Commercial Music 4-Year Plan
The BS in Commercial Music is no longer accepting admission into the program. The program has been remodeled to a Bachelor of Music in Commercial Music and the new 4-year degree plan will be coming fall 2026.
The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your BS in Commercial Music degree in a timely manner. The plan below is one of several possible ways for you to complete the Commercial Music degree. Your individualized plan may look different if you have already fulfilled some requirements. Check your Financial Aid as it may require additional term credits for full-time funding. You must complete all university and program requirements successfully to complete this degree (GPA, 120 credits, LASC, WI, residency).
- Program: Bachelor of Science: Commercial Music
- Total Credits: 120
- Catalog: 2025-2026
First Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (1st Fall) | |||
| Core Requirement: | MUS 150A | Class Piano I | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 107A | Music Theory I | 3 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 328 | University Choir | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 328 | Ensemble | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 15X | Private Lessons | 1 |
| First Year Experience | FYE 101 | First Year Experience | 1 |
| LASC Goal 1B | ENGL 101 | English Composition | 3 |
| Related Requirement: | EIT 160, 161 or 181 | Intro to Ent=1, Copyright=3, Audio Tech=3 | 3 |
| Total Credits: 14 | |||
| Spring (1st Spring) | |||
| Core Requirement: | MUS 150B | Class Piano II | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 108A | Music Theory II | 3 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 107B | Aural Skills I | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 15X | Lessons | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 328 | Ensemble | 1 |
| LASC Goal 1A | COMM 100 | Speech Communication | 3 |
| Related Requirement: | EIT *** | 3 | |
| LASC/WI | 3 | ||
| Total Credits: 16 | |||
Second Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (2nd Fall) | |||
| Core Requirement: | MUS 150C | Class Piano III | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 207A | Music Theory III | 3 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 108B | Aural Skills II | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 287 | Commercial/Jazz Theory | 2 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 328 | Ensemble | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 15X | Private Lessons | 1 |
| Related Requirement: | EIT *** | 3 | |
| LASC Goal | 3 | ||
| Total Credits: 15 | |||
| Spring (2nd Spring) | |||
| Core Requirement: | MUS 151 | Commercial Keyboard | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 208 | Music Theory IV | 2 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 207B | Aural Skills III/td> | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 372 | Commercial/Jazz Arranging I | 2 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 387 | Commercial/Jazz Improvisation I | 2 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 328 | Ensemble | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 1** | Private Lessons | 1 |
| LASC Goal | 3 | ||
| LASC/WI | 3 | ||
| Total Credits: 16 | |||
Third Year
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (3rd Fall) | |||
| Core Requirement: | MUS 303 | History of Music to 1750 | 3 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 374 | Instrumental/Choral Arranging | 2 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 472 | Commercial/Jazz Arranging II | 2 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 487 | Commercia/Jazz Improvisation II | 2 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 2** | Private Lessons | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 328 | Ensemble | 1 |
| General Elective/Minor Course: | 3 | ||
| LASC Goal | 3 | ||
| Total Credits: 17 | |||
| Spring (3rd Spring) | |||
| Core Requirement: WI for major | MUS 304 | History of Music since 1750 | 3 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 300 | Basic Conducting | 2 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 25X | Private Lessons | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 328 | Ensemble | 1 |
| General Elective/Minor Course: | 3 | ||
| General Elective/Minor Course: | 3 | ||
| LASC Goal | 3 | ||
| Total Credits: 16 | |||
Fourth
| Curriculum | Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall (4th Fall) | |||
| Core Requirement: | MUS 25X | Private Lessons | 1 |
| Core Requirement: | MUS 328 | Ensemble | 1 |
| Related Requirement: | MUS 316 | World Music Survey | 3 |
| Restricted Elective: LASC Goal | MUS 215/217/240 | MUS 215/217 Goal 5 - MUS 240 Goal 5 and 7 | 3 |
| LASC Goal | 3 | ||
| General Elective/Minor Course: | 3 | ||
| Total Credits: 14 | |||
| Spring (4th Spring) | |||
| Core Requirement: | MUS 492 | Capstone Project | 1 |
| Core Requirement | MUS 3** | Private Lessons | 1 |
| Core Requirement | MUS 328 | Ensemble | 1 |
| LASC Goal | 3 | ||
| LASC Goal | 3 | ||
| General Elective/Minor Course: | 3 | ||
| Total Credits: 12 | |||
Sample degree requirements for the new BM in Commercial Music. Official requirements coming fall 2026.
