Bachelor of Science
Music Industry Studies

Music Industry Studies is a collaborative and hands on major that teaches each student how to work on a team that puts on live productions, studio recordings, and other musical events.

Students in GU's Music Industry Studies program work towards a common goal of production by understanding a broad-based set of skills, allowing them to be competent in several areas including recording, audio engineering, and technical skills to become invaluable professionals in the music industry. This program provides students with the opportunity to write and perform songs, as well as, produce and engineer both live and studio performances.

Be a studio recording engineer, run live sound or lighting for concerts. Perform, be a recording artist or songwriter. Produce audio for TV, movies or video games. GU prepares you to do it!

The Music industry studies (MIS) foundation includes studio recording, live audio production, lighting design, commercial music performance, Audio Postproduction, Game Audio Design and a thorough understanding of the music industry. Get hands-on experience in state-of-the-art studios and multiple performance venues. Small production companies let you work in the company, record for the company, and grow to be producer and finally run the company. Study the music industry for a semester in Nashville, TN with GU’s partner the Contemporary Music Center - Nashville and get immersive industry experiences. Get personalized attention from caring profs and industry pros committed to making you the best you can be.

GU has produced alumni artists like Grammy Award winner Andre Anjos (RAC), Jars of Clay, Paper Route, and Augustana. Check out original songs and videos produced by GU’s MIS students.

Graduates from GU have worked at major companies like Universal Music Group, innovative companies like CTS, and in-house teams at large companies like the production team at Ramsey Solutions. We have GU grads living in all of the major musics hubs in the US including the Nashville area.

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Audio Engineering

Hands-on engagement day 1! Practice your craft with 24/7 access to recording studios with Pro Tools and Logic. Produce industry standard music in state-of-the-art studios with projects courses where you engineer, produce, write, and perform. Don’t just learn about audio engineering, engineer and produce it!

Commercial Music Performance

Learn to perform, write songs, use digital media and gain excellent technical skills. Compose songs guided by award-winning songwriters; perform live with bands, record in state-of-the-art studios and advance as both performer and engineer. Learn how to be an independent artist. Each semester be part of a Producers Group working with a Producer, main and assistant engineers, live audio and lighting designers. Don’t just ‘learn’ what it means to be a performer, be one at GU!

Create

Playground Productions, GU’s student led production company combines all areas of MIS (studio, live audio, songwriting, performing, promotion, touring) to produce real music industry projects. Don’t just learn what it takes to be in the music industry. Show you’ve done it at GU.

Why GU

Student work. See what GU’s MIS students are working on right now. Click here for videos and original songs.

Christ-centered. Integrate Christian values as you pursue your craft.

A complete picture of the industry. GU’s production company, Playground Productions, is the centerpiece of the MIS degree where all areas of MIS (studio, live audio, songwriting, performing, promotion, touring) come together.

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Success Stories

GU grads can be found running live audio or working with Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Blue Man Group, Georgia Florida Line, Sam Hunt, KJ52, Building 429 and many others. GU alums have received numerous Dove Award nominations and alumnus Andre Anjos is a Grammy Award winner for his remixing work.
GU grads work in companies like Universal Music Group, Capital Christian Music, Sony, CTS Audio (Nashville), Sweetwater Sound, Ironman Sound (St. Louis) and in high-level positions in churches all across the nation.

Music Industry Studies Course Requirements

Visit the Online Undergraduate Catalog for an explanation of graduation requirements.

Music Industry Studies Courses

This course explores digital media as an experimental cultural practice, with an emphasis on critical approaches to art and technology. Experiments in digital imaging, digital audio, digital video, and multi-media authoring will be conducted. Students will produce independent digital media production projects, individually and in groups. Course meetings include seminar-style discussion of reading and other materials, critiques of student work, tech workshops, production studios (session in which we brainstorm, research ideas, and work on projects), and screenings. (Offered every semester.)

Recital Class is designated as a requirement for all music majors, who must attend 12 concerts per semester. Music minors need to attend 9 concerts per semester and you must be registred for Recital Class during the semesters they are taking applied lessons. Music majors are required to take this course every semester they are attending classes on campus.

This course will serve as a basis for creating a foundation in keeping a connection between a students faith, how it can be used through the gift of music, and how to use those gifts to affect culture in a positive manner. Various types of music and their connection to culture as well as how todays culture affects students, music, and faith will be explored. (Offered fall semester.)

This course provides a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of studio recording and sound reinforcement. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. (Offered fall semester.) Course Fee $50

This course focuses on the signal flow, microphone techniques, foundational and in-depth information of Pro Tools and studio recording techniques. It is based primarily on a "hands-on" approach offering substantial studio time for group and individual projects. Prerequisite: MUSG226. (Offered every semester.) Course Fee: $50

This course provides the student with a broad foundation to the various aspects and practices in the Music Industry. A main point of this course will be establish the working process for Playground Productions, the department production company. Also integral is the connection to Industry Partners in a collaborative opportunity to learn from current professional practices as well as creating integral networking opportunities and relationships. Prerequisite: MUSG 226. (Offered every spring.)

