Music AA-T Degree
The Music program at College of the Desert is rooted in the passionate belief that the arts are integral to the social development of every individual and an essential part of life that is vital to the understanding of diverse cultures. Students learn to express themselves artistically, both as individuals and in collaboration with others. Our community sees, supports, and sustains music education not only for the immediate values of performance, but for ways of understanding the world, for the development of the mind and body, and for many underlying skills and understandings that are necessary for success in life.
The Associate in Arts in Music for Transfer, also called the Music AA-T Degree, is designed to prepare students to transfer to a CSU or UC campus to complete a bachelor’s degree in Music. Course offerings include music theory and musicianship, ensembles, piano, and applied lessons on an instrument or voice. Students earning the Music AA-T Degree will receive “priority admission with junior status to the CSU system.” Students completing a bachelor’s degree typically choose careers in music that include performer, educator, conductor, composer, arranger, accompanist, recording engineer, radio/television audio engineer, music minister, music therapist, or private instructor.
This Music AA-T degree requires students to meet both of the following requirements:
- Completion of 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University, including both of the following:
- The Intersegmental GE Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University GE-Breadth Requirements (CSU GE-B).
- A minimum of 18 semester units in a major or area of emphasis. All courses in the major or area of emphasis must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
- Obtainment of a minimum grade point average of 2.0.
There are no additional graduation requirements. Students should consult with a counselor when planning to complete the degree for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.
Learning Outcomes
Upon satisfactory completion of this program students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze and compose music that makes use of tonal and post tonal approaches in a variety of musical and cultural contexts.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform music from a variety of musical and cultural contexts in both solo and ensemble formats on their chosen instrument or voice.
- Demonstrate the ability to perform music and technical exercises for the piano at a lower intermediate level.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply aural skills to the performance, composition, and analysis of music.
Program Requirements
| Course Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| MUS 001 | Music Theory I | 4 |
| MUS 002 | Music Theory II | 4 |
| MUS 003 | Music Theory III | 4 |
| MUS 012 | Fundamentals of Music | 3 |
| MUS 021A | Piano I | 1 |
| MUS 021B | Piano II | 1 |
| MUS 021C | Piano III | 1 |
| Take four semesters total of the following (0.5 units each): | 2 | |
| Applied Music, Instrumental | ||
| Applied Music, Vocal | ||
| Large Ensemble (4 semesters total) - select from the following (1 unit each): | 4 | |
| Jazz Band | ||
| Jazz Ensembles | ||
| Jazz Singers | ||
| Chamber Singers | ||
| Symphonic Band | ||
| Required Subtotal | 24 | |
| Select one of the following: 1 | 37-39 | |
| Transferable Electives (as needed to reach 60 transferable units) 2 | ||
| DEGREE TOTAL | 60 | |
- 1
Units for the major may be double counted for CSU GE or IGETC, confer with Counselor.
- 2
Elective units to reach 60 unit total must be CSU transferable, confer with Counselor.
