SPECIALIST (JOINT) PROGRAM IN MUSIC INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY

[The Specialist in Music Industry and Technology will be available for first enrolment in September 2024.]

The Specialist (Joint) program in Music Industry and Technology is a 4-year, undergraduate Joint program that will allow students to earn an Honours Bachelor of Arts (H.B.A.) degree from the University of Toronto and an Ontario College Certificate in Music Business and Technology from Centennial. The Specialist (Joint) program in Music Industry and Technology aims to provide long-term career preparation by offering practical, career-oriented courses in music business and technology, as well as their industry connections, in order to meet the needs of students who seek a combination of broad-based knowledge that can adapt to the rapidly changing landscape of music, business, and technology and career-ready skills.

This program has limited enrolment. In addition to meeting the 2.0 CGPA requirement, applicants must fill out a joint program application form, which will be made available on ACM website closer to the enrollment timeline.

The program requires 15.5 credits, of which 7.5 credits are taught at UTSC and 8.0 credits are taught at Centennial. The program takes four years (including one spring internship) to complete. In addition to attaining an Honours BA from UTSC, students will also qualify for the Ontario College Certificate in Music Business and Technology. Students will be able to choose from two possible Certificate options, depending on their course selections in the program:

  1. Audio Engineering: this track focusses on audio production; or
  2. Music Business: this track focuses on management, marketing, publishing, and licensing.

Students must choose either the Audio Engineering or Music Business track in Year 2 of the program, and will not be able to change tracks without adding additional time to degree completion. Please consult with ACM Program Manager if you intend to complete both tracks. Note: Students will indicate to ACM Program Manager their preference before taking Winter courses.

Courses in this Specialist (Joint) program are taught at the UTSC campus, the Centennial College Story Arts Centre campus (located at 951 Carlaw Ave., in East York), and the Centennial Performing Arts Centre (located at 2200 Eglinton Ave, East., in Scarborough). Students will begin the program by taking courses on the UTSC campus, then spend three consecutive sessions at Centennial College – Winter of Year 2, and Year 3 (Fall, and Winter) – followed by a required internship in Winter (March-April) of Year 3. Students complete the program by taking courses on the UTSC campus.

Notes:

  1. A minimum grade of 60% is required in the Centennial College courses to pass and maintain standing in the program.
  2. Students at Centennial College must be enrolled on a full-time basis.
  3. Courses at Centennial have a technology requirement. Please check with the ACM Program Manager for the latest specifications.
  4. Students must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.0 or higher to remain in the program. Students whose CGPA falls below 2.0 will be removed from the Program. Students removed from the program, for this reason, may request reinstatement if they complete at least 2.0 credits (none of which can be designated as CR/NCR) in the following session and raise their CGPA to at least 2.0. This opportunity will be provided only once.

Enrolment in this program is limited. Although students will enter directly from high-school, there is also a pathway for students who have already begun their studies at UTSC.

Direct from high-school:

  • Students enrolling directly from high school are admitted on the basis of academic performance and the information provided in a Supplementary Application form (SAF).

Current UTSC students:

  • Current UTSC students with a CGPA of at least 2.0 may apply to the program, after they have completed 4.0 credits, and must submit a Supplementary Application form (SAF). Students may apply until they have completed up to 10.0 credits, but once they have completed more than 10.0 credits will not be considered for admission.
  • Admission will be based on the grades received and information in the SAF. Students should request the program on ACORN and submit the SAF by the specified application deadline; consult the Music and Culture website for details.
  • In order to ensure degree completion in four years, students should ensure they complete the first 2.0 credits of the program (MUZA80H3, VPAA10H3, and 1.0 credit in performance courses) in their first year of studies.

Students must complete a total of 15.5 credits as follows.

1. First Year (2.5 credits; offered at UTSC):

MUZA80H3 Foundations in Musicianship
MUZA81H3 Introduction to Music Industry and Technology (will be available in Fall 2024)
VPAA10H3 Introduction to Arts and Media Management
and 1.0 credit in performance ensembles* (Concert Choir, Concert Band, String Orchestra, Small Ensembles)

*Students can register for the ensemble of their choice. Students who play electric or electronic instruments should register for Small Ensembles. For additional information, see the Music and Culture program page.

