Music Associate of Arts
Program Description
This program is designed for students wanting to complete the first two years of a Bachelor's degree at the community college and transfer to a university to complete a BA in Music. Students explore music theory, history, and application. Music, as in all the arts, is an expression and transcendence of the human experience. Music courses serve as an introduction into the examination of sound as a vibrant art form and provide training in performance and composition. The music department offers humanities and performance classes open to all students from beginning through advanced. Our faculty will help students explore their talents and invigorate their passion in music. This program is designed for students wanting to complete the first two years of a Bachelor's degree and transfer to a university to complete a BA in Music. Careers typically require a Bachelor's degree.
Learn more about this program.
My Academic Plan: Full-Time
Courses are displayed in a full-time sequence showing the fastest path to your degree. Follow the pathway below to complete your AA degree in 4 semesters (2 years). For more information, please see your Academic Advisor.
First Semester
| ENG 1021 | English Composition I: GT-CO1 | 3 |
| MUS 1010 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 1012 | Ear Training/Sight-Singing I Lab | 1 |
| MUS 1031 | Music Class I (Guitar, Piano or Voice) | 2 |
| MUS 1041 | Private Instruction | 1-2 |
| MUS 1051 | Ensemble I | 1 |
| MUS 1021 | Music History Medieval - Classical: GT-AH1 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Semester Note: It is important to contact Music Faculty for advising, assessment, and placement. For MUS 1010 and MUS 1012, faculty recommend you take MUS 1000 as preparation if you have limited experience in music notation, and this will count as your music elective.
Second Semester
| ENG 1022 | English Composition II: GT-CO2 | 3 |
| MUS 1011 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 1013 | Ear Training/Sight-Singing II Lab | 1 |
| MUS 1042 | Private Instruction II | 1-2 |
| MUS 1052 | Ensemble II | 1 |
| MUS 1022 | Music History Romantic - Present: GT-AH1 | 3 |
| GT- MA1 | Any Mathematics (GT-MA1). Prefer: Math for Liberal Arts (MAT 1240). | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Third Semester
| MUS 2010 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 2012 | Ear Training/Sight-Singing Lab III | 1 |
| MUS 2051 | Ensemble I | 1 |
| MUS 2041 | Private Instruction | 1-2 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS). Prefer: General Psychology (PSY 1001) | 3 |
| GT- HI1 | Any History (GT-HI1). Prefer: Western Civ: Antiquity-1650 (HIS 1310), Western Civ: 1650-Present (HIS 1320), The World: Antiquity-1500 (HIS 1110) or The World: 1500-Present (HIS 1120) | 3 |
| GT- SC1 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Fourth Semester
| MUS 2011 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 2013 | Ear Training/Sight-Singing Lab IV | 1 |
| MUS 2052 | Ensemble II | 1 |
| MUS 2042 | Private Instruction | 1-2 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS). Prefer: General Psychology (PSY 1001) | 3 |
| Any Music Course | Any Music Course. Prefer: Survey of World Music (MUS 1023), History of Jazz (MUS 1025), Computer Music Applications I (MUS 1061), Music Audio Production I (MUS 1063) or Music Business I (MUS 1067) | 3 |
| GT- SC1 or GT-SC2 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1) or Natural & Physical Non-Lab Science (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
My Academic Plan: Part-Time
Courses are displayed in a part-time sequence providing flexibility for the working professional. Follow the pathway below to complete your AA degree within 8 semesters (3 years). This pathway may be accelerated by applying transfer credit, credit for prior learning, and/or completing one or more additional courses each semester. For more information, please see your Academic Advisor.
