Music Industry BS
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science (BS)
Minimum Required Credits: 121
Co-op Option(s): One Co-op, No Co-op
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 50.1003
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 27-2041
About the Program
The Music Industry program develops versatile professionals equipped to navigate the technical, creative, and business dimensions of contemporary music careers. Through experiential education in both Music Production and Music Business concentrations, students gain the specialized knowledge and practical experience required for success in an industry shaped by spatial audio technologies, creator-driven platforms, and music entrepreneurship. Both concentrations include a built-in minor in Business Administration in partnership with LeBow College of Business.
Music Production students master audio production through intensive hands-on work in seven professional recording studios, available 24/7 for both coursework and independent projects. The program's immersive mixing studio provides access to cutting-edge spatial audio capabilities that represent the future of music consumption across streaming, gaming, and virtual reality. Core competencies in recording, mixing, mastering and sound design are expanded through electives in growth areas including concert production, audio for gaming and interactive media, and emerging music technologies.
Music Business students build strategic expertise in artist development, music marketing, rights management, and entrepreneurship, addressing both established industry structures and emerging business models driven by direct-to-fan platforms and data analytics. Experiential learning opportunities include real-world projects with industry partners through the MAD Dragon Music Group course, where students apply strategic frameworks to active artist campaigns and business challenges.
Drexel's cooperative education model provides up to six months of professional experience at recording studios, labels, management firms, and live entertainment companies. Throughout their studies, students work with Grammy Award-winning and nominated faculty who maintain active professional practices, ensuring instruction reflects current industry standards. Located in Philadelphia, the program leverages the city's musical heritage and contemporary scene through partnerships with the professional recording industry community, with faculty connections to industry professionals providing mentorship and industry access.
Graduates pursue careers as recording engineers, music producers, live sound engineers, artist managers, A&R executives, music marketers, and music entrepreneurs, prepared to adapt to the continuous evolution shaping the music industry.
Additional Information
For more information about this program, please contact the Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts and Design.
Admission Requirements
Same as Drexel Admissions. Applicants are encouraged to use the portfolio portal provided on the Admissions Instructions webpage to upload electronic examples of pertinent activities (music and/or business and entrepreneurial), as well as a resume of music-industry-related experience. Required Supplemental Essay.
Degree Requirements
| University Requirements | ||
| EXP 1001 | Introduction to Experiential Learning | 3.0 |
| WRIT 1100 | Composition and Rhetoric I | 3.0 |
| or WRIT 1110 | English Composition I | |
| WRIT 1200 | Composition and Rhetoric II | 3.0 |
| or WRIT 1210 | English Composition II | |
| Introductory Core Competencies 1 | ||
| Select one course from each of the three (3) categories of Introductory Core Competency Courses: | 6.0 | |
Introductory: Inquire and Analyze | ||
Introductory: Collaborate and Integrate | ||
Introductory: Apply and Engage satified by Making and Storytelling-Creative Process in the College Requirements below | ||
| Free Electives | 15.0 | |
| College Requirements | ||
| Select one course from each of the three (3) categories of Westphal College Courses | ||
| Visual and Information Literacy | 3.0 | |
| Making and Storytelling-Creative Process | 3.0 | |
| Global and Cultural Histories | 3.0 | |
| Program Requirements | ||
| Degree Requirements outside of Program | ||
| ACCT 1110 | Accounting for Professionals | 3.0 |
| BLAW 2201 | Introduction to Business Law and Contractual Obligations | 3.0 |
| EAM 2101 | Fundamentals of Entertainment Law | 3.0 |
| ECON 1201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3.0 |
| ECON 1202 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3.0 |
| MATH 1001 | Mathematical Tools and Techniques | 4.0 |
| MIS 2200 | Management Information Systems | 3.0 |
| MUSC 1211 | Music Theory and Aural Skills | 3.0 |
| or MUSC 1201 | Music Fundamentals | |
| MUSC 2311 | The Art and Craft of Songwriting | 3.0 |
| MUSC 3301 | The Art of Modern Arranging: Harmony, Style, and Structure | 3.0 |
| PHYS 1811 | Acoustics | 3.0 |
| STAT 2201 | Business Statistics I | 3.0 |
| Sociocultural Competencies | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Music Appreciation and Understanding | ||
| Rock Music Through the Eras | ||
| World Musics | ||
| European Classical Music History | ||
| The Power of Black American Music | ||
| History of Jazz | ||
| Hip-Hop Music: History, Origins, Evolution, and Influence | ||
| American Popular Music | ||
| Scenic and Lighting Design for Theatre | ||
| Concentration | ||
| Select one concentration from the options below: | 42.0 | |
| Optional Co-op Experience | ||
| Co-op is an option for this degree for full-time on-campus students. Co-op cycles may vary. Students choosing this option will be required to complete COOP 1001 as preparation for their co-op experience. COOP 1001 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned. | 0.0 | |
| Total Credits | 121.0 | |
- 1
A complete list of eligible introductory Core Competency courses can be found here.
