The electronic music minor focuses on the study of creating music using the tools of modern technology. It is designed to complement the music major or programs in other media by providing instruction in advanced skills of audio production, sound synthesis, and computer-assisted composition.
Course Requirements
Complete the following requirements. All upper-division courses attempted toward the minor must be taken for a letter grade. Lower-division courses can be taken for a letter grade or Pass/No Pass.
Lower-Division Courses
Electronic Music History Requirement
Take the following course.
| MUSC 80C | History, Literature, and Technology of Electronic Music | 5 |
Lower-Division Music History Elective
Take one course from the following list. A similar music survey/history course taken here or at another institution may be approved by the department. Email music@ucsc.edu if you have questions regarding a possible substitution.
Lower-Division Music Theory Requirement
Students must take the Theory Placement Exam in order to test into the appropriate western music theory course (MUSC 14, or MUSC 30A). If a student places into MUSC 30A via the exam, they will automatically satisfy the minor's theory requirement. Students who place into MUSC 14 must pass the course to satisfy the minor's theory requirement.
| MUSC 14 | Beginning Western Theory and Musicianship | 5 |
Technical Sound Elective
Take one course from the following list. A similar music course that has a technical focus may be approved by the department. Email music@ucsc.edu if you have questions regarding a possible substitution.
Introductory Programming Elective
Take one of the following courses. A similar programming course taken here or at another institution may be approved by the department. Email music@ucsc.edu if you have questions regarding a possible substitution. A test-out option is available for CSE 20. If a student tests out of CSE 20 via the exam, they will automatically satisfy the minor's programming requirement. Students who place into CSE 20 must pass the course, or another from the list, to satisfy the minor's programming requirement.
| CSE 5J | Introduction to Programming in Java | 5 |
| CSE 20 | Beginning Programming in Python | 5 |
| ECE 101 | Introduction to Electronic Circuits | 5 |
| ECE 153 | Digital Signal Processing | 5 |
| ECE 171 | Analog Electronics | 5 |
| PHYS 160 | Practical Electronics | 5 |
Upper-Division Courses
Upper-Division Lecture/Seminar Electives
Take four (4) of the following courses. Testing out of MUSC 123A (formerly MUSC 123) is possible via technical assessment. If a student tests out of MUSC 123A via assessment, they should plan to take another course from this list, outside the 123 series, to fulfill their last elective.
| MUSC 105H | Hip Hop Music and Culture in the 20th Century | 5 |
| MUSC 123A | Electronic Music: Synthesis & Composition I | 5 |
| MUSC 123B | Electronic Music: Synthesis & Composition II | 5 |
| MUSC 123C | Electronic Music: Synthesis & Composition III | 5 |
| MUSC 150N | Noise, Music, Politics | 5 |
| MUSC 150P | 20th-Century Popular Song | 5 |
| MUSC 150R | Field Recording: Mapping and Composing Sound, Identity, and Place | 5 |
| MUSC 150Z | Interdisciplinary Arts Production Lab | 5 |
| MUSC 206B | Computer-Assisted Composition | 5 |
| MUSC 206C | Composing for Instruments and Live Electronics | 5 |
Upper-Division Workshop/Ensemble Electives
Take three (3) of the following courses. All courses in list, except MUSC 167R, can be repeated for credit.
Planner
The table below is for informational purposes and does not reflect all university, general education, and credit requirements. See Undergraduate Graduation Requirements for more information.
Two-Year Electronic Music Minor Plan
^Satisfies programming elective; can be replaced with CSE 5J, or other classes from list
~Satisfies music theory requirement; can be fulfilled by placing directly into MUSC 30A via the Theory Placement Exam
#Satisfies technical sound elective; can be replaced with MUSC 71, MUSC 72, MUSC 80K, MUSC 80R, MUSC 80U, or other classes
*Satisfies the music history requirement; can be replaced with MUSC 11A, 11C 11D, or 11E
%Satisfies an upper-division elective requirement; can be replaced with other courses from the list
+Satisfies an upper-division workshop/ensemble requirement; can be replaced with other courses from the list
General Education (GE) Codes
The MUSC 11 requirement can satisfy one of the following GE codes: MUSC 11A - IM; MUSC 11B - ER, MUSC 11C - ER, MUSC 11D - CC; & MUSC 11E - ER.
All workshops/ensembles listed satisfy the PR-C GE, except MUSC 167.
The technical sound elective can satisfy one of the following GE codes: MUSC 71 - PR-C; MUSC 80K - PE-E; MUSC 80L - MF; MUSC 80R - PE-T; MUSC 80U - MF.
The programming requirement can satisfy one of the following GE codes: CSE 5J - MF; and CSE 20 - MF.