Fall Semester 1
| ENG 1021 | English Composition I: GT-CO1 | 3 |
| MUS 1021 | Music History Medieval - Classical: GT-AH1 | 3 |
| GT- MA1 | Any Mathematics (GT-MA1). Prefer: Math for Liberal Arts (MAT 1240). | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Spring Semester 2
| ENG 1022 | English Composition II: GT-CO2 | 3 |
| Any Music Course | Any Music Course. Prefer: Music Theory Fundamentals I (MUS 1000), Survey of World Music (MUS 1023), History of Jazz (MUS 1025), Computer Music Applications I (MUS 1061), Music Audio Production I (MUS 1063) or Music Business I (MUS 1067) | 3 |
| GT- SC1 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1) | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 10 |
Semester Note: It is important to contact Music Faculty for advising, assessment, and placement. For MUS 1010 and MUS 1012, faculty recommend you take MUS 1000 as preparation if you have limited experience in music notation, and this will count as your music elective.
If you take more credits in Mathematics and/or Natural & Physical Sciences than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed to complete this degree.
Summer Semester 3
| GT- HI1 | Any History (GT-HI1). Prefer: Western Civ: Antiquity-1650 (HIS 1310), Western Civ: 1650-Present (HIS 1320), The World: Antiquity-1500 (HIS 1110) or The World: 1500-Present (HIS 1120) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Fall Semester 4
Semester Note: It is important to contact Music Faculty for advising, assessment, and placement. For MUS 1010 and MUS 1012, faculty recommend you take MUS 1000 as preparation if you have limited experience in music notation, and this will count as your music elective.
If you take more credits in Mathematics and/or Natural & Physical Sciences than are listed, it will reduce the elective credits needed to complete this degree.
Spring Semester 5
| MUS 1011 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 1013 | Ear Training/Sight-Singing II Lab | 1 |
| MUS 1052 | Ensemble II | 1 |
| MUS 1042 | Private Instruction II | 1-2 |
| GT- SC1 or GT-SC2 | Any Natural & Physical Lab Science (GT-SC1) or Natural & Physical Non-Lab Science (GT-SC2) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Summer Semester 6
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS). Prefer: General Psychology (PSY 1001) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Fall Semester 7
Spring Semester 8
| MUS 2011 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 2013 | Ear Training/Sight-Singing Lab IV | 1 |
| MUS 2052 | Ensemble II | 1 |
| MUS 2042 | Private Instruction | 1-2 |
| GT- SS | Any Social & Behavioral Science (GT-SS). Prefer: General Psychology (PSY 1001) | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9 |
Semester Note: CSU-Fort Collins requires that one of the Social & Behavioral Science courses be PSY 1001.
Total Credit Hours: 60
Prior Learning eligible course
• Learn more about Credit for Prior Learning
• View all eligible courses
Important Program Notes:
It is important to contact Music Faculty for advising, assessment, and placement. For MUS 1010 and MUS 1012, faculty recommend you take MUS 1000 as preparation if you have limited experience in music notation, and this will count as your music elective.
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you may complete ENG 1021 (GT-CO1) and ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) OR ENG 1022 (GT-CO2) and a gtPathways-approved CO3 course (GT-CO3).
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), CSU-Fort Collins requires that one of the Social & Behavioral Sciences courses be PSY 1001.
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), if credits are not required for the major at a receiving 4-year institution, they will be applied to the bachelor's degree as elective credit toward graduation. Please check with the receiving institution to determine in which way these courses (MUS 1010, MUS 1011, MUS 2010, MUS 2011, MUS 1012, MUS 1013, MUS 2012, MUS 2013, MUS 1051, MUS 1052, MUS 2051, MUS 2052, MUS 1041, MUS 1042, MUS 2041, MUS 2042, and MUS 1031) will be applied.
Per the Statewide Transfer Articulation Agreement (STAA), you must take two gtPathways Natural & Physical Science courses (GT-SC1, GT-SC2). One of these courses must have the required laboratory (GT-SC1).
If you take private instruction music courses (MUS 1041, MUS 1042, MUS 2041, or MUS 2042) from more than 1 credit, it will reduce the 3 credits of Music electives needed.
You must complete a minimum of 60 credits to complete this degree. If receiving financial aid, you should only take courses and credits as required for this degree. Check with your advisor to monitor your completion progress.