¶¡ÏãÔ°AV

School for the Contemporary Arts | Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Calendar 2012 Summer

The bachelor of fine arts (BFA) with a major in music is a flexible program that offers several options for the music student to pursue an interest in composition, electroacoustic music, world music or interdisciplinary collaboration. The program takes full advantage of the opportunities to experience and study other art forms that are provided in the School for the Contemporary Arts.

At the upper division, students complete one of three streams: composition, electroacoustic, or collaboration. The requirements at the lower division are the same for all streams but students are advised to select their chosen stream as early as second year, so that the proper prerequisites can be completed.

Students whose interest in music is related primarily to its historical, critical, or theoretical aspects should consider the art and culture studies major program which leads to a bachelor of arts degree. Contact the school's general office for information about entry to specific music courses.

¶¡ÏãÔ°AV Requirements

Program and course admission is contingent upon University admission. Contact Student Services for admission procedures, requirements and deadlines. Entry to all programs and to many courses is by audition, interview or application. Contact the school’s office for information on procedures and deadlines.

Although the University operates on a trimester system, most FPA courses are planned in a two term (fall and spring) sequence. Consequently, students enter in the fall term (September) and are advised to contact the school in the preceding January for program entry and requirements information.

Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing

Unassigned or general elective (type 2 and 3, respectively) transfer credit awarded for courses completed at other recognized post-secondary institutions will not automatically entitle students to advanced standing in the school’s programs. Advanced standing is generally given on an individual basis as a result of an audition or interview.

About the School's Course Offerings

Students are encouraged to take advantage of interdisciplinary offerings within the school. As many programs depend on a continuing sequence of courses completed in order, students should plan carefully to gain the maximum benefit and efficiency from their study.

Note that not all courses are offered every term and several are offered on a rotational basis, i.e. every third or fourth term. An advisor is available to help plan study programs.

Students are reminded that the school is an interdisciplinary fine and performing arts department, and are strongly advised to acquaint themselves with the many disciplinary courses that are available.

Special Topics Courses

The subject matter (and prerequisites) of special or selected topics courses vary by term.

Prior Approval Prerequisite

Where a prerequisite is or includes 'prior approval', approval must be obtained before enrolling in the course. Contact the school for further information.

Program Requirements

Students complete 132 units, as specified below.

Lower Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 39 units, including all of

• FPA 111 Issues in Fine and Performing Arts (3)
• FPA 140 Music after 1900 (3)
• FPA 145 Introduction to Music Composition and Theory (3)
• FPA 146 Introduction to Music Composition and Theory II (3)
• FPA 147 Introduction to Electroacoustic Music (3)
• FPA 240 Contemporary Music Performance I (3)
• FPA 285 Interdisciplinary Studio - Composition/Collaboration (3)

and four of

• FPA 243 Gamelan I (3)
• FPA 245 Music Composition I (3)
• FPA 246 Music Composition II (3)
• FPA 247 Electroacoustic Music I (3)
• FPA 248 Conducting I (3)
• FPA 249 Selected Topics in Music I (3)
• CMNS 258 Introduction to Electroacoustic Communication (3)

and one additional FPA studio course from outside of the music discipline

and one FPA theory or history course from outside of the music discipline

Upper Division Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 45 units, including

• FPA 446 Senior Project in Music Composition (5)

and one of the following streams

Composition Stream

Students who choose this stream will complete all of

• FPA 345 Music Composition III (4)
• FPA 346 Music Composition IV (4)
• FPA 445 Music Composition V (4)

and a minimum of 11 units chosen from

• FPA 340 Contemporary Music Performance II (3)
• FPA 341 World Music (3)
• FPA 343 Gamelan II (3)
• FPA 344 Contemporary Music Analysis and Criticism (3)
• FPA 347 Electroacoustic Music II (4)
• FPA 348 Conducting II (3)
• FPA 349 Selected Topics in Music II (3)
• FPA 443 Gamelan III (3)
• FPA 447 Computer Music Composition (4)

and a minimum of six FPA units chosen from outside of the music discipline (CMNS 358 or 359 may be substituted)

and the remaining 11 required units chosen from the following courses (placement in courses is based on prerequisites and/or permission of the instructor)

