BA · 2025-2026
Music Composition
College of Creative Studies — Music Composition
Official sources · CCS
College of Creative Studies requirements
CCS uses its own General Education system (not LASAR or GEAR). IGETC completion fulfills CCS GE requirements. Courses must be approved by faculty advisor or pre-approved program list.
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses · Ethnicity required · 6-quarter CCS residency
Application requirements
CCS admission is separate from the UC application. Apply via the CCS online application in addition to UCSB.
- Letter of intentRequired — separate from UC application essay
- Letters of recommendation2 required (PDF upload)
- TranscriptsUnofficial scans from all institutions
- PortfolioWork samples required — see apply page for format
- Supplemental materialsEncouraged — research, projects, or work samples
- • Portfolio of compositions required — minimum ~15 minutes for sophomore-level entry.
- • Include notated scores; at least some fully notated works required.
- • Letter of intent separate from UC application.
- • Two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your composition ability.
Official major sheet — 2025-2026
Parsed from department major sheet. Verify on GOLD progress check.
Core curriculum (heart of the program)
- Music CS 101 — Individual Instruction in Music Composition · 4 unitsEvery quarter; 4 units unless exceptional
- Music 4A — Aural Skills · 2 unitsComplete 4ABCDEF series
- Music 4B · 2 units
- Music 4C · 2 units
- Music 4D · 2 units
- Music 4E · 2 units
- Music 4F · 2 units
- Music 5A — Harmony · 4 unitsComplete 5ABC series
- Music 5B · 4 units
- Music 5C · 4 units
Required upper-division core
- CounterpointOne course via CCS or Music Department
- Music 112A — Music History · 4 units3 history courses from 112ABC, Music CS 110, or approved
- Music 112B · 4 units
- Music 112C · 4 units
- Music 101A — Contemporary Techniques · 4 units101ABC and 106ABC offered alternate years
- Music 101B · 4 units
- Music 101C · 4 units
- Music 106A — Orchestration · 4 units
- Music 106B · 4 units
- Music 106C · 4 units
- Music CS 111 — Readings in New Music · 4 unitsWhen offered; excused only with faculty permission
Performance milestones
- Sophomore JuryEnd of sophomore year
- Junior JuryJunior year
- Senior RecitalSenior year capstone
- • Curriculum guidelines updated November 2025. Music 101ABC and 106ABC alternate years — plan with advisor.
Major regulations
Meet with faculty advisor every quarter before registration.
CCS courses have variable units; enroll in 4 units unless noted.
Music 4 and 5 series should be completed no later than end of junior year for transfers.
Minimum 1 academic music course per quarter in CCS or L&S Music.
4-year plan — 180 units
180 quarter units · 8 CCS GE courses (unrelated to major) · Ethnicity required. From official major sheet — verify on GOLD.
Year 1
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 2
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 3
Fall
Winter
Spring
Year 4
Fall
Winter
Spring
Data sources
Course lists are snapshots from official UCSB pages—not a live scrape. Verify prerequisites in the UCSB General Catalog.
College-wide CCS rules (8 GE courses unrelated to major, Ethnicity, 180 units, quarterly faculty advising) apply in addition to major requirements. See Student Handbook and UCSB Catalog — CCS degrees.