Music Composition & Songwriting
Certificate Music · Antelope Valley College · 2026-2027 Catalog
The Music Composition & Songwriting certificate is designed to prepare students for careers upon graduation to write music (popular, concert, or for media). Students are trained in a breadth of musical concepts, including theory, musicianship, piano, and music technology.
Program Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Music Composition & Songwriting Cert: Complete all of the following | 21 | |
| Required Core: Complete all of the following | 14 | |
| MUS 120 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 131 | Piano I | 1 |
| MUS 132 | Piano II | 1 |
| MUS 151 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 153A | Musicianship I | 1 |
| MUS 153B | Musicianship II | 1 |
| MUSC 104 | The Music Industry | 3 |
| MUSC 199 | Work Experience Education | 1 |
| Ensemble: select two units from the following | 2 | |
| MUS 160 | Symphonic Band | 1 |
| MUS 166 | Orchestra | 1 |
| MUS 180 | Chamber Music | 1 |
| MUS 181 | Master Chorale | 1 |
| MUSC 170A | Marching Marauders | 1 |
| MUSC 173 | Jazz Ensemble B (Beginning) | 1 |
| MUSC 220A | Popular Music Ensemble (Test Flight) | 1 |
| MUSC 273 | Jazz Ensemble A (Advanced) | 1 |
| Applied Music Performance | 1 | |
| MUS 292 | Applied Music Performance | 0.5 |
| Private Lessons: take one of the following two times | 1 | |
| MUS 291A | Private Lessons: Voice, Guitar, and Piano | 0.5 |
| MUS 291B | Private Lessons: Winds, Brass, and Percussion | 0.5 |
| MUS 291C | Private Lessons: Bowed Strings | 0.5 |
| MUS 291D | Private Lessons: Popular Music, Composition, and Non-Transfer | 0.5 |
| Specialty: take one of the following | 3 | |
| MUSC 113 | Songwriting | 3 |
| MUSC 136 | Media Scoring | 3 |
| MUSC 150C | Music Notation & Composition: Sibelius Fundamentals | 3 |
Recommended Pathway
Music Composition & Songwriting Cert
Fall 1 (Term 1) (10 units)
- MUS120 - Music Theory I (3)
- MUS153A - Musicianship I (1)
- MUS131 - Piano I (1)
- MUSC104 - The Music Industry (3)
- MUS160 - Symphonic Band (1)
- MUS166 - Orchestra (1)
- MUS180 - Chamber Music (1)
- MUS181 - Master Chorale (1)
- MUSC170A - Marching Marauders (1)
- MUSC173 - Jazz Ensemble B (Beginning) (1)
- MUSC220A - Popular Music Ensemble (Test Flight) (1)
- MUSC273 - Jazz Ensemble A (Advanced) (1)
- MUS291A - Private Lessons: Voice, Guitar, and Piano (0.5)
- MUS291B - Private Lessons: Winds, Brass, and Percussion (0.5)
- MUS291C - Private Lessons: Bowed Strings (0.5)
- MUS291D - Private Lessons: Popular Music, Composition, and Non-Transfer (0.5)
- MUS292 - Applied Music Performance (0.5)
Spring 1 (Term 2) (11 units)
- MUS151 - Music Theory II (3)
- MUS153B - Musicianship II (1)
- MUS132 - Piano II (1)
- MUSC199 - Work Experience Education (1)
- MUS160 - Symphonic Band (1)
- MUS166 - Orchestra (1)
- MUS180 - Chamber Music (1)
- MUS181 - Master Chorale (1)
- MUSC170A - Marching Marauders (1)
- MUSC173 - Jazz Ensemble B (Beginning) (1)
- MUSC220A - Popular Music Ensemble (Test Flight) (1)
- MUSC273 - Jazz Ensemble A (Advanced) (1)
- MUS292 - Applied Music Performance (0.5)
- MUS291A - Private Lessons: Voice, Guitar, and Piano (0.5)
- MUS291B - Private Lessons: Winds, Brass, and Percussion (0.5)
- MUS291C - Private Lessons: Bowed Strings (0.5)
- MUS291D - Private Lessons: Popular Music, Composition, and Non-Transfer (0.5)
- MUSC113 - Songwriting (3)
- MUSC136 - Media Scoring (3)
- MUSC150C - Music Notation & Composition: Sibelius Fundamentals (3)