Music Minor Structure

A minor is available to students who desire documented competency in music. An individualized curriculum based on the following guidelines is developed in consultation with a member of the music faculty. Students must complete one academic music lecture course at Cal Poly, such as MU 101 or MU 120, before applying for the minor. Information and application forms for a Music Minor are available in the Music Department Office.

REQUIRED COURSES (12 UNITS)

  • Select one music theory course:        
    • MU 101 Introduction to Music Theory (C3)
    • MU 103 Music Theory I: Diatonic Materials
  • Select one music theory or music history course:
    • Theory  
        • MU 103 Music Theory I: Diatonic Materials
        • MU 105 Music Theory II: Chromatic Materials
        • MU 114 Introduction to Composing
    • History
        • MU 120 Music Appreciation (C3)
        • MU 121 Introduction to Non-Western Musics
        • MU 221 Jazz Styles (C3), (USCP)
        • MU 227 Popular Music of the USA (C.3)
        • MU 229 Music of the 60s (C3), (USCP)
  • Select 4 units from theory or history or performance courses:
    • Theory
        • MU 105 Music Theory II: Chromatic Materials
        • MU 114 Introduction to Composing
    • History
        • MU 120 Music Appreciation (C3)
        • MU 121 Introduction to Non-Western Musics
        • MU 221 Jazz Styles (C3), (USCP)
        • MU 227 Popular Music of the USA (C.3)
        • MU 229 Music of the 60s (C3), (USCP)
    • Performance courses:
      • Musicianship
        • MU 104 Musicianship I
        • MU 106 Musicianship II
        • MU 108 Musicianship III
      • Class voice
        • MU 154 Beginning Voice
        • MU 252 Intermediate Voice
      • Class piano
        • MU 151 Beginning Class Piano
        • MU 152 Elementary Class Piano
        • MU 153 Intermediate Class Piano
        • MU 253 Advanced Class Piano
      • Any lower-division ensemble

UPPER DIVISION ELECTIVES (12 UNITS)

  • Choose from 300-400 level Music courses, with the following stipulations:
      • If NO lower-division units were in history, then at least 4 units must be in an upper-division history course:
        • MU 324 Music and Society (C4)
        • MU 325 America’s Music (USCP)
        • MU 328 Women in Music (C4), (USCP)
      • If NO lower-division units were in performance, then at least 2 units must be in upper-division ensembles (up to a maximum of 4 units)
      • No more than 2 units in the minor may be satisfied by MU 400
      • No more than 4 units in the minor may be satisfied by upper-division performance courses