (8 units)

Students must complete 2 electives (8 units) from courses numbered X 400-499 in Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring. New electives are added regularly.

Course Number and Title Units Fall Winter Spring
X 400-X499
Various Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring Courses		 4 R/O/I R/O/I R/O/I

+ Complete these courses within the first 2 quarters of study.

 

Winter Quarter Entry

7 Required Independent Music Production Courses (28 units)

Production & Recording (12 units)

Course Number and Title Units Winter Spring Summer Fall
MUSC X 441.3
Audio Recording Theory +		 4 O O O I
MUSC X 448.6
The Record Production Process: Professional Practices		 4 I   R  
MUSC X 440
Create and Produce Your Own Music Project		 4   I   I

Select 1 Production Software Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Winter Spring Summer Fall
MUSC X 479.12
Introduction to Pro Tools +		 4 O O O O
MUSC X 480
Introduction to Logic Pro +		 4 O O O O

Required Marketing Courses (8 units)

Course Number and Title Units Winter Spring Summer Fall
MUSC X 448.80
Do-It-Yourself Music Marketing		 4 I O   H(R)
MUSC X 451
Entrepreneurship for the Indie Artist		 4 I I R  

Select 1 Songwriting Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Winter Spring Summer Fall
MUSC X 401.5
Elements of Hit Songwriting		 4 I   I  
MUSC X 404.4
Crafting Great Lyrics: A Songwriting Workshop		 4   I    
MUSC X 409.8
Professional Songwriting for the Commercial Market: A Weekly Workout		 4       I

Select 2 Electives (8 units)

Students must complete 2 electives (8 units) from courses numbered X 400-499 in Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring. New electives are added regularly.

Course Number and Title Units Winter Spring Summer Fall
X 400-X499
Various Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring Courses		 4 R/O/I R/O/I R/O/I R/O/I

+ Complete these courses within the first 2 quarters of study.

 

Spring Quarter Entry

7 Required Independent Music Production Courses (28 units)

Production & Recording (12 units)

Course Number and Title Units Spring Summer Fall
MUSC X 441.3
Audio Recording Theory +		 4 O O I
MUSC X 448.6
The Record Production Process: Professional Practices		 4   R  
MUSC X 440
Create and Produce Your Own Music Project		 4 I   I

Select 1 Production Software Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Spring Summer Fall
MUSC X 479.12
Introduction to Pro Tools +		 4 O O O
MUSC X 480
Introduction to Logic Pro +		 4 O O O

Required Marketing Courses (8 units)

Course Number and Title Units Spring Summer Fall
MUSC X 448.80
Do-It-Yourself Music Marketing		 4 O   H(R)
MUSC X 451
Entrepreneurship for the Indie Artist		 4 I R  

Select 1 Songwriting Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Spring Summer Fall
MUSC X 401.5
Elements of Hit Songwriting		 4   I  
MUSC X 404.4
Crafting Great Lyrics: A Songwriting Workshop		 4 I    
MUSC X 409.8
Professional Songwriting for the Commercial Market: A Weekly Workout		 4     I

Select 2 Electives (8 units)

Students must complete 2 electives (8 units) from courses numbered X 400-499 in Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring. New electives are added regularly.

Course Number and Title Units Spring Summer Fall
X 400-X499
Various Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring Courses		 4 R/O/I R/O/I R/O/I

+ Complete these courses within the first 2 quarters of study.

 

Summer Quarter Entry

7 Required Independent Music Production Courses (28 units)

Production & Recording (12 units)

Course Number and Title Units Summer Fall Winter Spring
MUSC X 441.3
Audio Recording Theory +		 4 O I O O
MUSC X 448.6
The Record Production Process: Professional Practices		 4 R   I  
MUSC X 440
Create and Produce Your Own Music Project		 4   I   I

Select 1 Production Software Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Summer Fall Winter Spring
MUSC X 479.12
Introduction to Pro Tools +		 4 O O O O
MUSC X 480
Introduction to Logic Pro +		 4 O O O O

Required Marketing Courses (8 units)

Course Number and Title Units Summer Fall Winter Spring
MUSC X 448.80
Do-It-Yourself Music Marketing		 4   H(R) I O
MUSC X 451
Entrepreneurship for the Indie Artist		 4 R   I I

Select 1 Songwriting Course (4 units)

Course Number and Title Units Summer Fall Winter Spring
MUSC X 401.5
Elements of Hit Songwriting		 4 I   I  
MUSC X 404.4
Crafting Great Lyrics: A Songwriting Workshop		 4       I
MUSC X 409.8
Professional Songwriting for the Commercial Market: A Weekly Workout		 4   I    

Select 2 Electives (8 units)

Students must complete 2 electives (8 units) from courses numbered X 400-499 in Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring. New electives are added regularly.

Course Number and Title Units Summer Fall Winter Spring
X 400-X499
Various Music Production, Music Business or Film Scoring Courses		 4 R/O/I R/O/I R/O/I R/O/I

+ Complete these courses within the first 2 quarters of study.

 

<Back to Independent Music Production Certificate

 

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