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College Catalog 2026 - 2027
Music Concentration, A.A.
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The Music concentration provides the practical and academic foundation for continued education or a career in music. Through group and individual instruction, students develop instrumental or vocal performance skills suitable for a variety of styles of music and professional roles. Additionally, students gain knowledge of the theory, history, and business of music.
This concentration prepares students for transfer to four-year programs in music, as well for entry-level positions in the music industry. For information on specific transfer agreements with four-year music programs in the area, see the Department Chair. Graduates of this concentration may qualify to transfer using benefits of MassTransfer to a four-year state college or University of Massachusetts campus. For current information on eligible programs, visit www.mass.edu/masstransfer.
* Milestone Courses should be taken in the order shown. This will help you stay on track and graduate on time.
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Total Credits: 16-17
Semester 1 Advising Note - General Education Requirements Creative Work satisfied by program.
- MUS-180 satisfies BHCC’s Learning Community requirement.
- Students with experience reading music may be eligible to replace MUS-103 Introduction to Music Theory with a qualifying Music Elective. Contact the Department Chairperson to inquire about taking this challenge exam.
- Students may replace MUS-151 Beginning Piano with MUS-190C Applied Music for Beginners: Keyboards . Students with some keyboarding skills must replace MUS-151 Beginning Piano with MUS-190C Applied Music for Beginners: Keyboards or MUS-195C Applied Music I: Keyboards (this does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement). See the Department Chairperson or piano faculty for more information about placement and auditions. Students who choose Keyboards as their primary focus of study for their Applied Music Electives may replace this with a qualifying Music Elective.
- Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Qualifying courses are MUS-110 , MUS-113 , MUS-116 , MUS-120 , MUS-125 , and MUS-128 . Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information.
- Students are required to take four credits of applied music electives and may repeat these electives. Students should register for MUS-195 and contact the Department Chairperson in order to audition. Students looking to take MUS-295 should first register for MUS-195 and may be placed in MUS-295 following an audition. MUS-190 (Applied Music for Beginners) does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement. If a student is directed to enroll in MUS-190 after their MUS-195 audition, these credits can count towards the student’s Music Elective requirement.
- Students interested in transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Lowell program in Sound Recording Technology should consult with the Department Chairperson, since that program has very specific Mathematics course requirements.
Total Credits: 15
Semester 2 Advising Note - Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Qualifying courses are MUS-110 , MUS-113 , MUS-116 , MUS-120 , MUS-125 , and MUS-128 . Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information.
- Students are required to take four credits of applied music electives and may repeat these electives. Students should register for MUS-195 and contact the Department Chairperson in order to audition. Students looking to take MUS-295 should first register for MUS195 and may be placed in MUS-295 following an audition. MUS-190 (Applied Music for Beginners) does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement. If a student is directed to enroll in MUS-190 after their MUS-195 audition, these credits can count towards the student’s Music Elective requirement.
- Students interested in transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Boston, should take HIS-112 Modern World History as their Community and Cultural Contexts course, or one of their Behavioral or Social Science Electives.
Total Credits: 16
Semester 3 Advising Note - Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Qualifying courses are MUS-110 , MUS-113 , MUS-116 , MUS-120 , MUS-125 , and MUS-128 . Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information.
- Students are required to take four credits of applied music electives and may repeat these electives. Students should register for MUS-195 and contact the Department Chairperson in order to audition. Students looking to take MUS-295 should first register for MUS195 and may be placed in MUS-295 following an audition. MUS-190 (Applied Music for Beginners) does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement. If a student is directed to enroll in MUS-190 after their MUS-195 audition, these credits can count towards the student’s Music Elective requirement.
- Students interested in transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Boston, should take HIS-112 Modern World History as their Community and Cultural Contexts course, or one of their Behavioral or Social Science Electives.
Semester 4
- MUS-195 Applied Music I Credits: 1
or - MUS-295 Applied Music II Credits: 1
- GenEd -E General Education Elective Credits: 4
Choose a course from the Scientific Reasoning Menu - Elective - Behavioral or Social Science Elective Credits: 3
- MUS-234 Music History II Credits: 3
Spring only - Elective- Performance Ensemble Elective Credits: 1
See semester advising note. - Elective- Music Elective Credits: 3
Choose one course with a MUS prefix. MUS 101 - Music Fundamentals and MUS 130 - Music Appreciation may not be used to fulfill the Music Elective requirement in this program.
Total Credits: 15
Semester 4 Advising Note -
Students are required to take four credits of performance ensemble electives and may repeat these electives. Qualifying courses are MUS-110 , MUS-113 , MUS-116 , MUS-120 , MUS-125 , and MUS-128 . Students are required to audition for performance ensembles. See the Department Chairperson or course instructor for more information. -
Students are required to take four credits of applied music electives and may repeat these electives. Students should register for MUS-195 and contact the Department Chairperson in order to audition. Students looking to take MUS-295 should first register for MUS195 and may be placed in MUS-295 following an audition. MUS-190 (Applied Music for Beginners) does not satisfy the Applied Music Elective requirement. If a student is directed to enroll in MUS-190 after their MUS-195 audition, these credits can count towards the student’s Music Elective requirement. - Students interested in transfer to the University of Massachusetts, Boston, should take HIS-112 Modern World History as their Community and Cultural Contexts course, or one of their Behavioral or Social Science Electives.
- Apply for graduation.
Upon Completion of This Concentration Graduates Will Be Able To:
- Demonstrate improved technique in their areas of specialization through musical performance and other creative activities
- Perform rehearsed musical repertoire with artistic intent and skill, solo or as a member of an ensemble
- Exhibit musicianship, such as sight-reading and aural skills, suitable for careers in music
- Apply skilled analytical reasoning to interrogate the theory, history, and performance of music from a variety of eras and cultures
- Explain the intersection between a piece of music and its cultural, societal, and historical context
- Display transferable skills useful beyond the music industry, including collaboration, planning, adaptability, and the use of technology
Career Outlook
The Music concentration provides the core skills that lead to a variety of careers related to music, including performance, music education, music production, composition, and music management. Graduates of this program qualify for entry-level positions in various sectors of the music industry. Additionally, graduates are well-prepared to transfer to bachelor’s programs in a variety of specializations within music. Transfer Options
Transfer Advising Guides - Bridgewater State University
- Fitchburg State University
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
- Westfield State University
- Worcester State University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Boston
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