Undergraduate Programs
ASSOCIATE OF ARTS, BACHELOR OF MUSIC & BACHELOR OF ARTS
The Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts degrees, with emphases in Performance, Composition, Music Production and Music Industry are practice-oriented degrees designed to focus on the development of professional competence for students who intend to pursue careers in music. The degrees focus on intensive work in music with an emphasis in areas of specialization (majors) and accompanied by a general education component for the baccalaureate programs.
The degrees, including their curricular structure, requirements for admission, continuation and graduation, are guided by the mission statement and purposes/objectives of the LACM Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts programs.
The institution maintains a rigorous admissions policy that aligns with the objectives and goals of the Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Arts programs, in which all applicants are evaluated for talent, musical potential, artistry, and level of commitment.
- All undergraduate program applicants are required to possess a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 from the applicant’s high school transcript is required for admission.
- Applicants must submit an application form and an essay on their goals in pursuing a career in music and what they expect to gain and contribute to the undergraduate program.
- Applicants’ performance/composition/production technique and musicality are evaluated through recorded (or live) auditions. The auditions are designed to demonstrate proficiency required for admission into the applicants’ chosen major.
- International applicants must prove English proficiency, demonstrating the ability to understand the material given in classes and, in particular, the General Studies curriculum. These students must submit a sufficiently high score on one or more of the commonly accepted standardized English tests (a score of 70 or higher from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT) and/or a score of 6 or higher for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and/or a Duolingo test score of 95).
Major Field/Specialization: Develops proficiency through applied private lessons, classroom lecture and lab work, and ensembles. Courses in music technology exclusive to the major, as well as recording studio techniques, cover professional creative practices. (30% of the program)
Supportive Study: Reinforces the concentrated field and provides a breadth of learning in music theory and keyboard skills, music history, composition and arranging, music technology, music business and entrepreneurship, ensembles, and general music. Electives allow students to expand their knowledge in a field outside their specialization. (45% of the program)
General Education Curriculum: Comprised of fundamental and explorative courses that are dynamic, unique, and transferable. Students study a variety of coursework that encourages increased cognition and exposure to non-music subjects while supporting musical career goals. Topics include critical thinking, mathematics, government policy, and life and wellness skills. (25% of the program)
Courses are conducted in four forms of instruction:
- Lecture Classes: Award one credit per contact hour of class time (50 minutes of lecture per hour) and require two hours of work outside of class for each contact hour.
- Lab Classes: Including instructor-supervised ensemble classes and computer work labs, award 0.5 credits for each contact hour of lab time.
- Applied Private Lessons: Award two credits per contact hour of class time — one credit for class time and one credit for a minimum of three hours of work outside of class.
- Capstone Projects: Capstone Projects such as junior/senior recitals and projects award one credit for three hours minimum of work per week outside of the classroom.
Mission Statement
LACM is an incubator for limitless creativity and discovery based music education, connecting innovative curriculum and industry relationships.
Purposes/Objectives
Directed by the guiding principle to develop students as successful artistic entrepreneurs, the purposes and objectives, structure and content of the Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts programs focus on in-depth knowledge and competence in a major field of specialization and a breadth of competence through practice and scholarship.
