Recording Arts Program Map

Award type:

AS Degree
Certificate of Achievement

The Recording Arts program provides students with fundamental to advanced knowledge and understanding of audio recording techniques and applications. Students learn audio recording methods and how to operate the equipment used in a professional recording studio, as well as computer-based composition and mixing. Courses include theory, performance, digital music production, and hands-on experience including recording, overdubbing, mixing and mastering. The program prepares students for a host of careers within and beyond the recording studio, including but not limited to Assistant Engineer, Assistant Mix Engineer, Studio Booking Technician, Audio/Visual Technician, Studio Owner, Information Technology Specialist and Customer Service Representative, Video Game Audio Engineer, and TV and Film Audio Engineer.

Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Community of interest: BCAD Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
Award: AS Degree
Program code: 33222.00AS
Department: Recording Arts
CIP code: 10.0203: Recording Arts Technology/Technician.
TOP code: 1005.00 - Commercial Music*

Map Class Schedule

Program Schedule Report Meet with a counselor

Recording Arts

AS Degree

The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.

About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.

See the 2025-26 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

16–17 units

MUS 3

Music Fundamentals

3 units

An introduction to the notation and primary elements of tonal music. Incorporates the following concepts: staff notation in treble and bass clefs, rhythm and meter; basic properties of sound; intervals; diatonic scales and triads; and diatonic chords. Development of skills in handwritten notation is expected. (C-ID MUS 110).

MUS 51

Digital Music Production I

3 units

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.

MUS 52

Introduction to Recording Techniques

3 units

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.

Select one:

Required

1 units

Choose one of 3 choices

MUS 20
Guitar I
1 units
course details
This course consists of individualized study of the appropriate techniques and repertoire for the guitar. The focus of the course is on fundamentals: reading music, posture, hand position, fingering, rhythm, chord structure and progressions, and performance. Emphasis is on the progressive development of skills needed for solo performance. Achievement is evaluated through a juried performance. This course is primarily intended for music majors. (C-ID MUS 160).
Prerequisite: Audition required
+−
MUS 30
Voice I
1 units
course details
This course introduces students to fundamental vocal techniques, emphasizing essential skills in tone production, breath control, posture, and pronunciation through the study of diverse vocal literature. Students will practice solo performance skills and basic musicianship throughout the semester.
+−
MUS 40
Piano I
1 units
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).
+−

General Education: Area 1A

English Composition

Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.

General Education: Area 1B

Oral Communication and Critical Thinking

Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.

Term 2

Class Schedules

14–16 units

MUS 53

Digital Music Production II

3 units

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

MUS 54

Studio Recording I

3 units

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.

Prerequisite: MUS 51, MUS 52

MUS 80

Theory & Musicianship I

4 units

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).

Select one:

Required

1 units

Choose one of 3 choices

MUS 21
Guitar II
1 units
course details
This course consists of individualized study of the appropriate techniques and repertoire for the guitar at an intermediate level. The focus of the course remains on fundamentals: reading music, posture, hand position, fingering, rhythm, chord structure and progressions, and performance. Emphasis is on the progressive development of skills needed for solo performance. Achievement is evaluated through a juried performance. This course is primarily intended for music majors. (C-ID MUS 160).
Prerequisite: Audition required
+−
MUS 31
Voice II
1 units
course details
This course consists of individualized study of the appropriate techniques and repertoire for voice at an intermediate level. The focus of the course is on fundamentals: reading music, posture, breath control, repertoire and performance. Emphasis is on the progressive development of skills needed for solo performance. Achievement is evaluated through a juried performance. This course is primarily intended for music majors. (C-ID MUS 160).
Prerequisite: Audition required
+−
MUS 41
Piano II
1 units
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
+−

General Education: Area 2

Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

College-level mathematics or quantitative reasoning — the toolkit behind science, business, and informed citizenship.

Term 3

Class Schedules

15–18 units

MUS 55

Studio Recording II

3 units

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

General Education: Area 3

Arts and Humanities

How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.

General Education: Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.

General Education: Area 5

Physical and Biological Sciences

The physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena — astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, oceanography, physics — taught alongside the scientific method that makes them work.

General Education: Area 6

Ethnic Studies

The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.

Term 4

15 units

Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide)

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C1999)

Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

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.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the 4-year pathway for this program.

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.

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.

No NCES/IPEDS CIP-to-SOC mapping was found for this program's CIP code.

Last generated 2026-06-12T23:22+00:00

Program Snapshot

Next Steps

2-Year Degree Paths

4-Year Degree Paths

Graduate School Paths

Source Notes