Music Technology (BS)
Music technologists are the architects of tomorrow鈥檚 soundscapes. Standing at the intersection of art and engineering, these innovators are revolutionizing the way we create, experience, and interact with audio. This dynamic field empowers a new breed of engineer to design the cutting-edge hardware and software that power the industry. From the studio to the stage, music technologists leverage breakthroughs by harnessing the power of advanced engineering tools, such as CAD, Acoustic Modeling, Transducer Design, Computer Programming, System Design, and Artificial Intelligence. They don't just build tools鈥攖hey engineer and redefine the music and audio industry.
Core Courses
The undergraduate major in Music Technology is an interdisciplinary program that provides a foundation of theoretical and practical skills in music and electrical and computer engineering to prepare students to design, develop, and implement advanced music technologies. In addition to a variety of supporting courses, it has three primary components: a musicianship core (26 hours including applied and ensemble study); an engineering core (35 hours including calculus and physics); and a music technology core (19 hours). All students will complete a two-semester senior design project.
Musicianship Core
This is where students develop their artistry and musicianship on their instrument. Students take required courses in music theory, aural skills, class piano, music industry, and music history. In parallel, students focus on performance through their applied instruction and participation in ensembles that culminates in a final recital. This provides students a depth of musical knowledge that aids their engineering of useful and practical technology for music.
Electrical & Computer Engineering Core
Students gain the fundamental math, physics, and engineering skills through a core of electrical and computer engineering courses in circuits, digital logic, and programming. This allows them to concentrate on a specific area of engineering in hardware design, embedded systems, digital signal processing, or computer programming.
Music Technology Core
This is the convergence point where science meets sound. Here, students fuse a mastery of acoustics, psychoacoustics, and professional recording with the rigorous principles of modern engineering. By grounding their skills in the science of how we hear and mix audio, students unlock the freedom to dive deep into analog and digital electronics鈥攄esigning the complex systems that power the industry.
Contact Person
Dr. Justin D. Mathew
Director of Undergraduate Programs & Music Technology Coordinator
Department of Performing Arts & Technology
jdmathew@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Musicianship Core 1 | ||
| 惭鲍厂听103 | Theory and Musicianship I | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听104 | Theory and Musicianship Lab I | 1 |
| 惭鲍厂听107 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| 惭鲍厂听153 | Theory and Musicianship II | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听154 | Theory and Musicianship Lab II | 1 |
| 惭鲍厂听200 | Understanding Music: Global Perspectives | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听203 | Theory and Musicianship III | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听204 | Theory and Musicianship Lab III | 1 |
| 惭鲍厂听207 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| Applied Study 1 | ||
| 惭鲍厂听193 | Applied Music Lessons I (2 Semesters) | 2 |
| 惭鲍厂听293 | Applied Music Lessons II (2 Semesters) | 2 |
| 惭鲍厂听393 | Recital | 1 |
| Ensemble Study 1 | ||
| Four Semesters of approved ensemble from: | 4 | |
| 福利逼站 Singers | ||
| Tenor-Bass Choir | ||
| Women's Choir | ||
| State Chorale | ||
| Raleigh Civic Symphony | ||
| Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra | ||
| Wind Ensemble | ||
| Symphonic Band | ||
| Beginning Band | ||
| Jazz Combo II | ||
| Jazz Lab Band | ||
| Jazz Combo I | ||
| Jazz Orchestra | ||
| Additional Study 1 | ||
| 惭鲍厂听240 | Introduction to the Music Industry | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听340 | From Wax Cylinders to AI: Music Technology in Modern History | 3 |
| 贰惭础听370 | Practical Arts Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| 顿听100 | Design Inquiry I: Methods and Processes | 3 |
| Math and Science 1 | ||
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I | 4 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II | 4 |
| 笔驰听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | 4 |
| 笔驰听208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 4 |
