Certificate in Music Composition and Film Studies
MC Program Curriculum - Total Credits 64
All students take all classes together as a cohort, all classes are required to graduate.
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
MCFS101: Music Theory 1– 3 Credits
This course provides a foundation of harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic structures essential for the developing musician and composer, bridging basic music literacy with advanced analytical and critical listening skills. Students will master diatonic and chromatic intervals, learn diatonic triads, and basic chord construction. A core component of this course is dedicated to Ear Training. Students will identify and dictate rhythms and intervals.
MCFS102: Music Theory 2 – 3 Credits
This course expands on Music Theory 1, building on an understanding of vertical chord structures, learning diatonic chord progressions and principles of functional harmony. Students will also learn modes and chord scales and their application. For the ear training component of Music Theory 2, students will identify and dictate chords (including seventh chords and inversions) as well as identify and dictate scales and modes.
MCFS203: Music Theory 3 – 3 Credits
This course expands on Music Theory 1 and Music Theory 2, building upon students’ understanding of diatonic harmony and introducing secondary dominants and other advanced dominant chord structures. The integrated Ear Training component of this course introduces advanced chord recognition and dictation as well as basic melodic and harmonic dictation.
MCFS204: Music Theory 4– 3 Credits
This course expands on Music Theory 1-3, serving as the cumulative culmination of the previous 3 music theory courses. Students will develop an understanding and mastery of advanced chromatic harmony and modern harmonic structures through II-V chord progressions and chord relationships in all 12 keys, and understanding how these progressions are the backbone and foundation for all popular music genres including classical, jazz, pop, rock, and film scores. Students will also be introduced to modal interchange and borrowed chords. The Ear Training component of this course will include advanced melodic and harmonic dictation as well identifying various chord progressions and standard music forms (i.e. 12-bar blues, rhythm changes).
MCFS205: Principles of Music Composition – 2 Credits
This course introduces fundamental composition techniques that prepare students for further study in dramatic scoring. Students will explore melody, harmony, rhythm, texture, and musical form, learning how these elements shape a composition’s character and emotional expression. Through listening, analysis, and short writing assignments, students will develop musical ideas into coherent pieces and build a foundation for creating music that supports dramatic situations.
MCFS306: Instrumentation and Orchestration 1 – 4 Credits
A study of orchestral instruments' characteristics and techniques, including ranges, registers, transpositions, timbres, and idiomatic writing for individual instruments and small ensembles. Students will apply these principles to the development of effective and expressive chamber music, in conjunction with Portfolio 1 and Portfolio 2.
MCFS307: Instrumentation and Orchestration 2 – 4 Credits
Further study of orchestral color, texture, balance, voicing, doubling, and ensemble-specific writing, with emphasis on combining instruments effectively within larger ensembles. Students will apply these techniques to the development of chamber orchestra repertoire, in conjunction with Portfolio 3.
MCFS499: Directed Study/Portfolio – 6 Credits
In this course, primarily private-lesson based, students will compose three pieces for varying ensembles. This class is the practical application of the courses in the core curriculum.
SOFTWARE AND TECHNOLOGY COURSES
MCFS111: Engraving and Copying 1– 2 Credits
An exploration of the guiding principles and practices of Western music notation and engraving, with an emphasis on communicating the composer’s intent as fully, efficiently, and aesthetically as possible. Both handwritten and digital engraving methods will be covered.
MCFS121: Digital Music Production 1 – 2 Credits
This course introduces the foundations of making music with a computer. Students learn what MIDI is and how it works, how digital audio workstations (DAWs) are organized and operated, and how to record, edit, and arrange both MIDI and audio. Students build basic skills with virtual instruments and sample libraries, explore fundamental mixing concepts, and complete short projects that put these tools to work. Along the way, students will have opportunities to experiment with writing music for picture. No prior production experience is required.
MCFS212: Engraving and Copying 2 – 2 Credits
A continuation of MCFS111, with emphasis on idiomatic notation and layout for a variety of musical ensembles, addressing unique and complex engraving challenges, and developing consistent professional standards and house styles. Students will refine their ability to produce clear, polished, and professionally presented scores and parts.
