Program: Roadmap: Music, Music Education - Instrumental Emphasis, BM - San José State University

Jul 13, 2025

2025-2026 Academic Catalog

The following roadmap is a sample advising map to complete the degree program in four years. Please consult your MyPlanner and major advisor as you develop your individualized academic plan. Students must have completed 60+ units in order to enroll in GE UD courses.

*Courses marked with an asterisk may be taken in a different semester than listed.

Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4

Year 1

Fall Semester (16 units)

Applied Lessons (see list in MyPlanner) 2 unit(s)
Ensemble Course- Lower Division (see list in MyPlanner) 1 unit
GE Area 1A 3 unit(s)
GE Area 1C 3 unit(s)
GE Area 6 3 unit(s)
MUSC 1A - Music Theory IA 2 unit(s)
MUSC 1B - Musicianship IB 1 unit
MUSC 25A - Piano Proficiency I 1 unit

Spring Semester (16 units)

Applied Lessons (see list in MyPlanner) 2 unit(s)
Ensemble Course- Lower Division (see list in MyPlanner) 1 unit
GE Area 1B 3 unit(s)
GE Area 2 3 unit(s)
MUSC 2A - Music Theory IIA 2 unit(s)
MUSC 2B - Musicianship IIB 1 unit
MUSC 19 - Music in World Cultures 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3A)
MUSC 25B - Piano Proficiency II 1 unit

Year 2

Fall Semester (16-17 units)

Complete the Upper Division Writing - Directed Self Placement
Applied Lessons (see list in MyPlanner) 2 unit(s)
Ensemble Course- Lower Division (see list in MyPlanner)1 unit
GE Area 4 + US 1 3 unit(s)
GE Area 5A / 5C 3-4 unit(s)
MUSC 3A - Music Theory IIIA 2 unit(s)
MUSC 3B - Musicianship IIIB 1 unit
MUSC 8 - The Artist’s Way 2 unit(s)
MUSC 25C - Piano Proficiency III 1 unit
MUSC 26A - Voice Fundamentals 1 unit(s)

Spring Semester (16-17 units)

Applied Lesson (see list in MyPlanner) 2 unit(s)
Ensemble Course - Lower Division (see list in MyPlanner) 1 unit
GE Area 4 + US 2-3 3 unit(s)
GE Area 5B / 5C 3-4 unit(s)
MUSC 4A - Music Theory 4A 2 unit(s) (GE Area 3A)
MUSC 4B - Musicianship 4B 1 unit (GE Area 3A)
MUSC 12 - Medieval and Renaissance Music 3 unit(s) (GE Area 3B)
MUSC 28 - Guitar Fundamentals 1 unit

Year 3

Fall Semester (16 units)

Applied Lesson (see list in MyPlanner) 2 unit(s)
Ensemble Course - Upper Division (see list in MyPlanner) 1 unit
MUSC 100W - Written Communication II 3 unit(s) (WID)
MUSC 110 - Baroque and Classical Music History 3 unit(s)
MUSC 122A - Fundamental Techniques of Woodwinds: Flute, Clarinet, and Saxophone 1 unit
MUSC 147A - Beginning Conducting 2 unit(s)
MUED 140 - Foundations of Music Education 3 unit(s)
MUED 142 - Introduction to Music Education: Early Field Experience 1 unit

Spring Semester (17 units)

Apply to Graduate
Applied Lessons (see list in MyPlanner) 2 unit(s)
Chamber Music Elective (Breadth) 1 unit
Ensemble Course - Upper Division (see list in MyPlanner) 1 unit
MUSC 40A - Jazz Improvisation - I or MUSC 140B - Jazz Improvisation-II or MUSC 140C - Jazz Improvisation-III 2 unit(s)
MUSC 111 - Romantic and Modern Music History 3 unit(s)
MUSC 122B - Fundamental Techniques and Literature: Instrumental 1 unit
MUSC 126 - Marching Band Techniques 1 unit
MUSC 147B - Advanced Conducting: Instrumental or MUSC 147C - Advanced Conducting: Choral 2 unit(s)
MUSC 170A - Fundamentals of Sound Recording 2 unit(s)
University Elective - Lower or Upper Division 2 unit(s)*

Year 4

Fall Semester (17 units)

Applied Lessons (see list in MyPlanner) 2 unit(s)
Chamber Music Elective (Breadth) 1 unit
Ensemble Course - Upper Division (see list in MyPlanner) 1 unit
GE Upper Division Area 3 (Recommend MUSC 117 - Music and Culture in Latin America ) 3 unit(s)
MUSC 103 - Form and Analysis 3 unit(s)
MUSC 120 - Worlds of Jazz 3 unit(s) (GE Upper Division 4)
MUSC 123A - Brass Fundamentals: Upper Brass 1 unit
MUSC 127A - Fundamental Techniques and Literature: Instrumental Upper Strings - Violin and Viola 1 unit
University Elective - Lower or Upper Division 2 unit(s)*

Spring Semester (17-18 units)

Applied Lesson (see list in MyPlanner) 2 unit(s)
Ensemble Course - Upper Division (see list in MyPlanner) 1 unit
GE Upper Divison Area 2/5 3 unit(s)
MUED 175 - Practicum in Music Education 3 unit(s)
MUSC 102 - Orchestration 3 unit(s) or MUSC 106A - Jazz Arranging I or MUSC 106B - Jazz Arranging II 2 unit(s)
MUSC 123B - Brass Fundamentals: Low Brass 1 unit
MUSC 127B - Fundamental Techniques and Literature: Instrumental Lower Strings - Cello and Bass 1 unit
MUSC 125D - Percussion Techniques 1 unit
MUSC 182 - Senior Project 1 unit
University Elective - Lower or Upper Division 2 unit(s)*

Roadmap Notes

*Courses marked with an asterisk may be taken in a different semester than listed.

Lower division courses should generally be taken in years 1-2, and upper division courses in years 3-4. Students should work with an academic advisor to create an individual roadmap using the MyPlanner tool.

Either GE Area 5A or 5B must be taken with a 5C - Laboratory .

Piano Proficiency: All music majors must be enrolled in MUSC 25A or MUSC 25B until they have passed their piano proficiency exam. Instructors will determine student placement in 25A or 25B. For those students with a piano background who feel they are capable of passing the piano proficiency exam prior to enrolling in the class, the exam will be administered once each semester Please contact the Director of Keyboard Studies for more information. If a student has passed the piano proficiency exam, he or she does not need to enroll in 25A or 25B. For more information: https://www.sjsu.edu/music/current-students.

A minimum of 120 units is required for this degree.