Recording Arts / Music Industry Certificate Program in California

College of Extended Learning at San Francisco State University:
Conveniently located at the corner of Market and Powell in downtown San Francisco, The College of Extended Learning at San Francisco State University provides a variety of music business and recording industry classes which are open to everyone. You can select any class that interests you, or follow our Music/Recording Industry (MRI) academic certificate program. Our downtown campus is directly on the Powell Street BART and Muni lines, and close to affordable parking.

Music/Recording Industry (MRI) Academic Certificate Program:
The MRI program offers a unique mix of technical, production, aesthetic, and business classes to give the student or professional a comprehensive education. Students begin with a foundation in music business and recording arts, and then choose from a wider range of courses within a specific emphasis, either music business or audio engineering.

The certificate program requires completion of 24 semester units. 15 of these units are to be taken from a core of courses listed below and the remaining 9 may be chosen from the list of elective courses. Students are also required to take a minimum of two workshops, prior to completion of the program.

General Required Courses:
- Beginning Music Recording Workshop
- Legal Aspects of the Music/Recording Industry
- History of the Popular Music Industry

Audio Engineering Emphasis - Required Courses:
- Pro Tools 101
- Intermediate Music Recording Workshop
- Music Mixing Workshop
- Advanced Audio Production I (Sharkbite Studios)
- Field Study in Audio Engineering (Internship Course)

Music Business Emphasis - Required Courses:
- Music Publishing
- Music Industry Career Planning
- Applied Strategies
- Field Study in Music Business (Internship course)

Elective Courses:
- Digital DJ: Beats & Loops
- Logic Audio Pro
- Reason
- The Role of the Record Producer
- Music Business Publicity
- Behind the Stage
- Independent Radio Promotion
- The Art & Business of Songwriting
- Popular Music Marketing
- Studio Training Workshop: Vocalists
- Music Mastering
- Music Artist Management
- The Art & Business of Hip-Hop
- The Independent Record Label: A-Z
- Artist & Repertoire
- Independent Label Operations
- Seminar in the Music/Recording Industry. Topics vary and are offered on a rotating basis.
- Advanced Audio Production II (Sharkbite Studios)
- Live Concert Sound