Music and Technology

This cross-disciplinary program will prepare students to enter the music industry or transfer to a related four-year degree program. Hands-on courses provide training in electronic music composition, sound design, music business and promotion, songwriting, audio recording and engineering, and live performance. The program prepares students in both the creative and technical elements for careers and continued study.

After reviewing the past four years of CSM enrollment data for related electronic music and music technology courses, we anticipate a yearly combined enrollment of approximately 100 students in the Music and Technology A.A. Degree and Certificate of Achievement Program. Of those, approximately 50 students will be entering students, new to this area of study. We predict at least 10 students will apply for a Music and Technology A.A. degree or Certificate of Achievement yearly.

Upon Completion of Degree requirements, students will be able to compose and produce original music and sound design using various electronic and digital technologies and techniques; use recording, mixing and editing digital audio to produce original creative projects; demonstrate understanding of the control, transmission, reception, and effects of sound as applied to music production; and acquire marketable skills to create and compete successfully on a career path of their own design in the music industry.

To earn a Certificate of Achievement in Music and Technology, students must complete 23 units. The 15 core units provide foundational knowledge for a career in music and technology with classes in the fundamentals of music, the history of electronic music, the music business, and electronic music production. In addition, students choose 8 units in a specialized area matching their individual interests such as audio engineering, songwriting, live electronic music performance, or audio for video and game design.

To earn an Associate in Arts Music and Technology degree, students must complete the 23 units of music and technology coursework listed above, plus the required General Education coursework and electives as needed to meet the minimum 60 units required for an Associate degree.

This program will reside in the Music Department which offers additional degrees and certificates in Music and Electronic Music.

This program will position students to enter the music industry or transfer to a related four-year degree program.  Hands-on courses will provide training in electronic music composition, sound design, music business and promotion, songwriting, audio recording and engineering, and live performance. This program prepares students in both the creative and technical elements for career development and continued study.  Some career opportunities include music producer, audio engineer, composer for video games and film, sound designer for video games and film, songwriter, audio designer, music analyst, music publicist, music distributor, independent performing artist, DJ, and artist manager.

A projected undersupply of prospective candidates in community college programs to fill music and technology roles currently exists. For the Mid-Peninsula sub-region, the annual supply gap for qualified students to enter available jobs includes approximately 378 students in the Mid-Peninsula sub-region and 1,152 students in the Bay Area region. There are seven community colleges in the Bay Region issuing 71 awards on average annually (last 3 years ending 2018-19) on TOP 1005.00 Commercial Music. In the Mid-Peninsula Sub-Region, there are no community colleges that issued awards on average annually (last 3 years) on this TOP code. College of San Mateo intends to meet the identified regional labor market demand by contributing to the number of student completers that are prepared to directly enter the workforce, become self-employed, or transfer for higher educational attainment at local four-year institutions including but not limited to CalState LA, CSU Chico, CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Fullerton, CSU Northridge, San Francisco State University, and San Diego State University.

A.A. Degree:

Certificate of Achievement: