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Music and Technology, B.S.

Overview

Carnegie Mellon University’s Music and Technology program was established in 2009 as a joint project between three units: the School of Music, the School of Computer Science, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Building on this interdisciplinary approach, Carnegie Mellon University's Music and Technology program equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to become the future leaders of the music industry. Students at the undergraduate and graduate levels can hone their skills in an interdisciplinary environment, focusing on a chosen area of study, such as Recording Technology, Audio Engineering, Computer Music, Music Composition, Music Performance, and Music Theory. Our expert faculty promotes a collaborative approach to cutting-edge education, providing our students with both specialized knowledge and a broad range of skills to foster development in the field of music.

Please note:

Students should consult with the Senior Academic Advisor at least once a year to ensure they are making adequate progress or if they need to depart from the suggested degree plan. The Senior Academic Advisor, Faculty Advisor(s), and/or instructors of record can advise about appropriate course sections where necessary.

The degree plans below are the intended sequence of all required courses for successful and on-time degree completion. Students must complete the First-Year fall semester of coursework as indicated below. 

Placement in harmony and solfege courses is determined by examination prior to matriculation. Students will then complete the series in sequence. 

For the Global, Cultural, and Diverse (GCD) Perspectives requirement, the following courses qualify: any History course 79-100 or higher; any English course 76-200 or higher; any Modern Languages course 82-100 or higher.

Bachelor of Science Programs in Music Minimum Units Required for Graduation
Bachelor of Science in Music and Technology (Music Concentration)382
Bachelor of Science in Music and Technology (Technical Concentration)370

Bachelor of Science in Music and Technology (Music Concentration)

NOTE: Students following the Music Concentration are required to complete at least 4 semesters each of Ensemble and Studio. The degree plan here places those in the first four semesters.

First-Year Fall (52 units)

Units
57-101Introduction to Music Technology6
57-149Basic Harmony I9
or 57-152 Harmony I
57-161Eurhythmics I3
57-180Basic Solfege I3
or 57-181 Solfege I
or 57-185 Advanced Solfege I
57-337Sound Recording6
57-338Sound Editing and Mastering6
57-4XXEnsemble6
57-5XXStudio9
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
99-101Core@CMU3

First-Year Spring (58 units)

15-112Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science12
57-150Basic Harmony II9
or 57-153 Harmony II
57-162Eurhythmics II3
57-182Solfege II3
or 57-186 Advanced Solfege II
57-438Multitrack Recording9
57-4XXEnsemble6
57-5XXStudio9
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
76-1XXFirst-Year Writing Course9

Second-Year Fall (52 units)

15-122Principles of Imperative Computation12
21-127Concepts of Mathematics12
57-173Survey of Western Music History9
57-183Solfege III3
or 57-487 Advanced Solfege III
57-4XXEnsemble6
57-5XXStudio9
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1

Second-Year Spring (53 units)

18-100Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering12
21-120Differential and Integral Calculus10
33-141Physics I for Engineering Students12
57-184Solfege IV3
or 57-488 Advanced Solfege IV
57-4XXEnsemble6
57-5XXStudio9
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1

Third-Year Fall (38 units)

21-122Integration and Approximation10
57-151Counterpoint in Theory and Application6
57-257Orchestration I6
57-347Electronic and Computer Music6
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
XX-XXXGlobal, Cultural, and Diverse Perspectives Course9

Third-Year Spring (38 units)

15-322Introduction to Computer Music9
33-114Physics of Musical Sound9
57-25820th 21st Century Techniques6
57-408Form and Analysis6
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
XX-XXXElective9

Fourth-Year Fall (41 units)

18-202Mathematical Foundations of Electrical Engineering12
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
57-571Music and Technology Project12
XX-XXXElective9
XX-XXXCognition, Choice, and Behavior Course9

Fourth-Year Spring (43 units)

18-290Signals and Systems12
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
57-571Music and Technology Project12
XX-XXXElective 9
XX-XXXEnglish, History, Languages, Philosophy, or Psychology Course9

Bachelor of Science in Music and Technology (Technical Concentration)

First-Year Fall (55 units)

Units
15-112Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science12
57-101Introduction to Music Technology6
57-149Basic Harmony I9
or 57-152 Harmony I
57-161Eurhythmics I3
57-180Basic Solfege I3
or 57-181 Solfege I
or 57-185 Advanced Solfege I
57-189Introduction to Repertoire and Listening for Musicians3
57-337Sound Recording6
57-338Sound Editing and Mastering6
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
99-101Core@CMU3

First-Year Spring (58 units)

15-122Principles of Imperative Computation12
21-127Concepts of Mathematics
(15-122 co-req)		12
57-150Basic Harmony II9
or 57-153 Harmony II
57-162Eurhythmics II3
57-182Solfege II3
57-438Multitrack Recording9
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
76-1XXFirst-Year Writing Course9

Second-Year Fall (50 units)

21-120Differential and Integral Calculus10
33-141Physics I for Engineering Students12
57-151Counterpoint in Theory and Application6
57-173Survey of Western Music History9
57-183Solfege III3
or 57-487 Advanced Solfege III
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
XX-XXXElective9

Second-Year Spring (52 units)

15-213Introduction to Computer Systems12
15-322Introduction to Computer Music9
18-100Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering12
33-114Physics of Musical Sound9
57-184Solfege IV3
or 57-488 Advanced Solfege IV
57-408Form and Analysis6
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1

Third-Year Fall (37 units)

18-202Mathematical Foundations of Electrical Engineering12
57-257Orchestration I6
57-289Repertoire and Listening for Musicians II3
57-347Electronic and Computer Music6
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
XX-XXXGlobal, Cultural, and Diverse Perspectives Course9

Third-Year Spring (44 units)

18-220Electronic Devices and Analog Circuits
(33-142 co-req)		12
18-290Signals and Systems12
21-122Integration and Approximation
(33-142 co-req)		10
57-25820th 21st Century Techniques6
57-290Repertoire and Listening for Musicians III3
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1

Fourth-Year Fall (41 units)

18-240Structure and Design of Digital Systems12
57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
57-571Music and Technology Project12
XX-XXXElective9
XX-XXXCognition, Choice, and Behavior Course9

Fourth-Year Spring (43 units)

57-570Music and Technology Seminar1
57-571Music and Technology Project12
15-2XXElective in ECE or 18-3XX Elective in CS 12
XX-XXXElective9
XX-XXXEnglish, History, Languages, Philosophy, or Psychology Course9
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