In todays Music Industry market, it is quite important for each artist to be self-sufficient and look professional. Independent Artist Practices provides the foundations for the student to learn the skill set required to be a successful independent artist in todays Music Industry and to create a working plan to be implemented by the end of the semester. This course will focus on promotion, online presence, branding, budgeting, and creating and implementing a personal plan to be self sufficient in the Music Industry. Prerequisite: DMDA 120 and MUSG 227. Offered: Fall semester Course Fee: $50

This course will survey various styles of American popular music from the early 20th century through the present. Students will have an active role in class meetings, providing examples from personal experiences as sources for class discussion. Genres covered include jazz, country, rock, reggae, funk, hip-hop, urban fold, and more. Students are encouraged to have some experience in the fundamentals of music before enrolling. Junior or Senior standing is strongly encouraged. Meets the general education creative and performing arts requirement.

This seminar is designed as a capstone course in the CCM degree and is the bookend course to MUSG 150 Faith, Music, Culture. The goal of the course is to empower students to go out into their world after they graduate and reaffirm their ability to make a positive difference through their interactions with their culture. How students can be a Christian witness to a post-modern world will be explored. Meets the general education upper division writing intensive requirement. (Offered spring semester.)

This course will be taken for pass/fail credit.

Students complete a large recording project and research paper. This course is available only to Music Industry Study students. Prerequisite: Students must pass the upper-division jury at least one semester prior to the semester in which they enroll in MUSG 419 (see Music Department Policies and Procedures Handbook for jury requirements).

This course provides a foundation and awareness of the processes of commercial arranging for live performances and producing music in a recording studio setting. Many of the popular styles will be explored. Prerequisite: MUSG 227, MUSG 260, and MUTH 305. (Offered fall semester.) Course Fee: $50

Projects in Music Industry serves as the entry level hands-on running of the Music Industry program for students focusing on the area of music performance (vocal or instrumental). Students in this course will assist in various of music projects collaboration, including performance, live audio, studio recording, management, promotions, lighting, songwriting, creation and distribution of product while gaining a working understanding of the processes involved as they continue through the degree. Music Industry Study majors need a total of six credits of Projects in Music Industry. Course Fee $50. (Offered every semester.)

Projects in Music Industry serves as a developmental level hands-on running of the Music Industry program for students focusing on the area of music performance (vocal or instrumental). Students in this course will assist in various of music projects collaboration, including performance, live audio, studio recording, management, promotions, lighting, songwriting, creation and distribution of product while gaining a working understanding of the processes involved as they continue through the degree. Music Industry Study majors need a total of six credits of Projects in Music Industry. Course Fee $50. Pre-requisite, MUSG120. (Offered every semester.)

Projects in Music Industry serves as a mastery level hands-on running of the Music Industry program for students focusing on the area of music performance (vocal or instrumental). Students in this course will assist in various of music projects collaboration, including performance, live audio, studio recording, management, promotions, lighting, songwriting, creation and distribution of product while gaining a working understanding of the processes involved as they continue through the degree. Music Industry Study majors need a total of six credits of Projects in Music Industry. Course Fee $50 Pre-requisite, MUSG220. (Offered every semester).

Areas of Study

Commercial Music Performance Concentration

Course Number	Course	Credits
MUSG 120	Projects in Industry I - Perform	1
MUSG 120	Projects in Industry I - Perform	1
MUSG 220	Projects in Industry II - Perform	1
MUSG 220	Projects in Industry II - Perform	1
MUSG 320	Projects in Industry III - Perform	1
MUSG 320	Projects in Industry III - Perform	1
MUTH 240	Songwriting Foundations I	1
MUTH 306	Commercial Music Theory III	2
MUAP	Applied Lessons (6-9 cr)	6-9
MUEN	Ensembles (6 cr)	6

Voice students will complete 9 hours of lessons.
Other instrumentalists will complete 6 credits of lessons and DMDA 120.
Six credits of Projects in Industry are required.

Live Audio/Lighting Concentration

Course Number	Course	Credits
DMDA 120	Introduction to Digital Media	3
MUSG 122	Projects in Industry I - Engineer	1
MUSG 122	Projects in Industry I - Engineer	1
MUSG 222	Projects in Industry II - Engineer	1
MUSG 222	Projects in Industry II - Engineer	1
MUSG 235	Critical Listening	1
MUSG 322	Projects in Industry III - Engineer	1
MUSG 322	Projects in Industry III - Engineer	1
MUSG 326	Audio Editing Techniques	2
MUSG 327	Mixing Techniques	2
MUSG 342	Computer Orchestration	2
MUSG 360	Audio Post-Production	2
MUTH 312	Commercial Arranging and Producing	2
MUAP	Applied Lessons	4

Six credits of Projects in Industry are required.

Studio Engineer/Producer Concentration

Course Number	Course	Credits
DMDA 120	Introduction to Digital Media	3
MUSG 124	Projects in Industry I - Live Audio	1
MUSG 124	Projects in Industry I - Live Audio	1
MUSG 224	Projects in Industry II - Live Audio	1
MUSG 224	Projects in Industry II - Live Audio	1
MUSG 235	Critical Listening	1
MUSG 324	Projects in Industry III - Live Audio	1
MUSG 324	Projects in Industry III - Live Audio	1
MUSG 326	Audio Editing Techniques	2
MUSG 327	Mixing Techniques	2
MUSG 329	Sound Reinforcement II	2
MUSG 355	Concert Production	2
MUTH 312	Commercial Arranging and Producing	2
MUAP	Applied Lessons	4