Music, Associate of Fine Arts

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The Associate of Fine Arts in Music degree program prepares students for transfer into bachelor’s degree programs in music—whether B.M., B.A., B.F.A. or B.M.E.—at four-year colleges and universities such as Rutgers University, William Paterson University, Kean University, Montclair State University, The College of New Jersey, Rowan University, and Westminster Choir College of Rider University.

There are two tracks within the degree, Applied Music, and Music Production. The Applied Music track is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in Performance, Music Education and Music Therapy, while the Music Production track is designed for students who wish to pursue careers in Audio Engineering, Music Production, and related fields.

It is mandatory that a music major applicant contact the Arts and Design Department for an interview, placement testing and advisement with a member of the music faculty. It is recommended that this be done before May if a student is requesting September enrollment as an approved major. Students without adequate precollege background in music and who are not adequately prepared for the theory/musicianship sequence may be required to enroll in Fundamentals of Music as a prerequisite in the subsequent Summer Session or in the student’s first semester.

Students in the Applied Music track develop their performance skills by four semesters of private lessons (Applied Music), four semesters of music theory and musicianship classes, and participating each semester in at least one major performing ensemble. On-campus ensemble experiences include the RVCC Chorale and the RVCC Jazz Ensemble. Arrangements may be made for participation with the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band, the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra or with another Department-approved community performing ensemble. Auditions are likely required for all ensembles.

Students in the Music Production track develop their musical skills by four semesters of private lessons (Applied Music) and by two semesters of music theory and musicianship classes. On-campus ensemble experiences include the RVCC Chorale and the RVCC Jazz Ensemble. Arrangements may be made for participation with the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band, the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra or with another Department-approved community performing ensemble. Auditions are likely required for all off-campus ensembles. In addition, courses are required in composition, audio engineering, music notation software and the business of publishing and licensing.

Regardless of which track is selected, all students who do not have piano as their primary instrument must take two semesters of Keyboard Skills or pass a proficiency examination. Students considering transfer to a four-year institution for a bachelor’s degree should consult with an advisor early in their program to determine academic transfer and music audition requirements.

Graduates are able to:

identify the essential components of creative and professional discipline necessary for a successful musical career.
display general musicianship skills, analyze, and apply certain theoretical concepts in music.

illustrate a historical perspective and knowledge of music literature.
apply basic computer skills and selected music technologies and software to practical and educational music applications.
Collaborate with musicians within a variety of contexts. This includes performance, music recording, music software writing and composition, and social media networking. 
Engage in music production with a fundamental understanding of music recording.

Curriculum - A.F.A. Degree

First Semester

ENGL 111 - English Composition I 3 Credits
Social Science 3 Credits ¹
MUSC 111 - Music Theory I 3 Credits ⁴
MUSC 113 - Musicianship I 1 Credit ⁴
MUSC 121 - Keyboard Skills I 2 Credits ² or
MUSC 221 - Keyboard Skills III 2 Credits ²
MUSC 131 - Applied Music: Primary Instrument I 1 Credit
Please Choose One Track:

Applied Music Track:
- Performance Ensemble 1 Credit ³
Music Production Track:
- Humanities 3 Credits ^1,7

Second Semester

ENGL 112 - English Composition II 3 Credits
MUSC 112 - Music Theory II 3 Credits
MUSC 114 - Musicianship II 1 Credit
MUSC 122 - Keyboard Skills II 2 Credits ² or
MUSC 222 - Keyboard Skills IV 2 Credits ²
MUSC 132 - Applied Music: Primary Instrument II 1 Credit
Please Choose One Track:

Applied Music Track:
- MUSC 165 Music Technology: Fundamentals and Applications 3 Credits (Spring Semester) or
- MUSC 190 Digital Music Composition I 3 Credits (Fall Semester) or
- MUSC 170 Audio Production for Musicians 3 Credits (Fall Semester)
- Performance Ensemble 1 Credit ³
- Humanities 3 Credits ^1,7
Music Production Track:
- MUSC 165 Music Technology: Fundamentals and Applications 3 Credits (Spring Semester) or
- MUSC 190 Digital Music Composition I 3 Credits (Fall Semester)
- MUSC 116 Finale 3 Credits

Third Semester

MUSC 231 - Applied Music: Primary Instrument III 1 Credit
MUSC 265 - Professional Development: Music 1 Credit
Performance Ensemble 1 Credit ³
Mathematics 3 Credits ⁵
Please Choose One Track:

