The Music Department offers comprehensive academic program featuring both traditional and technical training. The department is dedicated to student learning through performance, cognitive understanding and skill acquisition. Music courses fulfill AA/AS degree, transfer, and certificate requirements.

The Associate in Arts in Music for Transfer (AA-T) degree is designed to prepare a transfer pathway for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in general music at a California State University (CSU). With the completion of the AA-T degree in music, students will possess foundational knowledge and skills that comprise the core content of the first two years of many bachelor’s programs in music. The AA-T degree is in alignment with the current mission of the college and the college’s strategic plan and initiatives.

The AA-T degree in music will provide students a bachelor’s in arts degree with the skeletal lower-division coursework required to transfer into the CSU system. Students awarded the AA-T degree in music are guaranteed admission with junior standing within the CSU system. This priority does not guarantee admission to specific majors or campuses. University music department acceptance and subsequent careers in the music field are performance skill auditioned and evaluated. The major also provides students with the educational background in music necessary to pursue a career in any number of music-related fields such as classical, jazz or commercial performer, composer, film scoring, song/jingle writer, private teacher, choral/band director, music therapist, diction coach, conductor, music historian, musical event producer, and accompanist.