- Program: Bachelor of Music: Commercial Music
- Total Credits: 120
- Catalog: 2026-2027
Core Requirements (32 credits)
- MUS 107A Music Theory I (3)
- MUS 107B Aural Skills I (1)
- MUS 108A Music Theory II (3)
- MUS 108B Aural Skills II (1)
- MUS 150C Class Piano III (1)
- MUS 151 Commercial Keyboard (1)
- MUS 207A Music Theory III (3)
- MUS 207B Aural Skills III (1)
- MUS 217 Pop/Rock Music for Non-Majors (3)
- MUS 240 American Music (3)
- MUS 260 CCM Vocal Styles (2) (Vocal Majors Only)
- MUS 287 Commercial/Jazz Improvisation and Theory I (2)
- MUS 300 Basic Conducting (2)
- MUS 316 World Music Survey (3)
- MUS 372 Commercial/Jazz Arranging I (2)
- MUS 387 Commercial/Jazz Improvisation and Theory II (2) (Instrumental Majors Only)
- MUS 492 Capstone Project (1)
Writing Intensive (3)
- COMM 301 Business and Professional Communication
Acting and Production Emphasis Requirements (18 credits)
- AEM 384 Collaborative Production Studio (3)
- THTR 221 Intro to Dramatic/Theatrical Analysis (3)
- THTR 333 Movement for the Actor (3)
- THTR 334 Voice for the Actor (3)
- AEM or THTR rubric (6)
- Applied Lessons on Primary Instrument (8 credits)
- At least 2 credits of study are to be at the 300 level.
- Secondary instrument (4 credits)
- Ensembles (8 credits)
- Restricted Electives must be with a MUS rubric (6 credits)
Entertainment Management Emphasis Requirements (18 credits)
- AEM 362 Entertainment Facilities Management (3)
- AEM 384 Collaborative Production Studio (3)
- AEM 353/POL 353 Nonprofit Organizations (3)
- POL 351 Contract Law and Drafting (3)
- COMM 352 Social Media Campaigns (3)
- COMM 383 Event Planning (3)
- Applied Lessons on Primary Instrument (8 credits)
- At least 2 credits of study are to be at the 300 level.
- Secondary instrument (4 credits)
- Ensembles (8 credits)
- Restricted Electives must be with a MUS rubric (6 credits)
Entrepreneurship Emphasis Requirements (15 credits)
- ENTR 229/MGMT 229 Start Your Own Business (3)
- MKTG 270 Principles of Marketing (3)
- MGMT 465 Entrepreneurship (3)
- Choose 2 courses from list:
- ACCT 230 Principles of Accounting I (3)
- ACCT 280 Legal Environment of Business (3)
- COMM 379 Ad Agency Practicum (3)
- MKTG 325 Digital Marketing (3)
- MKTG 421 Consumer Behavior (3)
- Restricted Electives (3 credits)
- AEM, FILM, ENTR, THTR or COMM rubric
- Applied Lessons on Primary Instrument (8 credits)
- At least 2 credits of study are to be at the 300 level.
- Secondary instrument (4 credits)
- Ensembles (8 credits)
- Restricted Electives must be with a MUS rubric (6 credits)
Film Production Emphasis Requirements (16 credits)
- FILM 175 Video Production (4)
- FILM 265 or 372 or FILM 384 (4)
- FILM 275 Film Appreciation (4)
- FILM 285 History of Motion Pictures (4)
- Applied Lessons on Primary Instrument (8 credits)
- At least 2 credits of study are to be at the 300 level.
- Secondary instrument (4 credits)
- Ensembles (8 credits)
- Restricted Electives (8 credits)
- AEM, FILM, ENTR, THTR or COMM rubric (2)
- MUS rubric (6)
Performance Emphasis Requirements (25 credits)
- Applied Lessons on Primary Instrument (10 credits)
- At least 2 credits of study are to be at the 400 level.
- Secondary instrument (4 credits)
- Pedagogy/Methods (Voice/Instrumental) (1)
- Junior & Senior recitals (2)
- Ensembles (8 credits)
- Restricted Electives (19 credits)
- Electives can be from AEM, BUS, FILM, ENTR, THTR, ACCT, MKTG, and COMM.
Recording Arts and Post-Production Emphasis Requirements (18 credits)
- AEM 280 Critical Listening and Sound Analysis (3)
- AEM 281 Live and Studio Production (4)
- AEM 381 Studio Projects (3)
- AEM 383 Sound for Film and Video (3)
- AEM 384 Collaborative Production Studio (3)
- AEM rubric (2)
- Applied Lessons on Primary Instrument (8 credits)
- At least 2 credits of study are to be at the 300 level.
- Secondary instrument (4 credits)
- Ensembles (8 credits)
- Restricted Electives must be with a MUS rubric (6 credits)
*Official degree requirements can only be found in the Minnesota State Moorhead Bulletin/Catalog. The information on this webpage is a high-level overview of the degree. Please refer to the bulletin for up-to-date requirements.