| Electrical & Computer Engineering Core 1 | ||
| 贰颁贰听109 | Introduction to Computer Systems | 3 |
| 贰颁贰听200 | Introduction to Signals, Circuits and Systems | 4 |
| 贰颁贰听209 | Computer Systems Programming | 3 |
| 贰颁贰听212 | Fundamentals of Logic Design | 3 |
| 贰颁贰听220 | Analytical Foundations of Electrical and Computer Engineering | 3 |
| Music Technology Core 1 | ||
| 惭鲍罢听303 | Introduction to Audio Technology I | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听304 | Introduction to Audio Technology II | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听315 | Music Acoustics & Psychoacoustics | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听316 | Music Acoustics & Psychoacoustics Lab | 1 |
| 惭鲍罢听403 | Music Recording & Mixing | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听431 | Music Technology I | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听432 | Music Technology II | 3 |
| Capstone 1 | ||
| 惭鲍罢听461 | Music Technology Senior Project I | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听462 | Music Technology Senior Project II | 3 |
| Electronics and Circuits Concentration 1 | ||
| Pick one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Linear Systems | ||
| Microelectronics | ||
| Introduction to Embedded Systems | ||
| Data Structures and Object-Oriented Programming for Electrical and Computer Engineers | ||
| Design of Complex Digital Systems | ||
| GEP Courses | ||
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge | ||
| Free Elective | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
C- or better required
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 惭鲍厂听103 | Theory and Musicianship I | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听104 | Theory and Musicianship Lab I | 1 |
| 惭鲍厂听107 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| 笔驰听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 惭鲍厂听153 | Theory and Musicianship II | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听154 | Theory and Musicianship Lab II | 1 |
| 惭鲍厂听207 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| 惭鲍厂听193 | Applied Music Lessons I | 1 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II | 4 |
| 贰颁贰听109 | Introduction to Computer Systems 1 | 3 |
| 笔驰听208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 17 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 惭鲍厂听203 | Theory and Musicianship III | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听204 | Theory and Musicianship Lab III | 1 |
| 顿听100 | Design Inquiry I: Methods and Processes | 3 |
| Approved Ensemble | 1 | |
| 惭鲍罢听315 | Music Acoustics & Psychoacoustics | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听316 | Music Acoustics & Psychoacoustics Lab | 1 |
| 贰颁贰听200 | Introduction to Signals, Circuits and Systems | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 惭鲍厂听200 | Understanding Music: Global Perspectives | 3 |
| 贰颁贰听212 | Fundamentals of Logic Design | 3 |
| 贰颁贰听220 | Analytical Foundations of Electrical and Computer Engineering | 3 |
| Approved Ensemble | 1 | |
| 惭鲍厂听193 | Applied Music Lessons I | 1 |
| 惭鲍罢听403 | Music Recording & Mixing | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 惭鲍厂听240 | Introduction to the Music Industry | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听303 | Introduction to Audio Technology I | 3 |
| 贰颁贰听209 | Computer Systems Programming | 3 |
| 贰惭础听370 | Practical Arts Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Approved Ensemble | 1 | |
| 惭鲍厂听293 | Applied Music Lessons II | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 惭鲍厂听340 | From Wax Cylinders to AI: Music Technology in Modern History | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听304 | Introduction to Audio Technology II | 3 |
| ECE Concentration (301, 302, 306, 309, 310) | 3 | |
| GEP Requirements | 3 | |
| Approved Ensemble | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 惭鲍罢听461 | Music Technology Senior Project I | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听431 | Music Technology I | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听293 | Applied Music Lessons II | 1 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 惭鲍罢听462 | Music Technology Senior Project II | 3 |
| 惭鲍罢听432 | Music Technology II | 3 |
| 惭鲍厂听393 | Recital | 1 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
Career Opportunities
Career Titles
- Audio and Video Technician
- Disc Jockey
- Entertainer and Performer
- Film and Video Editor
- Music Composer
- Music Director
- Music Producer
- Musician
- Sound Engineering Technician
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