Overview
The Recording Industry major leads to a Bachelor of Science degree in Recording Industry. The 120-semester-hour program is divided into:
- 48 hours of Recording Industry (RIM) courses*
- 18 hours of required core courses
- 12-15 hours of required sub-core courses specific to each concentration
- 15-18 hours of major elective courses from lists specific to each concentration
- 44 hours of University General Studies courses
- 15 - 24 hours from an approved minor (see right sidebar)*
- 4 - 12 hours of general electives
* these hours are determined by the chosen minor.
University General Studies Requirements for RI majors:
- MATH 1710 College Algebra (or higher math) for the General Studies Math requirement
- RIM/JOUR/EMC 1020 American Media and Social Institutions will count in both the General Studies program and in the RI major
- Computer Literacy, CSCI 1150, INFS 2200, or a computer science minor
Each Recording Industry major must choose one of three concentrations.
Course requirements for the 45 hours of RIM courses are determined by the concentration elected by the student:
- Audio Production
- Music Business
- Commercial Songwriting
Core Courses
The core courses, required for all concentrations, make up 18 of the 45 hours of RIM courses.
- EMC/JOUR/RIM 1020 American Media and Social Institutions
- RIM 3000 History of the Recording Industry
- RIM 3010 Audio Fundamentals
- RIM 3600 Survey of the Recording Industry
- RIM 3700 Copyright Law
- RIM 4700 Contracts and Legal Issues
Required Sub-Core courses by Concentration
Audio Production: 15 hours.
- RIM 1230 Musicianship for Engineers (or MUSI 1110 Music Theory)
- RIM 4190 Introduction to MIDI and Sound Synthesis
- RIM 4200 Digital Audio Technology
- RIM 4400 Studio Techniques
- RIM 4440 Critical Listening
Commercial Songwriting: 15 hours
- RIM 1230 Musicianship for Engineers (or MUSI 1110 Music Theory*)
- RIM 3020 Commercial Songwriting
- RIM 3900 Music Publishing
- RIM 4020 Advanced Songwriting
- One of the following:
Music Business: 12 hours.
- RIM 3720 Artist Management
- RIM 3900 Music Publishing
- RIM 4320 Concert Promotion and Touring
- RIM 4620 Marketing of Recordings
Electives
Each concentration has a list of approved elective courses. Students may take up to 9 hours from any of the elective lists. The remaining major electives must be from the list approved for their concentration. No more than six hours of internship and/or practicum courses may be counted toward the major electives.
Audio Production electives
- PHY 1600 Physics of Music (3 Hrs)
- RIM 3020 Commercial Songwriting
- RIM 3450 Advanced Musicianship for Engineers
- RIM 3500 Lecture Series
- RIM 3580 Practicum
- RIM 4010 Recording Industry Internship: Tech
- RIM 4290 MIDI Sequencing and Virtual Instruments
- RIM 4300 Advanced ProTools Techniques
- RIM 4330 Sound Reinforcement
- RIM 4480 Mastering
- RIM 4510 Study Abroad
- RIM 4570 The Art of Soundtrack Design
- RIM 4580 Sound for Picture
- RIM 4590 Computer-based Scoring for Visual Media
- RIM 4650 Multitrack Music Recording: Studio B
- RIM 4651 Multitrack Music Recording: Studio A
- RIM 4660 Advanced Music Engineering
- RIM 4670 Studio Production
- RIM 4740 Studio Administration
- RIM 4810 Topics in Recording Industry
- RIM 4830 Recording Studio Maintenance
- RIM 4900 Individual Problems in the Recording Industry
- RIM 4910 Advanced Production Seminar
Commercial Songwriting electives
- RIM 3100 Music as Popular Culture
- RIM 3200 History of Country Music
- RIM 3450 Advanced Musicianship for Engineers
- RIM 3500 Lecture Series
- RIM 3580 Practicum
- RIM 3720 Artist Management
- RIM 4000 Recording Industry Internship: Business
- RIM 4010 Recording Industry Internship: Technology
- RIM 4190 Introduction to MIDI and Sound Synthesis
- RIM 4200 Digital Audio Production
- RIM 4210 Personal Desktop Music Production
- RIM 4320 Concert Promotion and Touring
- RIM 4400 Critical Listening
- RIM 4510 Study Abroad
- RIM 4800 Understanding the Nashville Music Business
- RIM 4810 Topics in Recording Industry
- RIM 4840 Music Publishing Administration
- RIM 4900 Individual Problems in the Recording Industry
Music Business electives
- RIM 3020 Commercial Songwriting
- RIM 3100 Music as Popular Culture
- RIM 3200 History of Country Music
- RIM 3500 Lecture Series
- RIM 3580 Practicum
- RIM 3650 Free Expression, Mass Media, the Amer. Public
- RIM 3770 Publicity in the Recording Industry
- RIM 3780 Entertainment Reporting and Writing
- RIM 3890 The International Recording Industry
- RIM 4000 Recording Ind. Internship: Business
- RIM 4510 Study Abroad
- RIM 4630 Research in the Recording Industry
- RIM 4690 Internet for the Music Business
- RIM 4720 Record Retail Operations
- RIM 4730 The A & R Function
- RIM 4740 Studio Administration
- RIM 4800 The Nashville Music Business
- RIM 4810 Topics in Recording Industry
- RIM 4820 Record Label Operations
- RIM 4900 Individual Problems in the Recording Industry
- Of the 15 hours of electives, 3 hours may be selected from:
- MUHL 3670: History of Popular Music in America
- P S 3530: Legal Writing & Research
- Jour 2710: Media Writing
- ENGL 3810: British Popular Culture
- SOC 4170: Social Context of Southern Music
Choose one of the following concentrations:
- Music Business
- Commercial Songwriting
- Audio Production & Technology
One minor is required for all Recording Industry majors.
Music Business
students must minor in one of the following:
- Business Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Management
- Marketing
- Mass Comm. Journalism
- Mass Comm. Media Management
- Mass Comm. Public Relations
Commercial Songwriting
students must minor in one of the following:
- Music
- Entrepreneurship
- Writing
Audio Production & Technology
students may minor in any MTSU minor area. Recommended minors are:
- Computer Science
- Electro-Acoustics
- Electronics
- Entertainment Technology
- Mass Comm. any area
- Music Industry
- Theatrical Design
The following is a brief description of some minors:
Business Administration:
Preparation for general business careers. The study of accounting methods, management, finance, and marketing.
Computer Science:
A blend of theory, abstraction and design in the application of computers and computer programming.
Electronics:
The study of electrical circuits, electronic components, circuit design, microprocessors, and applications.
Electro-Acoustics:
The study of Physics, Electronics and Acoustics.
Entertainment Technology:
Cross-departmental study intended to give the student a broad background in the technology used to produce a variety of media including Theatre and Video.
Entrepreneurship:
Preparation to organize and assume the risk of a business or enterprise.
Mass Communication:
This minor can include study in any of the Mass Communication areas: Advertising, Digital Imaging, Graphics, Journalism, Media Management, Photography, Public Relations, Radio-Television Production and Management. Business concentration students must choose between Journalism, Media Management and Public Relations.
Marketing:
Preparation to assume marketing responsibilities including sales management, retailing, advertising/promotion, market research, and product development.
Music Industry:
Application of musical principles intended to further the study of students with a formal music background. Emphasis on commercial music.
Theatrical Design:
The design and application of theatre technology.