Review the General Catalog
We strongly advise transfer students interested in the B.M. major or “Western Music” concentration of the B.A. major to complete an instrument audition prior to arrival in the Fall. Students who do not meet the level required on an instrument will not be able to declare the major due to performance requirements. If an audition prior to the fall is not possible, students can also audition on Tues., Sept. 23, 2025 from 1:00PM-4:00PM in the Music Center Building.
We strongly recommend ALL transfer students call the Undergraduate Advisor for email, zoom, or phone advising prior to the fall.
MUSC 30A: Theory, Literature, and Musicianship I - required for the “Compositional Practices” or “Western Music” tracks of the Music B.A. degree, and also the Music B.M. degree.
Students who have taken collegiate-level theory courses at other schools should get in touch with the Music advisor ASAP, to see if any courses can articulate towards UCSC music theory courses. Theory courses taken at other schools do not automatically replace theory courses in the program. Even if some courses can be articulated, it is still strongly recommended to take the Music Theory Placement Exam, to ensure the proper starting point for students.
The exam is offered virtually, via Canvas, for students who want to determine placement ahead of their August enrollment period. Sign up using the google form on this page. To ensure enough time to process your exam, make sure to complete the exam no later than July.
The exam will also be held in-person, in the Music Center 131 (small performance studio) on Monday, September 22, 2025 from 2:00-4:30 PM. See a sample exam, as well as other information about the exam, on this page. No registration is required; students should bring a pencil.
Students who don’t place into MUSC 30A may instead place into MUSC 14: Beginning Western Theory & Musicianship in Fall. Placing into MUSC 14 instead of 30A as a transfer student may affect time to degree, especially for students who wish to pursue the Music B.M., or the “Western Music” and “Compositional Practices” Music B.A. tracks. Students in the “Global Musics” track of the Music B.A. degree who test into MUSC 30A via the TPE (or via articulation) do not have to take MUSC 14, and should instead plan to take MUSC 20A: Beginning Global Theory & Musicianship in Fall.
MUSC lower division history/culture lectures (MUSC 11, 80, 81-series) - only required for “Compositional Practices” and “Global Musics” concentrations of the B.A. degree. If you have taken music appreciation or topical Music courses at another institution, you may be able to petition to have them count towards major requirements. Contact the major advisor for further details.
Performing ensembles and/or performance practice workshops (various course numbers) - required for all three concentrations of the Music B.A. degree, as well as the B.M. degree.
AND
MUSC 161A: Individual Lessons (half hour) OR MUSC 161: Individual Lessons (one hour) - only required for the B.M. degree and “Western Music” concentration of the B.A. degree, but eligible for certain practical elements of the other major tracks as electives.
Cory Graves-Montalbano
cgravesm@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-2804
Music Center 244