Music Industry BS

Major: Music Industry
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 188.0
Co-op Options: Two Co-ops (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.1003
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-2041; 25-1121

About the Program

The degree in Music Industry offers the highly motivated student a program of study that combines education in music, music industry practices, and music technology with career preparation. Two concentrations are offered—Music Industry Business and Recording Arts (MIBU) and Music Production (RAMP)—providing hands-on experience and a strong academic foundation in relevant areas of this rapidly changing industry. The Music Industry curriculum is divided into four areas which are combined with cooperative experience: general education, music core, music industry core, and concentration requirements.

In an industry where the process of career building often begins with a few key contacts, the cooperative education program provides Drexel students the opportunity to meet industry professionals and network. The program prepares students for careers in the music industry in such diverse positions as recording engineer, music producer, sound designer, music lawyer, business manager, or music publisher. The co-op experience during the sophomore and junior year summer terms involves full-time, career-related employment during which students gain valuable insight into how the entertainment industry works.

About the Concentrations

The major offers two concentrations: Music Industry Business and Recording Arts (MIBU) and Music Production (RAMP):

• The Music Industry Business (MIBU) concentration provides a rigorous academic foundation complemented by a real-world, hands-on, highly intensive business experience. This mission is realized through the students' participation in the MAD Dragon Music Group, a group of student-run enterprises including MAD Dragon Records, MAD Dragon Live, MAD Dragon Publishing, and MAD Dragon Marketing.

• The Recording Arts and Music Production (RAMP) concentration focuses on the techniques and technologies of music and audio production. As well as providing the technology-oriented student with the necessary skills to perform as an audio engineer or record producer, the concentration teaches students a full range of industry functions including post-production audio, live sound engineering, and music and audio freelancing skills. The concentration encourages the technology student to interact with the students in the business concentration by recording, mixing, and mastering the music for MAD Dragon Music Group projects and engaging in live performance production.

All Music Industry students qualify to apply for a minor in Business Administration after completing their Music Industry core requirements. This emphasis on business courses as part of the core requirements is one of the foundations of the program.

Special Admissions Considerations

Students wishing to be admitted to the Music Industry major must meet or exceed the general requirements for admission to the University and the College of Media Arts and Design.

The program no longer accepts hard-copy portfolios; however, when applying to the Music Industry program, applicants are encouraged to use the portfolio portal provided on the Admissions Instructions webpage to upload electronic examples of pertinent activities (music and/or business and entrepreneurial), as well as a resume of music-industry-related experience.

In their major-specific essays, applicants should address their reasons for selecting the Music Industry major at Drexel and share their passion for this unique area of study.

Additional Information

For more information about this major, visit the College's Music Industry page.

Degree Requirements 

All students take the same general education, music industry core, and business courses. Students choose their concentration at the time of admission; however it is possible to switch as late as the beginning of junior year.

Concentrations:

• Music Industry: Business (MIBU) Concentration
• Music Industry: Recording Arts & Music Production (RAMP) Concentration

Students are also able to take courses in any other concentration as long as they fulfill the prerequisite requirement(s) and there is room in the class to accommodate the student.

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PHYS 107 - Acoustics is recommended.

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MKTG 301, PHIL 301, PSY 101 and/or PSY 150 are recommended.

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Repeated over three terms.

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MUSI Business Concentration Students who would like to continue taking more advanced recording studio and music production courses should take MIP 279 Sound Recording I instead of MIP 276 Sound Recording for Business Concentration. Take MIP 233 in Term 3 instead of MIP 276, which is a prerequisite to MIP 279, which you will take in Terms 5 or 6.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plans of Study 

Music Industry: Recording Arts & Music Production Concentration 

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 Can substitute with free elective.

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 Can substitute with Natural Science elective

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 Can substitute with Social Science elective

Music Industry: Business Concentration 

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 See degree requirements.

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MUSI Business Concentration Students who would like to continue taking more advanced recording studio and music production courses should take MIP 279 Sound Recording I instead of MIP 276 Sound Recording for Business Concentration. Take MIP 233 in Term 3 instead of MIP 276, which is a prerequisite to MIP 279, which you will take in Terms 5 or 6.

Music Industry Faculty