About the Contemporary Music Industry Program

Find your passion! Oregon State's dynamic bachelor’s degree in contemporary music industry, prepares students to thrive in a career with adaptive, and real-world skills as a creative and cultural thought-leader, an entrepreneur and innovative practitioner in the music industry!

Explore skills in this degree, to become a well-rounded, influential, comprehensive and working music professional! Be part of the music industry in a variety of ways — understand the business of music, music supervision, visual and game musics, arts management and more. Let our professional faculty help you to grow into a skilled professional who can work in fields where contemporary music creation, cultural writing and performance practices come together!

Sample job titles for contemporary music industry graduates
  • Music writer
  • Music director or composer
  • Artist manager
  • Contemporary Performer/Producer
  • Festival Curator
  • Film and game music consultant/producer
  • Publicist
  • Music Supervisor
  • Songwriter
  • Composer
  • Tour manager
  • Artist Booking agent
  • Music researcher
  • Studio Artist
  • Music Copyist/Editor

Learn More

4-Year Plans

MUSIC: BA

This course matrix does not guarantee graduation if you are a transfer student or non-first term, first-year students.  This agreement does not include additional credits required for students who pursue the education, performance, and production options.

Remember to pay attention to upper division requirements and add any minors.

Music majors may not elect to take required music courses on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) graded basis.
 

First Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS200AmMusicTradition

3

MUS 115 Appl Listening & Theory II

3

MUS 190 Beg Beat Making

3

MUS 114 Appl Listening & Theory I

3

MUS 107 Intro DAWs & Publishing

3

MUS 103 Topics:Beatles

3

MUS 102 Reggae/Musical Theatre/Jazz

3

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

Bacc.Core/DPD

3

Bacc.Core/Cultural Diversity

3

Liberal Arts Core/Hum.

3

Liberal Arts Core/SS

3

Liberal Arts Core/FA

3
           
           

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Milestones:

  • Complete WR 121 (by end of spring term).
  • Complete MTH 105 or higher (by end of spring term).
  • Complete Communication requirement (by end of spring term).

Sophomore / Second Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Course

Credits

Course

MUS 237 Critical Studies in Cont.Music I

3

MUS 102 Hip Hop Music & Culture

3

MUS 102 Rock&Roll

3

MUS 255 Intermediate DAW & Music Publishing

3

MUS 279 Intro Songwriting

3

MUS 216 The Music Business

3

Bacc.Core WR II

3

Bacc.Core 

Physical Science

4

MUS 338 Appl Musicianship/Guitar/Keys

2

B.A.Language
1st year

4

B.A.Language
1st year

4

B.A.Language
1st year

4

Physical Science 

3

B.A. UD elective

1

Bacc Core HHS 231

2

Total Credits

16

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

14

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level.
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

Junior / Third Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS 443 Theory & Composition Songwriting II

3

MUS 415 Scoring Visual Media I

3

MUS 334 Contemp.Music Technique&Practice (repeatable)

4

MUS 102 Film Music

3

MUS 442 Genre Studies: Global Pop

3

MUS 475 WIC: Creativity and Contemp.Musical Imagination

3

Bacc.Core 

Biological Science

4

Bacc.Core 

Third Science

4

Bacc.Core Perspectives/Social Processes

3

B.S. Language

2nd year 

4

B.S. Language

2nd year

4

B.S. Language

2nd year

4
       

B.A. UD elective

3

Total Credits

14

Total Credits

14

Total Credits

17

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level.
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

Senior / Fourth Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS 493 Scoring for Visual Media

3

MUS 331 Genre Studies Pop Music in Latin America 

3

MUS 451 Arts Entrepreneurship

3

MUS 442 Genre Studies:MTV

3

MUS 428 Senior Project (repeatable)

4

MUS 428 Senior Project (repeatable)

1

Bacc.Core Perspective 

Western Culture

3

Bacc.Core Synthesis CGI UD

3

MUS 334 Contemp.Music Technique&Practice (repeatable)

4

Liberal Arts Core/Non-Western

3

BA UD Elective

4

Bacc Core Synthesis

STS UD

3

Bacc Core Lit & Arts

3

Liberal Arts Core/One Addtl.

3

Bacc.Core/PAC

1

BA UD Elective

1

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level. 
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

MUSIC: BA

This course matrix does not guarantee graduation if you are a transfer student or non-first term, first-year students.  This agreement does not include additional credits required for students who pursue the education, performance, and production options.

Remember to pay attention to upper division requirements and add any minors.

Music majors may not elect to take required music courses on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) graded basis.

First Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS200AmMusicTradition

3

MUS 115 Appl Listening & Theory II

3

MUS 190 Beg Beat Making

3

MUS 114 Appl Listening & Theory I

3

MUS 107 Intro DAWs & Publishing

3

MUS 103 Topics:Beatles

3

MUS 102 Reggae/Musical Theatre/Jazz

3

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

Bacc.Core/DPD

3

Bacc.Core/Cultural Diversity

3

Liberal Arts Core/Hum.

3

Liberal Arts Core/SS

3

Liberal Arts Core/FA

3

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Milestones:

  • Complete WR 121 (by end of spring term).
  • Complete MTH 105 or higher (by end of spring term).
  • Complete Communication requirement (by end of spring term).

