Course summary

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.

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.

There are nine streams in total:

  • Performance (audition stream)
  • Performance (non-audition stream)
  • Songwriting/Composition (audition stream)
  • Songwriting/Composition (non-audition stream)
  • Music Education
  • Sound Production (audition stream)
  • Sound Production (non-audition stream)
  • New Media Arts
  • Screen.

Please note: New Media Arts and Screen streams are not currently available at Coomera. Sound Production (audition stream) is not available at Lismore.

The flexible course structure enables you to choose the pathway most suited to your interests. You can combine elements from different streams to create your own pathway.

All students participate in collaborative, practical music-making activities throughout the degree. An extensive ensemble program includes small and large repertoire-focused groups and student-led project bands. Students write, arrange, rehearse, record and perform a wide range of music, and are encouraged to develop their own creative projects.

Performance, Songwriting/Composition and Sound Production audition streams

These audition streams offer students who are entering the course with high-level abilities the opportunity to work closely with staff and hone their skills in a specialist area. Students in these streams receive extensive one-on-one and/or small group tuition and consultations.

Please note that students wishing to be considered for the audition streams must complete the audition process as part of their application to this course. Information about the audition process is available at scu.edu.au/music. 

Students who achieve at a high level in a non-audition stream can transfer into the audition stream in second year.

Music Education stream

Students who complete the degree with the Music Education stream can then apply for a graduate education course (such as the Master of Teaching at Southern Cross) to become a secondary school music teacher. The Bachelor of Contemporary Music course structure enables students to also pick up a second teaching area by taking elective units in another specialist area.

Sound Production non-audition stream

The Sound Production non-audition stream develops students' skills in live recording and sound engineering. Students have access to state-of-the-art production facilities, including purpose-built recording and performance spaces. They work closely with performers and songwriters in both live and recording environments.

New Media Arts and Screen streams (Lismore only, not available at Coomera)

Students in the New Media Arts stream and the Screen stream pursue design, film, video and emerging arts practices. There are opportunities for students to collaborate on projects with students studying the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communication and the Bachelor of Art and Design.

Course Learning Outcome

Demonstrate skills of analysis, interpretation, evaluation and research.

Apply these skills to musical and other cultural contexts.

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.

Demonstrate a commitment to ethical practices and legal obligations in professional and personal contexts.

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.

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.

Demonstrate a repertoire of written, oral, sonic and gestural communication skills.

Apply these skills to personal, and professional settings.

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.

Students have the opportunity to undertake professional placements at major local festivals such as Splendour in the Grass and with music organisations and businesses.

Course overview

Course code

3003140

Course abbreviation

BContempMus

Credit points

288

Equivalent units

24

Duration

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Duration

3 years full-time

Availability details

Domestic

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Coomera Session 1 N/A N/A
Lismore Session 1 N/A N/A

Fee information

Commonwealth supported

International

Location Teaching period Annual Fees CRICOS
Lismore Session 1 $26,800 ($3,350 per unit) 026996C

Course requirements

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

  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:
    1. all fourteen (14) units listed in Part A; and
    2. six (6) units from Part B (including at least 2 advanced level units) and 4 elective units; or
    3. one ten (10) unit Recommended Stream from Part C
  2. 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:
    1. six (6) units listed in Part A and 2 units in Part B or Part C
  3. 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.

Schedule of units

Title Level of learning Note

Part A

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

Title Level of learning Note
MUS71010 - Instrumental Techniques I Introductory
MUS71011 - Instrumental Techniques II Introductory
4 Part B units
4 Electives Note 1

Title Level of learning Note
MUS71003 - Sound Production I Introductory
MUS72005 - Sound Production II Intermediate
MUS73006 - Sound Production III Advanced
COM00471 - Professional Placement Advanced
2 Part B units
4 Electives Note 1


Course progressions

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment

Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.

Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors

Title Level of learning Note

Year 1, Session 1

MUS71005 - Creative Music Practice I Introductory
MUS71001 - Musicianship I Introductory
MUS10509 - Sounds, Styles and Cultures Introductory
MUS71010 - Instrumental Techniques I Introductory

Year 1, Session 2

MUS71006 - Creative Music Practice II Introductory
MUS71002 - Musicianship II Introductory
MUS10506 - Music Industry Landscapes Introductory
MUS71011 - Instrumental Techniques II Introductory

Year 2, Session 1

MUS72010 - Creative Music Practice III Intermediate
MUS72003 - Musicianship III Intermediate
Part B unit
Part B OR Elective

Year 2, Session 2

MUS72011 - Creative Music Practice IV Intermediate
MUS72004 - Musicianship IV Intermediate
Part B unit
Part B OR Elective

Year 3, Session 1

MUS73015 - Creative Music Practice V Advanced
MUS73005 - Musicianship V Advanced
Part B unit
Part B OR Elective

Year 3, Session 2

MUS73016 - Creative Music Practice VI Advanced
MUS73001 - The Portfolio Career Musician Advanced
Part B unit
Part B OR Elective

Title Level of learning Note
Year 1, Session 2
MUS10506 - Music Industry Landscapes Introductory
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Year 2, Session 1
MUS71005 - Creative Music Practice I Introductory
MUS71001 - Musicianship I Introductory
MUS10509 - Sounds, Styles and Cultures Introductory
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Year 2, Session 2
MUS71006 - Creative Music Practice II Introductory
MUS71002 - Musicianship II Introductory
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Year 3, Session 1
MUS72010 - Creative Music Practice III Intermediate
MUS72003 - Musicianship III Intermediate
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Year 3, Session 2
MUS72011 - Creative Music Practice IV Intermediate
MUS72004 - Musicianship IV Intermediate
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Year 4, Session 1
MUS73015 - Creative Music Practice V Advanced
MUS73005 - Musicianship V Advanced
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective 		Note 1
Year 4, Session 2
MUS73016 - Creative Music Practice VI Advanced
MUS73001 - The Portfolio Career Musician Advanced
Option Part B Units
OR
Elective
Note 1

Notes

Note 1: Electives can be any undergraduate unit offered by the University
Note 2: Enrolment in Specialist Studies I-VI units is restricted and requires UA and CC approval
Note 3: Only suggested in the music education stream if not doing Specialist Studies I and II
Note 4: Depending on whether Instrumental Techniques I and II are undertaken as part of the music education stream
Note 5: Students wishing to gain entry into a graduate music education course should use the 4 electives to complete a second teaching area. At SCU the recommended areas are: English, maths, history or geography. Confirm with the School of Education the specific units required.