Music Theory and CompositionCertificate of Achievement

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Community of interest
Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
Award
Certificate of Achievement
Program code
44823.00CA
Department
Music
CIP code
50.0901: Music, General.
TOP code
1004.00 - Music
(Not Eligible for Financial Aid) The Certificate of Achievement in Music Theory and Composition prepares students for composing music in various genres and/or transferring into a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree with a focus on Music Composition. Throughout the program, students will cultivate their music composition portfolios and enhance their resumes. The certificate encompasses intermediate skills in music theory, musicianship, jazz idioms, as well as foundational skills in arrangement, composition, and music in multimedia.
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Program Snapshot

Community of interest
BCAD Business, Cosmetology, Arts & Design
Award
Certificate of Achievement
Program code
44823.00CA
Department
Music
CIP code
50.0901: Music, General.
TOP code
1004.00 - Music

Next Steps

Map Class Schedule

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

Program Schedule ReportMeet with a counselor
Music Theory and Composition
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.

See the 2025-26 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

4 units
MUS 80
Theory & Musicianship I
4 units
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 2

Class Schedules

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Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

7 units
MUS 82
Theory & Musicianship II
4 units
course details

This course incorporates and further develops the concepts from Theory & Musicianship I and introduces chromatic harmony. Topics include seventh chords and their inversions, secondary chords, modulation techniques, and musical forms (theme and variations, rondo, sonata). Musicianship component develops advanced skills in sight singing and dictation, including compound rhythms, alto and tenor clefs, compound melodies, and harmonic dictation using diatonic triads and seventh chords. (C-ID MUS 130/MUS 135).

Prerequisite: MUS 80

MUS 87
Music Composition
3 units
course details

This course is an introduction to original musical composition for solo and chamber music as well as music in multimedia. Through the analysis of applicable musical literature, this course explores instrumentation, orchestration, form and structure, timbre, pitch, rhythm, texture, interculturalism, and contemporary music notation. The course includes an introduction to music in multimedia, including music for film and video games. Students will be expected to compose original compositions, produce performances, and create a portfolio of their work.

Prerequisite: MUS 3

Term 3

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

7 units
MUS 84
Theory & Musicianship III
4 units
course details

This course incorporates and further develops the concepts from Theory & Musicianship II and explores advanced chromatic harmony. Topics include borrowed chords, Neapolitan chord, augmented sixth chords, altered chords, chromatic modulation techniques, and an introduction to post-tonal music. Musicianship component develops advanced skills in sight singing and dictation, including decorative chromaticism, altered chords, modulation to closely related keys, and irregular meters. (C-ID MUS 140/MUS 145).

Prerequisite: MUS 82

MUS 89
Jazz Composition and Arranging
3 units
course details

This course delves into the realm of jazz theory and explores diverse jazz styles from a practical perspective. Through the studies of jazz harmony and melody construction in improvisation, students learn how to arrange and compose for jazz ensembles. Covered topics include historical awareness of the subject, terminology, chord symbols, clear lead sheet notation, transpositions, and scales, rhythms, and harmonies commonly used in jazz and popular music.

Prerequisite: MUS 3

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: 2

  • Secondary School Teachers
  • Musicians and Singers

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

Secondary School TeachersSOC 25-20313 nearby openings

Search keyword used: secondary teacher · Search window: last 30 days, 25-mile radius

Top employers in sample

  • Amergis 3

Where the postings are

  • Linda, Yuba County 2
  • Thermalito, Butte County 1

Sample current postings

  1. SPED Teacher for Yuba/Marysville/Chico - PAY up to $70hrAmergis · Linda, Yuba County · today
  2. Special Education TeacherAmergis · Thermalito, Butte County · 2 weeks ago
  3. Mod/Severe SPED Teachers Needed in Yuba / Sutter County!Amergis · Linda, Yuba County · 2 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Musicians and SingersSOC 27-20424 nearby openings

Search keyword used: musician · Search window: last 60 days, 50-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $106,654/yr

Top employers in sample

  • County of Nevada 4

Where the postings are

  • Nevada City, Nevada County 4

Sample current postings

  1. Program ManagerCounty of Nevada · Nevada City, Nevada County · 5 days ago
  2. Behavioral Health Therapist II - $1,000 - $5,000 NEW HIRE BONUSCounty of Nevada · Nevada City, Nevada County · 4 weeks ago
  3. Behavioral Health Therapist I - $1,000 - $5,000 NEW HIRE BONUSCounty of Nevada · Nevada City, Nevada County · 4 weeks ago
  4. Behavioral Health Therapist-Licensed - $1,000 - $5,000 NEW HIRE BONUSCounty of Nevada · Nevada City, Nevada County · 4 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last up to 60 days within up to 50 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 2026-06-12T23:24+00:00