If you're new to exploring the major or minor, see the Music Course Overview page to get started with introductory course work.
The following resources are for majors and minors who are interested in more extensive planning for their major or minor courses during their time at UC Santa Barbara.
It's best to gather a couple of tools to plan out your schedule. It is recommended to have a rough 4 or 2-year working plan to get the most out of your coursework and time at UCSB. You'll want to use:
For transfer students, you may want to get started on upper-division classes immediately, while also finishing up any lower division work you have left. By looking at which courses are offered through the year and determining which ones are most interesting to you will give you a leg-up in planning and you'll the most out of the program.
Once you've outlined a plan, have the music undergraduate advisor take a look at it and let you know if there is something you might be missing.
Other useful tools in your planning include the GE worksheets for BM and BA programs:
If you are a double major in two different degrees, you just need to do the greater number of courses required by each degree. So, for example, the BA requires 3 courses in Area C: Science Math and Technology, but the BM only requires 2. If you're double majoring in the BM and a BA in another area, you'll need to do 3 Area C courses total to satisfy this GE area for both majors. If you're doing 2 majors within the same degree, for example two BAs, no additional GEs are required.
Remember, there is more to completing your degree than simply fulfilling the degree requirements and GEs. You also have advising offices within the College to assist you with making sure all parts of your undergraduate degree are in order. Check in with a college advisor at least once annually to make sure you're on track for where you want to be.
(this will vary by desired major and previously completed coursework)
Music 3A, Introduction to Music Studies (for Music Majors)
Music 4A, Musicianship - You will drop this during the first week of classes if you place at a higher level after taking the placement exam. You will pick up this series wherever you placed. It is advised that you take the 4A-B-C classes concurrently with 5A-B-C.
Music 5A, Music Theory - You will not register for this class until after you take the Music Theory and Musicianship Placement Exams. If you place at a higher level after taking the placement exam, you will register for the appropriate class in the next available quarter it is offered. If you placed into Music 11, Fundamentals of Music, you should register for this class at this time. If Music 11 is full and you are an entering declared Music Major, contact the undergraduate advisor for an add code.
Music 31A, Class Piano - You may drop this the first week of classes if you place at a higher level after taking the class piano audition or switch into a higher level class.
Music 20-33, Individual Instruction - Choose the appropriate course number for your instrument or voice. BM students must register for 3 units, and BA students and composition students must register for 1 unit.
A Performance Ensemble, Music A34-A70AA-ZZ - this may vary; choose from the selection on your requirement sheet or if you are considering a switch from BA to BM, take the requirement for BM.
French, German or Italian, Primarily applicable to voice and piano majors who are required to take one or more of these languages for their degree program. However, all students at UCSB will need to complete a language proficiency requirement, which may have been met in high school. If you have not met the requirement, these are the languages most music students are advised to study.