Note: Courses for Year 1 of the program are taught on the UTSC Campus.

2. Second Year (4.5 credits):

Fall Session (2.0 credits; offered at UTSC)

MUZB80H3 Developing Musicianship
MUZB40H3 Music and Technology
MUZB41H3 DJ Cultures: Analogue Innovations, Digital Aesthetics
and 0.5 credit in performance ensembles* (Concert Choir, Concert Band, String Orchestra, Small Ensembles)

*Students can register for the ensemble of their choice. Students who play electric or electronic instruments should register for Small Ensembles. For additional information, see the Music and Culture program page.

Note: Courses for Fall session of the program are taught on the UTSC Campus.

Winter Session – Group A (2.5 credits; offered at Centennial College)

MBTB13H3 Songwriting 2
MBTB41H3 Introduction to Audio Engineering
MBTB50H3 Music Business Fundamentals
and 1.0 credit in track-specific courses, as follows:

  • Students pursuing the Audio Engineering Certificate** must complete: MBTC62H3 Advanced Sound Mixing and Editing
    MBTC63H3 Advanced Sound Production and Recording
  • Students pursuing the Music Business Certificate** must complete: MBTC70H3 Copyright, Royalties, Licensing, and Publishing
    MBTC72H3 Advanced Music Business

** Students must choose either Audio Engineering OR Music Business. This choice affects courses in Year 3; students are cautioned that they cannot switch tracks.

Note: Courses for the Winter session are taught at the Centennial College Performing Arts Centre (2200 Eglinton Ave East, Scarborough) and Story Arts Centre (951 Carlaw Ave, Toronto). Students cannot enroll in both institutions at the same time; i.e. students taking courses at Centennial College cannot enroll in courses at UTSC.

3. Third Year (5.5 credits):

Fall Session – Group B (2.5 credits; offered at Centennial College)
[Note: students will be eligible to enrol in these courses after successfully completing all courses in Group A]

MBTB30H3 Art of Performance
MBTB51H3 Musical Entrepreneurship
[MBTB11H3 Orchestral Arranging or MBTB12H3 Vocal Arranging]
and 1.0 credit in track-specific courses, as follows:

  • Students pursuing the Audio Engineering Certificate must complete: MBTC60H3 Live Sound Engineering
    MBTC66H3 Studio Session Management
  • Students pursuing the Music Business Certificate must complete: MBTC71H3 Music Marketing and Social Media
    MBTC73H3 Artist Management and Promotion

Winter Session– Group C (2.5 credits; offered at Centennial College)
[Note: students will be eligible to enrol in these courses after successfully completing all courses in Group B]

MBTC52H3 Contemporary Music Industry Issues
MBTC98H3 Music Career Development
and 1.5 credits selected from the following:
MBTC67H3 Audio Mastering
MBTC68H3 Audio Engineering for Gaming and VR
MBTC74H3 Music Supervision and Consulting
MBTC75H3 Music Journalism
MBTC82H3 Indie Artist Development

Winter Session – Group D (0.5 credit)
[Note: students will be eligible to enrol in these courses after successfully completing all courses in Group C]

MBTD99H3 Field Placement***
***Note: this 6-week placement takes place in March-April

Note: Courses for Year 3 of the program are taught at the Centennial College Performing Arts Centre (2200 Eglinton Ave East, Scarborough) and Story Arts Centre (951 Carlaw Ave, Toronto). Students are advised that, when they are taking courses at Centennial College, they should not also enroll in courses at UTSC.

4. Fourth Year (3.0 credits; offered at UTSC):
MUZB81H3 The Independent Music-Maker
MUZC41H3 Digital Music Creation
MUZC21H3 Musical Diasporas
MUZC43H3 Music, Technologies, Media
MUZC42H3 Creative Audio Design Workshop
MUZD80H3 Music and Culture Senior Project Note: courses for Year 4 of the program are taught on the UTSC campus

Music and Culture