Sophomore / Second Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Course

Credits

Course

MUS 237 Critical Studies in Cont.Music I

3

MUS 102 Hip Hop Music & Culture

3

MUS 102 Rock&Roll

3

MUS 255 Intermediate DAW & Music Publishing

3

MUS 279 Intro Songwriting

3

MUS 216 The Music Business

3

Bacc.Core WR II

3

Bacc.Core

Physical Science

4

MUS 338 Appl Musicianship/Guitar/Keys

2

B.A.Language
1st year

4

B.A.Language
1st year

4

B.A.Language
1st year

4

Physical Science

3

B.A. UD elective

1

Bacc Core HHS 231

2

Total Credits

16

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

14

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level.
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

Junior / Third Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS 443 Theory & Composition Songwriting II

3

MUS 415 Scoring Visual Media I

3

MUS 334 Contemp.Music Technique&Practice (repeatable)

4

MUS 102 Film Music

3

MUS 442 Genre Studies: Global Pop

3

MUS 475 WIC: Creativity and Contemp.Musical Imagination

3

Bacc.Core

Biological Science

4

Bacc.Core

Third Science

4

Bacc.Core Perspectives/Social Processes

3

B.S. Language

2nd year

4

B.S. Language

2nd year

4

B.S. Language

2nd year

4

B.A. UD elective

3

Total Credits

14

Total Credits

14

Total Credits

17

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level.
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

Senior / Fourth Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS 493 Scoring for Visual Media

3

MUS 331 Genre Studies Pop Music in Latin America

3

MUS 451 Arts Entrepreneurship

3

MUS 442 Genre Studies:MTV

3

MUS 428 Senior Project (repeatable)

4

MUS 428 Senior Project (repeatable)

1

Bacc.Core Perspective

Western Culture

3

Bacc.Core Synthesis CGI UD

3

MUS 334 Contemp.Music Technique&Practice (repeatable)

4

Liberal Arts Core/Non-Western

3

BA UD Elective

4

Bacc Core Synthesis

STS UD

3

Bacc Core Lit & Arts

3

Liberal Arts Core/One Addtl.

3

Bacc.Core/PAC

1

BA UD Elective

1

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level.
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

 

BS Contemporary Music Industry – 4 Year Plan

MUSIC: BS

This course matrix does not guarantee graduation if you are a transfer student or non-first term, first year students.  This agreement does not include additional credits required for students who pursue the education, performance, and production options.

Remember to pay attention to upper division requirements and add any minors.

Music majors may not elect to take required music courses on an S/U graded basis.

First Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

 

Course

Credits

Course

Course

Credits

Course

 

MUS200AmMusicTradition

3

MUS 115 Appl Listening & Theory II

3

MUS 190 Beg Beat Making

3

 

MUS 114 Appl Listening & Theory I

3

MUS 107 Intro DAWs & Publishing

3

MUS 103 Topics:Beatles

3

 

MUS 102 Reggae/Musical Theatre/Jazz

3

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

 

Bacc.Core MTH/WR121/COMM

3

Bacc.Core/DPD

3

Bacc.Core/Cultural Diversity

3

 

LiberalArts Core/Humanities

3

Liberal Arts Core/SS

3

BS Computer Science

3

 

 

 

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

 

Milestones:

  • Complete WR 121 (by end of spring term).
  • Complete MTH 105 or higher (by end of spring term).
  • Complete Communication requirement (by end of spring term).

Sophomore / Second Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS 237 Critical Studies in Cont.Music I

3

MUS 102 Hip Hop Music & Culture

3

MUS 102 Rock&Roll

3

MUS 255 Intermediate DAW & Music Publishing

3

MUS 279 Intro Songwriting

3

MUS 216 The Music Business

3

WR II

3

Bacc.Core

Physical Science

4

MUS 338 Appl Musicianship/Guitar/Keys

2

BS Math

4

BS Math

4

Bacc.Core HHS 231

2

Liberal Arts Core/FA

3

Bacc.Core PAC

1

BS Science

4

Total Credits

16

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

14

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level.
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

Junior / Third Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS 443 Theory & Composition Songwriting II

3

MUS 415 Scoring Visual Media I

3

MUS 334 Contemp.Music Technique&Practice (repeatable)

4

MUS 102 Film Music

3

MUS 442 Genre Studies: Global Pop

3

MUS 475 WIC: Creativity and Contemp.Musical Imagination

3

Bacc.Core Biological

Science

4

Bacc.Core Third Scienc

4

Bacc.Core Perspectives Social Processes

3

BS Elective

4

BS UD Elective

3

BS UD Elective

3

BS UD Elective

3

BS UD Elective

3

Total Credits

14

Total Credits

16

Total Credits

16

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level.
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

Senior/ Fourth Year

Fall

Winter

Spring

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

Course

Credits

MUS 493 Scoring for Visual Media

3

MUS 331 Genre Studies Pop Music in Latin America

3

MUS 451 Arts Entrepreneurship

3

MUS 442 Genre Studies:MTV

3

MUS 428 Senior Project (repeatable)

4

MUS 428 Senior Project (repeatable)

1

Liberal Arts Core

Non-Western

4

Bacc.Core Lit & Arts

3

MUS 334 Contemp.Music Technique&Practice (repeatable)

4

Liberal Arts Core

One Addnl (take as UD)

3

Bacc.Core Synthesis

CGI UD

3

Bacc.Core Synthesis STS UD

3

2

Elective

3

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

15

Total Credits

14

Notes:

  • General electives are of any course at the 100 to 400 level.
  • Upper Division Electives are courses numbered 300 to 400.
  • All students are required to complete 60 credits of upper division coursework to complete this degree.

Popular Music Studies Minor

Overview

Requirements

Also available via Ecampus.

“The Popular Music Studies minor provides an opportunity for students to examine popular music as a cultural, social, creative and a viable economic field. The minor provides students with literacy in several popular music genres including American music, rock n’ roll, hip hop, film music, reggae, musical theatre, songwriting, jazz, music business and software. Through the study of a diverse range of genres, stylistic practices, performance media, and music as a commercial enterprise, students develop analytical, historical, critical and practical skills to explore, explain and differentiate popular musics.

This minor does not require an audition or ability to read music.”

Learn More