Course Descriptions
MUSC 1209 Conducting Class
Introduction to the art of conducting including regular and irregular beat patterns,
subdivision, and beat pattern varieties applied to musical literature and practical
experiences. Lab required. 2 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 1313 Commercial Music Theory I
Introduction to chord progressions, song forms, and harmonic techniques used in commercial
music. Topics include modern chord notation and chord voicings. Prerequisite: MUSI
1303. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 1321 Songwriting I
Introduction to the techniques of writing marketable songs including the writing of
lyrics and melodies, setting lyrics to music, developing lyrical and musical "hooks,"
analyzing the marketplace, and developing a production plan for a song demo. 3 credit
hours. (W)
MUSC 1323 Audio Electronics
Basic concepts in electricity, Ohm's Law, circuit analysis and troubleshooting. Includes
soldering techniques, and equipment maintenance. Lab required. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 1327 Audio Engineering I
The tools, personnel and standard workflow of a recording studio. Topics include fundamentals
of sound and overview of tracking, editing, and mixing audio. Lab required. 3 credit
hours. (W)
MUSC 1331 MIDI I
Exploration of Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) systems and applications.
Includes the MIDI language and applications in the studio environment using software-based
sequencing programs. Lab required. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 1333 Synthesis I
An exploration of sound synthesis. Includes additive, subtractive, and modulation-based
synthesizers. Lab required. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 1405 Live Sound I
An overview of the field of live sound. Includes principles of live sound and the
theory and interconnection of the components of a sound reinforcement system. Lab
required. Prerequisite: MUSC 1327. 4 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2313 Commercial Music Theory II
Continuation of Commercial Music Theory I. Emphasizes harmonic and melodic analysis,
extended chord theory, and modal and altered scales. Prerequisite: MUSC 1313 or consent
of Associate Dean/Director. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2314 Improvisation Theory I
Chordal structures of commercial music genres. Emphasizes extemporaneous performance.
3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2330 Commercial Music Arranging and Composition
Presentation of techniques for arranging and composing projects in the commercial
music industry. Lab required. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2345 Synthesis II
Advanced sound synthesis. Includes hybrid synthesis and digital sampling. Lab required.
Prerequisite: MUSC 1333. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2351 Audio for Video
Advanced audio techniques for video production. Includes synchronization, automated
mixdown, audio post production for video, and editing techniques. Lab required. Prerequisite:
ARTV 1343 or MUSC 1327. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2355 MIDI II
Advanced MIDI concepts and techniques. Includes synchronizing MIDI and audio and advanced
sequencer operation. Prerequisite: MUSC 1331 with a grade of “C” or better; or consent
of Associate Dean/Director. Lab required. 3 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2356 Songwriting II
Continuation in the development of techniques for writing marketable songs including
the writing of lyrics and melodies, setting lyrics to music, developing lyrical and
musical "hooks," analyzing the marketplace, and developing a production plan for a
song demo. Prerequisite: MUSC 1321, or consent of Associate Dean/Director. 3 credit
hours. (W)
MUSC 2403 Live Sound II
Overview of stage monitor systems. Includes monitor systems set-up and operation and
stage management. Also covers interactivity between sound management, performance
quality, and audience experience. Lab required. Prerequisite: MUSC 1405. 4 credit
hours. (W)
MUSC 2427 Audio Engineering II
Implementation of the recording process, including microphones, audio console, multi-track
recorder, and signal processing devices. Lab required. Prerequisite: MUSC 1327 with
a grade of "B" or better; or consent of Associate Dean/Director. 4 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2447 Audio Engineering III
Advanced techniques in recording and manipulation of audio. Includes digital audio
editing, recording techniques, and signal processing. Prerequisite: MUSC 2427 with
a grade of “B” or better; or consent of Associate Dean/Director. Lab required. 4 credit
hours. (W)
MUSC 2448 Audio Engineering IV
Continued enhancement of recording, mixing, arranging, and editing. Includes the role
of the producer in session planning, communication, budgeting, business aspects, technical
considerations, and music markets. Prerequisite: MUSC 2447 with a grade of “B” or
better; or consent of Associate Dean/Director. Lab required. 4 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2453 Live Sound III
Advanced concepts of live sound engineering for front-of-house mix. Includes techniques
required to build and maintain a live sound mix for an audience. Lab required. Prerequisite:
MUSC 2403. 4 credit hours. (W)
MUSC 2471 Audio Plugins
Exploration of plugins used in Digital Audio Workstations, with special emphasis on
industry standard third-party developers. Lab required. Prerequisite: MUSC 2427. 4
credit hours. (W)