MCFS222: Digital Music Production 2– 2 Credits
Building on the concepts from Digital Music Production 1, this course deepens students’ skills in a full-featured DAW. Students develop efficient workflows for sequencing, editing, and organizing larger sessions, work with sample libraries and virtual instruments to create more realistic and expressive arrangements, and strengthen their understanding of basic mixing, including balance, panning, EQ, and dynamics. Students complete projects that bring these techniques together and prepare them for the demands of the Professional Certificate program or a music-based career.
MCFS323: Digital Music Production 3 – 2 Credits
This course introduces the theory and practice of electronic music production using Ableton Live, with emphasis on sound design, sequencing, sampling, arrangement, and mixing as both technical and compositional processes. Students will develop the technical proficiency and aesthetic vocabulary needed to conceive, realize, and critically evaluate original electronic compositions.
MUSIC HISTORY AND ANALYSIS
MCFS131: Music History 1 – 2 Credits
An overview of music history from the early 1600s to the late 1800s, including baroque, classical, romantic, ballet, opera, and early theater.
MCFS232: Music History 2 – 2 Credits
An overview of music history from the 1900s to the present, including modernism, contemporary music, jazz, and musical theater.
MCFS333: Score Study – 2 Credits
This course provides students with the foundational skills to analyze music with the help of a score.
MCFS334: Critical Listening and Analysis – 2 Credits
This course provides students with the foundational skills to aurally analyze music without a score. Students will learn how to replicate or evoke genre and style without directly copying existing pieces.
FILM AND MEDIA STUDIES
MCFS141: Intro to Film – 2 Credits
This course covers the basic concepts of filmmaking and film experiences. It includes but is not limited to persistence of vision, the language of cinema, shot composition, mise-en-scene, editing styles, the influence of film scores, and basic understanding of pre-production, production, and post-production workflows.
MCFS242: Film History 1 – 2 Credits
1890s-1960s - This course covers the first half of film history, both in terms of Hollywood productions and international cinema. It includes the silent era, the Golden Age of Hollywood, war propaganda, post-television formatting leaps, and the cultural changes of the baby-boom era.
MCFS343: Film History 2– 2 Credits
1970s-Present - This course covers the second half of film history, from the early 1970s through the Blockbuster era, changes in visual effects and digital technology, into modern cinema.
MCFS344: Media Studies – 2 Credits
This course covers the history of other motion picture media outside of feature films, as well as various means of transmission and distribution. This includes but is not limited to: broadcast & cable television, home movies, video games, tape and disc media, the internet, social media, podcasts, and streaming services.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS COURSES
MCFS251: Health and Wellness for Creatives – 2 Credits
Professional creatives stretch mental and physical abilities to explore, communicate and reliably deliver excellence under tight schedules. This course addresses the essential components of movement, mindful, balanced living and interacting, nutrition and sleep to build a strong foundation in a lasting, fulfilling career.
MCFS252: Ethics and Professionalism – 2 Credits
This course studies the principles that guide professional conduct, social rules and behaviors that govern daily interactions within the industry. This includes rights and responsibilities in a professional environment and ethical development of long-term trust, fairness, and accountability. Based in discussion and writing, this course will enable successful navigation of the professional environment.
MCFS253: Interpersonal Communications and Public Speaking– 2 Credits
This course is tailored to bridge the gap between solitary music composing and professional business and collaboration. It addresses needs in working alone, networking strategies, collaborating with filmmakers and musicians and effectively leading rehearsals effectively. Intrapersonal communication starts from the personal mind-set and extends outward to produce a rich foundation for confidently bringing your music to the forefront.
MCFS254: Financial Foundations for Independent Artists – 2 Credits
This course includes creating effective budgets for the ongoing costs of doing business, as well as proposed projects, taxes and personal income that come out of each transaction. Students develop a sole proprietorship budget, study strategies to maintain a strong financial portfolio, and create action plans to generate financially healthy, growth-oriented income and lifestyles.
MCFS255: Contemporary Marketing for Composers – 2 Credits
In this course, students explore online marketing techniques, creating and editing composer-created video and still content for maximum effectiveness, building a digital portfolio/website, creating professional profiles, business contacts tracking, business cards and e-cards, and more.