• FPA 305 Explorations in Contemporary Arts I (3)
• FPA 308 Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 309 Contemporary Arts Field School II (Studio) (4)
• FPA 310 Interdisciplinary Methods in Art and Culture Studies (4)
• FPA 312 Selected Topics in Art and Culture Studies (3)
• FPA 314 Readings in the History of Art and Culture (3)
• FPA 317 Introduction to Performance Studies (4)
• FPA 319W Critical Writing in the Arts (3)
• FPA 323 Ballet II (3)
• FPA 325 Special Project in Dance Composition (3)
• FPA 341 World Music (3)
• FPA 347 Electroacoustic Music II (4)
• FPA 348 Conducting II (3)
• FPA 352 Playmaking III (3)
• FPA 353 Playmaking IV (4)
• FPA 362 Methods and Concepts: Drawing-based Practices (3)
• FPA 363 Methods and Concepts: Painting Practices (3)
• FPA 364 Methods and Concepts: Sculptural Practices (3)
• FPA 365 Methods and Concepts: Photo-based Practices (3)
• FPA 368 Methods and Concepts: Spatial Presentation (3)
• FPA 369 Methods and Concepts: Selected Topics (3)
• FPA 389 Selected Topics in the Fine and Performing Arts II (3)
• FPA 400 Directed Studies (Studio) (3)
• FPA 401 Directed Studies (Theory/History) (3)
• FPA 402 Directed Studies (Studio) (4)
• FPA 403 Directed Studies (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 404 Directed Studies (Studio) (5)
• FPA 405 Explorations in Contemporary Arts II (5)
• FPA 408 Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 409 Contemporary Arts Field School IV (Studio) (4)
• FPA 411 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Contemporary Arts (3)
• FPA 412 Advanced Seminar in Art and Culture Studies (4)
• FPA 414 Advanced Topic in the History of Art and Culture (3)
• FPA 416 Practices in Art and Culture (3)
• FPA 420 Contemporary Dance VII (4)
• FPA 421 Contemporary Dance VIII (4)
• FPA 425 Intensive Studies in Performance (5)
• FPA 426 Dance/Movement Analysis (3)
• FPA 445 Music Composition V (4)
• FPA 447 Computer Music Composition (4)
• FPA 450 Advanced Studio Skills (4)
• FPA 457 Context of Theatre III (4)
• FPA 472 Production Practicum V (3)
• FPA 473 Production Practicum VI (6)
• FPA 485 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts (5)
• FPA 489 Interdisciplinary Project in FPA (5)
• or film studies-related courses outside the School for the Contemporary Arts, taken with area approval

Electroacoustic Stream

Students who choose this stream will complete all of

• FPA 347 Electroacoustic Music II (4)
• FPA 387 Digital Art (3)
• FPA 447 Computer Music Composition (4)

and a minimum of 15 units chosen from

• CMNS 358 Sound Recording: Theory and Design (4)
• CMNS 359 Acoustic Dimensions of Communication II * (4)
• FPA 340 Contemporary Music Performance II (3)
• FPA 341 World Music (3)
• FPA 343 Gamelan II (3)
• FPA 344 Contemporary Music Analysis and Criticism (3)
• FPA 345 Music Composition III (4)
• FPA 346 Music Composition IV (4)
• FPA 348 Conducting II * (3)
• FPA 349 Selected Topics in Music II (3)
• FPA 443 Gamelan III (3)
• FPA 445 Music Composition V (4)

and a minimum of six FPA units chosen from outside of the music discipline

and the remaining 13 required units chosen from the following courses (placement in courses is based on prerequisites and/or permission of the instructor)

• FPA 305 Explorations in Contemporary Arts I (3)
• FPA 308 Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 309 Contemporary Arts Field School II (Studio) (4)
• FPA 310 Interdisciplinary Methods in Art and Culture Studies (4)
• FPA 312 Selected Topics in Art and Culture Studies (3)
• FPA 314 Readings in the History of Art and Culture (3)
• FPA 317 Introduction to Performance Studies (4)
• FPA 319W Critical Writing in the Arts (3)
• FPA 323 Ballet II (3)
• FPA 325 Special Project in Dance Composition (3)
• FPA 341 World Music (3)
• FPA 347 Electroacoustic Music II (4)
• FPA 348 Conducting II (3)
• FPA 352 Playmaking III (3)
• FPA 353 Playmaking IV (4)
• FPA 362 Methods and Concepts: Drawing-based Practices (3)
• FPA 363 Methods and Concepts: Painting Practices (3)
• FPA 364 Methods and Concepts: Sculptural Practices (3)
• FPA 365 Methods and Concepts: Photo-based Practices (3)
• FPA 368 Methods and Concepts: Spatial Presentation (3)
• FPA 369 Methods and Concepts: Selected Topics (3)
• FPA 389 Selected Topics in the Fine and Performing Arts II (3)
• FPA 400 Directed Studies (Studio) (3)
• FPA 401 Directed Studies (Theory/History) (3)
• FPA 402 Directed Studies (Studio) (4)
• FPA 403 Directed Studies (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 404 Directed Studies (Studio) (5)
• FPA 405 Explorations in Contemporary Arts II (5)
• FPA 408 Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 409 Contemporary Arts Field School IV (Studio) (4)
• FPA 411 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Contemporary Arts (3)
• FPA 412 Advanced Seminar in Art and Culture Studies (4)
• FPA 414 Advanced Topic in the History of Art and Culture (3)
• FPA 416 Practices in Art and Culture (3)
• FPA 420 Contemporary Dance VII (4)
• FPA 421 Contemporary Dance VIII (4)
• FPA 425 Intensive Studies in Performance (5)
• FPA 426 Dance/Movement Analysis (3)
• FPA 445 Music Composition V (4)
• FPA 447 Computer Music Composition (4)
• FPA 450 Advanced Studio Skills (4)
• FPA 457 Context of Theatre III (4)
• FPA 472 Production Practicum V (3)
• FPA 473 Production Practicum VI (6)
• FPA 485 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts (5)
• FPA 489 Interdisciplinary Project in FPA * (5)
• or film studies-related courses outside the School for the Contemporary Arts, taken with area approval

