The music recording industry is one of the largest and most fascinating of the entertainment media field. The Certificate of Study in the Music Recording Industry (MRI) anchors an interdisciplinary hub of interested faculty, students and staff. Our goal is to provide SFSU students with an in-depth understanding of how art, business and technology intersect to drive innovation and change in this global media form.
Join the pipeline to the entertainment media industry by earning the MRI Certificate. Housed in the newly constructed Marcus Hall, students completing this program will gain knowledge and skills that enhance your understanding of the business of the music recording industry and the technological basis of the music recording process. A primary feature of the program is to provide you with the knowledge and skills to land a meaningful internship within the music recording industry.
The program is open to all SFSU students.
How does the BECA Department support the MRI program?
The Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts Department (BECA) coordinates the Music/Recording Industry program. The BECA Department has long-term and far-reaching ties to the entertainment media, including the music industry. BECA is recognized as an Avid Community Partner and BECA faculty provide the potential for Avid Pro Tools User Certification as part of the MRI Program.
The MRI Certificate also partners with the SFSU School of Music and the California State University Chancellor’s Entertainment Alliance to help students complete the certificate.
Interested in Earning the Certificate? Follow These Steps:
Required Courses (18-19 units)
The certificate program requires completion of a minimum of 18 units. Nine of these units are to be taken from the general required courses listed below. Six units must be completed from either the Audio Engineering Pathway or the Music Business Pathway. The remaining units come from the listed Elective options.
To learn more about the offered courses, please visit the Academic Bulletin.
Core Requirements (9 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BECA 231 | Audio Production Basics | 3 |
| Select One: | 3 | |
| BECA 200 | Introduction to Media | |
| MUS 137 | Survey of the History of Electronic Music | |
| Select One: | 3 | |
| BECA 576 | Internship in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts | |
| MUS 600 | Music Internship | |
Emphasis (6 units)
Choose Audio Engineering or Music Business
Audio Engineering Emphasis
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BECA 330 | The Sound Studio I: Consoles & Signal Flow | 3 |
| BECA 430 | The Sound Studio II: Recording & Mixing | 3 |
Music Business Emphasis
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BECA 324 | Media Law | 3 |
| BECA 423 | Media Economics: Entertainment, Platform, and Technology | 3 |
Elective Courses (3-4 units)
Select 3-4 units:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BECA 276 | Entertainment Career Preparation and Development | 3 |
| BECA 305 | KSFS Radio and Podcasting I | 3 |
| BECA 335 | Audio for Video | 3 |
| BECA 351 | The Art of Voiceover | 3 |
| BECA/JOUR 427 | Media Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| BECA 428 | Media Management | 3 |
| BECA 435 | Aesthetics of Sound | 3 |
| BECA 505 | KSFS Radio and Podcasting II | 3 |
| BECA 510 | Music Performance Recording and Production | 3 |
| BECA 530 | The Sound Studio III: Music Production & Sound Design | 3 |
| BECA 535 | Advanced Audio for Video | 3 |
| BECA 536 | Creativity and Design Thinking in Electronic Media | 3 |
| MUS 134 | Survey of Music for Film, TV, and Games | 3 |
| MUS 433 | Introduction to Music Technology | 2 |
| MUS 451 | Scoring for Games I | 3 |
| MUS 453 | Scoring for Games II | 3 |
| MUS 455 | Scoring for Film I | 3 |
| MUS 457 | Scoring for Film II | 2 |
| MUS 461 | Scoring for Virtual Reality | 2 |
Apply for the Certificate
If you are interested in this certificate, please reach out by completing the MRI Certificate Program Application linked below or email to mri@sfsu.edu.
Complete the following CAP Form
Be sure to read all of the instructions thoroughly before submitting.
Please Note:
- If you have not seen an advisor, reach-out to the MRI Program Advisor at mri@sfsu.edu.
After you click “Finish,” the form will automatically be sent electronically to the Advisor, Program/Department Chair, and Division of Graduate Studies for their signatures.
Questions
If you have any questions or would like more information about the MRI program or our other initiatives, please email us at mri@sfsu.edu.
If you have questions about the certificate, we recommend that you check out the Academic Bulletin that explains key requirements to complete the Certificate.
Certificate Coordinator
Scott Patterson, Professor, Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts (BECA)