Recording ArtsCertificate of AchievementAS Degree
- Community of interest
- Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
- Award
- Certificate of Achievement
- Program code
- 33182.00CA
- Department
- Recording Arts
- CIP code
- 10.0203: Recording Arts Technology/Technician.
- TOP code
- 1005.00 - Commercial Music*
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP
Program Snapshot
- Community of interest
- BCAD Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
- Award
- Certificate of Achievement
- Program code
- 33182.00CA
- Department
- Recording Arts
- CIP code
- 10.0203: Recording Arts Technology/Technician.
- TOP code
- 1005.00 - Commercial Music*
Next Steps
Certificate of Achievement — expand to learn about this award
A career-aligned credential built around a specific field of study or area of emphasis. Faster to complete than a degree, and the coursework typically stacks into a related AS or AA later if you choose to continue.
Semester-by-Semester Map
Term 1
Class Schedules
course details
An introduction to the fundamentals of Western music with emphasis on theoretical concepts and practical applications. Topics include the six basic elements of music (pitch, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, texture, form), staff notation, scales, intervals, basic tonal harmony and musicianship, and basic music technology. Students develop skills in music notation with emphasis on handwritten notation, critical listening, and creativity with sound. The course integrates diverse musical examples to explore the fundamentals of Western music while providing hands-on experience with basic music technology, performance, and composition. (C-ID MUS 110).
course details
A first-level introductory course in piano, open to both music and non-music majors. This course provides instruction in elementary music-reading and beginning keyboard skills, including basic piano technique, major and minor five-finger patterns, major scales, keyboard harmony, and sight-reading through beginning piano repertoire. (C-ID MUS 170).
course details
This course is an introduction to digital music production beginning with computer system operation and file management techniques. Students will apply practical concepts of modern music composition like programming drums, recording MIDI instruments, arranging and mixing, as well as post-production techniques including compression, equalization, reverb and other audio post effects.
course details
In this course students will learn the fundamentals of studio recording techniques. Topics will include the history of recording technology, the fundamentals of sound, signal flow, microphone techniques, Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), recording techniques, mixing consoles and typical studio gear. Students will gain hands-on experience with industry standard studio equipment in a professional quality recording studio.
Term 2
Class Schedules
course details
A second-level introductory course in piano, open to both music and non-music majors. This course continues instruction in music-reading and keyboard skills, including piano technique, major scales and arpeggios, sight-reading, keyboard harmony, and basic transposition skills through upper-beginning piano repertoire. (C-ID MUS 171).
Prerequisite: MUS 40
course details
This course covers computer music production. The use of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) in composition and post-production are covered with hands-on project based learning, theory and demonstrations. Students will compose original music using software instruments and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). Students will also study and complete audio post-production projects such as mixing a professional song, creating a radio commercial and creating a podcast.
Prerequisite: MUS 51
course details
This is a hands-on, project-based course in which students will apply learned methods and skills to Lab practice sessions and studio recording sessions. Students will set up and record using microphone technique, signal flow, gain staging and DAW recording, to create professional quality recordings. Students will learn proper microphone technique and post-production mixing techniques. The course will also cover how to copyright and publish music.
course details
A comprehensive study of diatonic harmony and musicianship, including principles of voice leading in four-part texture, harmonic analysis, melody harmonization, non-chord tones, and basic forms (strophic, binary, ternary). Musicianship component develops skills in sight singing and dictation, including rhythmic exercises, interval recognition, melodic reading and dictation in major and minor scales, and basic harmonic dictation. (C-ID MUS 120/MUS 125).
Term 3
Class Schedules
course details
This is a project-based course in which students will learn and apply advanced methods and skills to studio recording sessions and song production. The course includes concepts and techniques for advanced microphone technique and signal flow. Students will schedule, organize and produce recording sessions with musical artists and bands, and complete student recordings using advanced mixing techniques on analog consoles and Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). Additional concepts will include studio etiquette, copyright, publishing and distribution of songs and albums.
Prerequisite: MUS 54
course details
A survey of the music industry with focus on the skill, experience, and education needed for careers within the music industry. Topics include music publishing, performing rights, copyright issues, resume building, artist statements, publicity, music licensing, digital distribution, record companies, and artist management.
Select one:
Career Connections
2-Year Degree Paths
Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.
No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.
4-Year Degree Paths
Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.
Example roles: 3
- Sound Engineering Technicians
- Disc Jockeys, Except Radio
- Audio and Video Technicians
Graduate School Paths
Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.
No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.
Local Job Market
Sound Engineering TechniciansSOC 27-4014no nearby openings indexed
No nearby openings matched any of: sound engineering technician. Browse this occupation on Adzuna for postings outside the mapped keyword set.
Disc Jockeys, Except RadioSOC 27-2091no nearby openings indexed
No nearby openings matched any of: disc jockeys except radio, disc jockey, except radio. Browse this occupation on Adzuna for postings outside the mapped keyword set.
Audio and Video TechniciansSOC 27-40112 nearby openings
Top employers in sample
- Solomon Page 2
Where the postings are
- Healdsburg, Sonoma County 2
Sample current postings
Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last up to 90 days within up to 100 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.
Source Notes
Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.
Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.
Last generated 2026-07-05T17:11+00:00