Collaboration Stream

Students who choose this stream will complete

• FPA 489 Interdisciplinary Project in FPA ^* (5)

and three of

• FPA 311 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Arts (4)
• FPA 324 New Dance Composition ^* (3)
• FPA 325 Special Project in Dance Composition ^*† (3)
• FPA 352 Playmaking III ^† (3)
• FPA 353 Playmaking IV ^*† (4)
• FPA 453 Theory and Practice of Directing (4)

and a minimum of 15 units chosen from

• FPA 340 Contemporary Music Performance II (3)
• FPA 341 World Music ^† (3)
• FPA 343 Gamelan II (3)
• FPA 344 Contemporary Music Analysis and Criticism (3)
• FPA 345 Music Composition III (4)
• FPA 346 Music Composition IV (4)
• FPA 347 Electroacoustic Music II ^† (4)
• FPA 348 Conducting II ^† (3)
• FPA 349 Selected Topics in Music II (3)
• FPA 443 Gamelan III (3)
• FPA 445 Music Composition V ^† (4)
• FPA 447 Computer Music Composition ^† (4)

and an additional three FPA units from outside music

and the remaining 13 required units chosen from the following courses (placement in courses is based on prerequisites and/or permission of the instructor)

• FPA 305 Explorations in Contemporary Arts I (3)
• FPA 308 Contemporary Arts Field School I (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 309 Contemporary Arts Field School II (Studio) (4)
• FPA 310 Interdisciplinary Methods in Art and Culture Studies ^† (4)
• FPA 312 Selected Topics in Art and Culture Studies ^† (3)
• FPA 314 Readings in the History of Art and Culture (3)
• FPA 317 Introduction to Performance Studies ^† (4)
• FPA 319W Critical Writing in the Arts (3)
• FPA 323 Ballet II (3)
• FPA 325 Special Project in Dance Composition ^† (3)
• FPA 341 World Music ^† (3)
• FPA 347 Electroacoustic Music II ^† (4)
• FPA 348 Conducting II ^† (3)
• FPA 352 Playmaking III ^† (3)
• FPA 353 Playmaking IV ^† (4)
• FPA 362 Methods and Concepts: Drawing-based Practices (3)
• FPA 363 Methods and Concepts: Painting Practices (3)
• FPA 364 Methods and Concepts: Sculptural Practices (3)
• FPA 365 Methods and Concepts: Photo-based Practices (3)
• FPA 368 Methods and Concepts: Spatial Presentation (3)
• FPA 369 Methods and Concepts: Selected Topics (3)
• FPA 389 Selected Topics in the Fine and Performing Arts II (3)
• FPA 400 Directed Studies (Studio) (3)
• FPA 401 Directed Studies (Theory/History) (3)
• FPA 402 Directed Studies (Studio) (4)
• FPA 403 Directed Studies (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 404 Directed Studies (Studio) (5)
• FPA 405 Explorations in Contemporary Arts II (5)
• FPA 408 Contemporary Arts Field School III (Theory/History) (4)
• FPA 409 Contemporary Arts Field School IV (Studio) (4)
• FPA 411 Interdisciplinary Studies in the Contemporary Arts ^† (3)
• FPA 412 Advanced Seminar in Art and Culture Studies ^† (4)
• FPA 414 Advanced Topic in the History of Art and Culture ^† (3)
• FPA 416 Practices in Art and Culture ^† (3)
• FPA 420 Contemporary Dance VII (4)
• FPA 421 Contemporary Dance VIII (4)
• FPA 425 Intensive Studies in Performance (5)
• FPA 426 Dance/Movement Analysis (3)
• FPA 445 Music Composition V ^† (4)
• FPA 447 Computer Music Composition ^† (4)
• FPA 450 Advanced Studio Skills (4)
• FPA 457 Context of Theatre III (4)
• FPA 472 Production Practicum V (3)
• FPA 473 Production Practicum VI (6)
• FPA 485 Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Arts (5)
• or film studies-related courses outside the School for the Contemporary Arts, taken with area approval

^*collaboration stream students participate as music students in these classes. Other FPA studio courses at the upper division may be substituted with the permission of the area.

^†may not be completed than once for credit

Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements

Students admitted to ¶¡ÏãÔ°AV beginning in the fall 2006 term must meet writing, quantitative and breadth requirements as part of any degree program they may undertake. See Writing, Quantitative, and Breadth Requirements for university-wide information.

Residency Requirements and Transfer Credit

The University’s residency requirement stipulates that, in most cases, total transfer and course challenge credit may not exceed 60 units, and may not include more than 15 units as upper division work.

Elective Courses

In addition to the courses listed above, students should consult an academic advisor to plan the remaining required elective courses.

Return to contemporary arts index page.
Return to music index page.