Programs

Undergraduate programs lead to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree or the Certificate of Fine Arts. Graduate programs lead to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree or the Advanced Certificate of Fine Arts.

Prospective students are invited to apply to one of the following:

Composition Program (BFA, MFA) with a specialization available in
· Experimental Sound Practices (MFA only)

Performer/Composer Program (Upper-division BFA, MFA) with a specialization available in
· African-American Improvisational Music (MFA only)

Jazz Studies Program (BFA, MFA)

Multi-Focus Programs in Performance:
· Winds/Brass/Strings/Harp Program (BFA, MFA)
· Piano/Keyboard Program (BFA, MFA) with a specialization available in

·  Collaborative Keyboard (MFA only)
· Guitar Program (BFA, MFA)
· Percussion/ World Percussion Program (BFA, MFA)
· Voice Program (BFA, MFA)

Multi-Focus Music Technologies Program (BFA only)

Musical Arts Program (BFA only)

World Music Performance Program (BFA, MFA) with specializations available in 

· African Music and Dance (MFA only)

· Balinese and Javanese Music and Dance (MFA only)
· North Indian Music (MFA only)

BFA programs require students to complete a minimum of 120 semester units while candidates for the MFA degree must complete at least 60 units.

Every BFA student pursues coursework in three areas: The Herb Alpert School of Music Core Curriculum, the Critical Studies Undergraduate Requirements, and his or her specialized program curriculum.

MFA students concentrate primarily on advanced work in their respective programs. They may be required to take undergraduate courses to strengthen their musical skills and/or theoretical knowledge.

The Herb Alpert School of Music offers more than 200 courses each semester. Music students also have the option of taking various electives courses offered by the CalArts Schools of Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video and Theater.

In order to graduate, students must complete all program and course requirements, including recital and portfolio requirements, and pass regular faculty reviews of their artistic progress.

BFA Core Curriculum

The BFA Core Curriculum provides undergraduates with a solid basis for the conceptual understanding of musical processes and components, and prepares them for more advanced work in their areas of specialty. Reflecting The Herb Alpert School of Music’s commitment to the diversity of musical forms and languages, the Core Curriculum helps students to hone the fundamentals of perception and analysis across different musical styles and cultures.

The curriculum features intensive instruction in music theory (harmony, counterpoint and contemporary techniques) and musicianship skills (tonal, atonal and rhythmic ear training), and covers music history and literature in the context of a global cultural framework spanning historical periods. Additional courses explore improvisation, music technologies and world music performance.