Applied Music Track:
- MUSC 201 Music History and Literature I 3 Credits
- MUSC 211 Music Theory III 3 Credits
- MUSC 213 Musicianship III 1 Credits
Music Production Track:
- MUSC 170 Audio Production for Musicians 3 Credits
- MUSC 270 Composition and Song Writing 3 Credits
- MUSC 103 Rock N’ Roll History and Culture 3 Credits

Fourth Semester

MUSC 107 - Introduction to World Music 3 Credits
MUSC 232 - Applied Music: Primary Instrument IV 1 Credit
Performance Ensemble 1 Credit ³
Science (lab) 4 Credits ⁶
Please Choose One Track:

Applied Music Track:
- MUSC 202 Music History and Literature II 3 Credits
- MUSC 212 Music Theory IV 3 Credits
- MUSC 214 Musicianship IV 1 Credits
Music Production Track:
- MUSC 261 Licensing and Publishing 3 Credits
- MUSC 266 Internship in Music Production 1 Credit

Total Credits 60

¹ Select a course from the appropriate category of the General Education list.

² All music majors must complete a keyboard proficiency placement test. The two-semester requirement for students without prior keyboard proficiency will be Keyboard Skills I and II. The two-semester requirement for students with adequate keyboard proficiency will be Keyboard Skills III and IV. A keyboard major or a student with considerable keyboard proficiency will likely be exempt from some or all this degree requirement and must make the credits up with MUSC electives. Music majors who are also in the honors college are encouraged to take MUSC 296H Music Honors Research Capstone .

³Applied Music Track: All Applied music majors must participate each semester in a performing ensemble. On-campus ensembles include the RVCC Chorale I- IV (MUSC 151 RVCC Chorale I , MUSC 152 RVCC Chorale II ,MUSC 251 RVCC Chorale III ,MUSC 252 RVCC Chorale IV ), the RVCC Jazz Ensemble I-IV (MUSC 157 RVCC Jazz Ensemble I ,MUSC 158 RVCC Jazz Ensemble II ,MUSC 257 RVCC Jazz Ensemble III , MUSC 258 RVCC Jazz Ensemble IV ), and RVCC Chamber Music I-IV (MUSC 149, 150, 249, 250 RVCC Chamber Music I, II, III, IV ). Off-campus ensembles may include, as approved, Concert Band I-IV (MUSC 153 Concert Band I , MUSC 154 Concert Band II , MUSC 253 Concert Band III , MUSC 254 Concert Band IV ) and Orchestra I-IV (MUSC 155 Orchestra I , MUSC 156 Orchestra II , MUSC 255 Orchestra III , MUSC 256 Orchestra IV ). A student need not stay in the same ensemble all four semesters, and may join more than one, as time permits. Please discuss your best options and preferences when you interview with the music faculty prior to enrollment.

Music Production Track: All Music Production majors must participate two semesters in a performing ensemble. On-campus ensembles include the RVCC Chorale I- IV (MUSC 151 , MUSC 152 , MUSC 251,MUSC 252 ), the RVCC Jazz Ensemble I-IV (MUSC 157, MUSC 158, MUSC 257, MUSC 258 ) and RVCC Chamber Music I-IV (MUSC 149, MUSC 150, MUSC 249, MUSC 250). Off-campus ensembles may include, as approved, Concert Band I-IV (MUSC 153, 154, 253, 254) and Orchestra I-IV (MUSC 155, MUSC 156, MUSC 255, MUSC 256). A student need not stay in the same ensemble all four semesters, and may join more than one, as time permits. Please discuss your best options and preferences when you interview with the music faculty prior to enrollment.

⁴Applied Music Track: Music majors who place out of MUSC 111 Music Theory I and MUSC 113 Musicianship I must make the credits up with MUSC electives. Music majors who are also in the honors college are encouraged to take MUSC 296H Music Capstone Research Honors.

Music Production track: Music Production majors who place out of MUSC 111 Music Theory I and MUSC 113 Musicianship I must, after completing MUSC 112 Music Theory II and MUSC 114 Musicianship II , take MUSC 211 Music Theory III and MUSC 213 Musicianship III .

⁵ Mathematics by official placement. Select any course from the appropriate category of the General Education list.

⁶Students are advised to select from the following one-semester Science courses: BIOL 111 Principles of Biology , BIOL 120 Human Biology , BIOL 150 Plants, Humans & the Environment , CHEM 102 Introduction to Chemistry , GEOL 157 Introduction to Geology , PHYS 112 Concepts of Physics , PHYS 130 Astronomy .

⁷ MUSC 105 Survey of Jazz Music is recommended as a Humanities requirement.