Program Overview

Music Industry BS Program

The Music Industry BS program at Drexel University offers a comprehensive education in music, music industry practices, and music technology, combined with career preparation. The program provides hands-on experience and a strong academic foundation in relevant areas of the music industry.

About the Program

The degree in Music Industry offers two concentrations: Music Industry Business and Recording Arts (MIBU) and Music Production (RAMP). The Music Industry curriculum is divided into four areas: general education, music core, music industry core, and concentration requirements. The cooperative education program provides students with the opportunity to meet industry professionals and network.

Concentrations

• Music Industry Business (MIBU): Provides a rigorous academic foundation complemented by a real-world, hands-on, highly intensive business experience.
• Recording Arts and Music Production (RAMP): Focuses on the techniques and technologies of music and audio production.

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. Applicants are encouraged to upload electronic examples of pertinent activities and a resume of music-industry-related experience.

Degree Requirements

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

Course Requirements

• General Education:
  • ENGL 101 or 111: Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research
  • ENGL 102 or 112: Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing
  • ENGL 103 or 113: Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres
  • COM 230: Techniques of Speaking
  • MATH 101 or 121: Introduction to Analysis I or Calculus I
  • MATH 102 or 122: Introduction to Analysis II or Calculus II
  • CIVC 101: Introduction to Civic Engagement
  • COOP 101: Career Management and Professional Development
  • UNIV A101: The Drexel Experience
• Arts and Humanities:
  • Select 9.0 credits from the following 100-400 level courses
• Natural Science:
  • Select 3.0 credits from the following 100-400 level courses
• Social Science:
  • Select 9.0 credits from the following 100-400 level courses
• Music Core Requirements:
  • MUSC 121: Music Theory I
  • MUSC 125: Ear Training I
  • MUSC 130: Introduction to Music
  • MUSC 190 or 191: Class Piano I or Class Guitar I
  • MUSC 323: Songwriting
• Music Elective:
  • Select one from the list of music electives
• Music Industry Core Requirements:
  • ACCT 110: Accounting for Professionals
  • BLAW 201: Business Law I
  • ECON 201: Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 202: Principles of Macroeconomics
  • FIN 301: Introduction to Finance
  • MIP 132: Survey of the Music Industry
  • MIP 161: Copyrights in the Music Industry
  • MIP 270: Live Music I
  • MIP 275: Marketing in the Music Industry I
  • MIP 293: Survey of Music Production
  • MIP 361: Music Publishing
  • MIP 470: Music Industry Colloquium
  • MIP 490: Music Industry Research Methods
  • MIP 491: Senior Project in Music Industry
  • STAT 201: Introduction to Business Statistics
  • WEST 100: Introduction to Digital Design Tools
• Concentration Requirements:
  • Music Industry: Business Concentration
  • Music Industry: Recording Arts & Music Production Concentration

Sample Plans of Study

The program offers sample plans of study for each concentration, including a 4-year, 1 co-op plan for both the Music Industry: Recording Arts & Music Production Concentration and the Music Industry: Business Concentration.

Program Level Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be prepared to:

• Display a command of basic musicianship skills
• Develop knowledge of the history of music, the commercial music industry, and music technology
• Critically analyze music performance and production
• Understand and be able to use music and audio technology
• Demonstrate mathematical and computer literacy
• Demonstrate the ability to work successfully within a major label, independent label, or entrepreneurial music industry environment
• Demonstrate the ability to conceive, present, manage, and complete a long-term plan over the life cycle of a project
• Work effectively in teams and have a general understanding of how entertainment teams function
• Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze current business and legal issues in the global music industry and to conduct in-depth research on relevant topics
• Demonstrate the ability to harness and utilize technology (including social media) in order to achieve business goals

Music Industry Faculty

The program is led by a team of experienced faculty members, including:

• Jeff Apruzzese, MS: Program Director, Music Industry
• Ivan Barias: Instructor
• Kaisha Blackstone, BS: Assistant Teaching Professor
• Tony Dofat: Associate Teaching Professor
• Monika Julien: Assistant Teaching Professor
• Danielle Lewis, MS: Adjunct Faculty
• James McKinney: Assistant Professor
• Ryan Moys: Assistant Teaching Professor
• Toby Seay, MS: Professor
• Joe Steinhardt, PhD: Assistant Teaching Professor
• Cyrille Taillandier, BTS: Associate Teaching Professor

Writing-Intensive 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, and 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.