Bachelor of Contemporary Music

Southern Cross University

About

See yourself as the next Lady Gaga or Bruno Mars?

Does your band dream of emulating the success of music's biggest names?

Perhaps you aspire to a career behind the production desk, promoting artists, or staging concerts and tours.Join a fantastic community of Southern Cross music graduates that include award-winning producer Matt Fell, singer-songwriter BUOY, composer and musician Yantra de Vilder, Matt Smith of Thirsty Merc, US country music number-one hit songwriter Phil Barton as well as Matt Collins, Michael Watson, Scott Finch and Fraser Rojo Perrott of WHARVES to name just a few.Guided by lecturers who are successful musicians with strong industry connections, the Bachelor of Contemporary Music will prepare you for a 21st century music career.

Along with access to our state-of-the-art facilities in either Lismore or Coomera, you can participate in collaborative, practical music-making activities, attend APRA AMCOS songwriters' workshops featuring visiting artists, and access some of Australia’s biggest music events such as Splendour in the Grass and Byron Bay Bluesfest.This course opens the way to a career as a performer, songwriter, producer, sound engineer, educator, session musician, musical director, promoter or venue manager.

Graduates completing the required units can also study our Master of Teaching and teach secondary school music.

Structure

Part A

Title Level of learning Note
MUS71005 - Creative Music Practice I Introductory
MUS71006 - Creative Music Practice II Introductory
MUS72010 - Creative Music Practice III Intermediate
MUS72011 - Creative Music Practice IV Intermediate
MUS73015 - Creative Music Practice V Advanced
MUS73016 - Creative Music Practice VI Advanced
MUS71001 - Musicianship I Introductory
MUS71002 - Musicianship II Introductory
MUS72003 - Musicianship III Intermediate
MUS72004 - Musicianship IV Intermediate
MUS73005 - Musicianship V Advanced
MUS10509 - Sounds, Styles and Cultures Introductory
MUS10506 - Music Industry Landscapes Introductory
MUS73001 - The Portfolio Career Musician Advanced

Part B

Part C

Entry requirements

Students wishing to be considered for the performance or songwriting/composition audition streams must complete the audition process prior to entry into the course.

  1. To be eligible for the award of Bachelor of Contemporary Music degree a candidate shall successfully complete not less than twenty-four (24) units (288 credit points) comprising:
  2. all fourteen (14) units listed in Part A; and
  3. six (6) units from Part B (including at least 2 advanced level units) and 4 elective units; or
  4. one ten (10) unit Recommended Stream from Part C
  5. To be eligible for the award of Diploma of Contemporary Music a candidate shall successfully complete not less than eight (8) units (96 credit points) comprising:
  6. six (6) units listed in Part A and 2 units in Part B or Part C
  7. A candidate who, while enrolled in the Bachelor of Contemporary Music, may elect to be awarded the Diploma of Contemporary Music following withdrawal from the Bachelor Degree.

Candidates who can demonstrate artistic or academic expertise at a professional level in any approved area of the course may be granted advanced standing for up to 12 units from Parts A or B, provided that except in special circumstances, such artistic expertise has been demonstrated within seven (7) years prior to admission of candidature.

Learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the <a href="/staff/teaching-and-learning/graduate-attributes/">graduate attributes</a>.

Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome
Intellectual rigour Demonstrate skills of analysis, interpretation, evaluation and research. Apply these skills to musical and other cultural contexts.
Creativity Demonstrate creative and interpretive skills in a range of music composition, music performance, music production, and allied activities.Apply these skills to creative work and outputs.
Ethical practice Demonstrate a commitment to ethical practices and legal obligations in professional and personal contexts.
Knowledge of a discipline Demonstrate a broad, integrated command of knowledge, skills and technologies in music. Demonstrate the ability and confidence to make a successful transition to professional life.
Lifelong learning Demonstrate the ability to be responsive to change, to be reflective in practice, and to be information literate. Apply this ability to update and develop one’s knowledge through independent and self-directed learning.
Communication and social skills Demonstrate a repertoire of written, oral, sonic and gestural communication skills. Apply these skills to personal, and professional settings.
Cultural competence Demonstrate the ability and confidence to engage with different cultural and indigenous perspectives at local, national and international levels. Apply these skills in the conduct creative artistic practice.

Institution