Music Industry Business Concentration
| MIP 1010 | The Music Industry | 3.0 |
| MIP 1200 | Music Production Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| MIP 1511 | Live Music | 3.0 |
| MIP 2520 | Marketing for Music and Entertainment | 3.0 |
| MIP 2560 | Record Label Operations | 3.0 |
| MIP 2610 | Music Industry Entrepreneurship | 3.0 |
| MIP 3540 | Streaming and Radio Promotion | 3.0 |
| MIP 3650 | Artist Development | 3.0 |
| MIP 3660 | Music Copyrights and Publishing | 3.0 |
| Select one of the following options: | 6.0 | |
| Option A: | ||
| MAD Dragon Music Group I | ||
| MAD Dragon Music Group II | ||
| Option B: | ||
| Music Industry Capstone I | ||
| Music Industry Capstone II | ||
| Sociocultural Competencies | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Music Production Analysis | ||
| Cities of Music and Culture | ||
| Music Industry Colloquium | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
| Artist Representation and Management | ||
| Financial Management for Entertainment and Arts Managers | ||
| Topics in Concert Production | ||
| Live Music II | ||
| Marketing Strategy for Music and Entertainment | ||
| Music Supervision | ||
| Music Merchandising | ||
| Music Industry Data Analytics | ||
| Special Topics in Music Industry Program | ||
| Independent Music Culture | ||
| Women in the Music Industry | ||
| Music Industry of Philadelphia | ||
| Music Industry Innovation | ||
| Music Industry Study Abroad | ||
| Topics in Music Technologies | ||
| Special Topics in Music Industry Program | ||
| Total Credits | 42.0 | |
Recording Arts & Music Production Concentration
| FMTV 3221 | Audio for Media | 3.0 |
| MIP 1010 | The Music Industry | 3.0 |
| MIP 1301 | Live Sound I | 3.0 |
| MIP 2101 | Sound Recording I | 3.0 |
| MIP 2102 | Sound Recording II | 3.0 |
| MIP 2111 | Audio Production I | 3.0 |
| MIP 2112 | Audio Production II | 3.0 |
| MIP 3230 | Mixing and Mastering | 3.0 |
| MIP 3240 | Music Production | 3.0 |
| MIP 4998 | Music Industry Capstone I | 3.0 |
| MIP 4999 | Music Industry Capstone II | 3.0 |
| Sociocultural Competencies | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.0 | |
| Music Production Analysis | ||
| Cities of Music and Culture | ||
| Music Industry Colloquium | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6.0 | |
| Topics in Music Production | ||
| Synthesis and Sampling | ||
| Music Industry Entrepreneurship | ||
| Topics in Concert Production | ||
| Audio Production III | ||
| Analog Recording | ||
| Studio Maintenance | ||
| Community Recording | ||
| Advanced Audio for Media | ||
| Scoring for Media | ||
| Live Sound II | ||
| Special Topics in Music Industry Program | ||
| Music Industry Study Abroad | ||
| Topics in Music Technologies | ||
| Special Topics in Music Industry Program | ||
| Total Credits | 42.0 | |