Minors – Requirements

All USC Thornton minors require a separate admission application for current students. Please refer to the Minors Page for requirements.

Jazz Studies

This minor requires 21 units for completion, as detailed below:

Admission Requirements and Gateway Courses:
Students must apply for this minor and audition on the instrument of their choice. Admission is primarily based on performance ability in the jazz idiom. Those who want to prepare for this audition and make progress in the minor may take individual lessons on their instrument (MUJZ 300x). If admitted into the minor, these lessons will not count toward the Jazz Studies minor requirements. Students who are confident about the audition and wish to begin taking minor requirements may take MUSC 250gmw and upper division elective courses in music. Those students who have substantial background in jazz improvisation may also be permitted to take MUJZ 150.

Music Industry

This minor requires 20 units for completion, as detailed below:

Admission Requirements and Gateway Courses
Prior musical experience is not required. Students must apply for this minor, and admission consideration is generally based on class standing and GPA at the time of application. Students must have sophomore standing (32+ units earned) and a GPA of 3.0 or higher to apply. Prior to admission, students may take MUIN 272x, or any of the music history and culture courses listed above (e.g., MUSC 460).

Music Production

This minor requires 19 units for completion, as detailed below:

*Music Industry majors can substitute MTEC 175 and MTEC 176 for MTEC 277x.
**Course has prerequisites that cannot be applied toward the Music Production Minor.

Admission Requirements and Gateway Courses
Students must apply for this minor, and admission consideration is based in part on work completed in both MUSC 255: Songwriting I and MUCO 130ax: Basics of Music Theory. Students must have completed and/or be enrolled in both courses to apply. Students admitted to this minor will be expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 with no grade lower than a “C” for all courses taken in the minor.

Music Recording

This minor requires 18 units for completion, as detailed below:

*Music Industry majors can substitute MTEC 175 and MTEC 176 for MTEC 277x.

Admission Requirements and Gateway Courses:
Students must apply for this minor, and admission is based on successful completion of MTEC 277x: Introduction to Music Technology. Generally, students who earn a B or better in this course and have a GPA of 2.0 or higher are admitted.

Musical Studies

This minor requires 18 units for completion, as detailed below:

Admission Requirements and Gateway Courses:
Students must apply for this minor and audition on the instrument of their choice. Admission is primarily based on performance ability. Students who want to prepare for this audition and make progress in the minor should take individual lessons on their instrument. If admitted into the minor, these lessons will not count toward the Musical Studies minor requirements. Students who are confident about the audition but wish to begin taking minor requirements before being admitted to the minor may take MUSC 115gp or music ensembles.

Musical Theatre

This minor requires 21 units for completion, as detailed below:

Admission Requirements and Gateway Courses:

Students must apply for this minor and perform an audition of two musical theatre songs from the standard repertoire (one ballad and one up-tempo number). Admission is based primarily on performance ability. No separate acting or dance audition is required. Students who wish to prepare for this audition enroll in individual instruction in voice (MPVA 300/301) or MUSC 200gmw: The Broadway Musical: Reflection of American Diversity.

Popular Music Studies

This minor requires 16 units for completion, as detailed below:

Admission Requirements and Gateway Courses:
Students must apply for this minor, but virtually any student with a 2.0 GPA or higher will be admitted. All of the courses in this minor are open to any student at USC. Therefore, any course listed above may serve as the gateway.

Songwriting

This minor requires 20 units for completion, as detailed below:

Admission Requirements and Gateway Courses:
Students must apply for this minor. Those who are considering this program should enroll in MUSC 255: Songwriting I. Admission will be based on songwriting ability and potential as determined by the Songwriting faculty. Any of the COMM and MUSC courses may also be taken prior to admission to the minor.

For more information about these minors, including admission deadlines and audition dates, visit the Minors Page.