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Bachelor of Contemporary Music

Bachelors Degree

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    BContempMus

  • Course code

    3003140

  • Credit points

    288

  • Equivalent units

    24

  • Indicative Fee

    Commonwealth supported

Overview

The Bachelor of Contemporary Music prepares you for a portfolio career in music — the multi-faceted career pathway that is now most common for contemporary musicians. Tailor your degree towards your area of interest, whether it’s production, performance, songwriting or other professional areas of the music industry.

You will learn using state-of-the-art facilities in either Lismore or Coomera, taught by lecturers who are practising musicians with strong industry links.

On-campus facilities include recording studios, rehearsal studios, music production labs, keyboard lab, and professional-standard performance spaces. You can immerse yourself in the rich local music scene that includes major annual events such as Splendour in the Grass.

Students participate in collaborative, practical music-making activities throughout the degree. An extensive ensemble program also includes small and large repertoire-focused groups and student-led project bands.

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.

Please note: Applicants for the Bachelor of Contemporary Music must complete an Audition/Interview. For more information please see the important information for applicants.

Learn more about this degree in our music showcase.

Course Learning Outcome

Consolidate and integrate complex knowledge and skills in music.

Demonstrate academic literacy skills to share knowledge through written and verbal communications

Resolve musical and conceptual challenges using analysis, research, creativity and critical judgment.

Undertake sustained, independent and collaborative music practice

Consolidate and integrate complex knowledge and skills in music

Communicate complex musical ideas through music-specific forms of representation

Resolve musical and conceptual challenges using analysis, research, creativity and critical judgment

Undertake sustained, independent and collaborative music practice

Actively engage with different cultural and indigenous perspectives at local, national and international levels

Prepare for a career in music demonstrating reflective and ethical practice, integrity, legal obligations and adaptability, in a dynamic industry

Undertake sustained, independent and collaborative music practice

Consolidate and integrate complex knowledge and skills in music

Communicate complex musical ideas through music-specific forms of representation

Resolve musical and conceptual challenges using analysis, research, creativity and critical judgment

Prepare for a career in music demonstrating reflective and ethical practice, integrity, legal obligations and adaptability, in a dynamic industry

Undertake sustained, independent and collaborative music practice

Demonstrate academic literacy skills to share knowledge through written and verbal communications

Prepare for a career in music demonstrating reflective and ethical practice, integrity, legal obligations and adaptability, in a dynamic industry

Demonstrate academic literacy skills to share knowledge through written and verbal communications

Communicate complex musical ideas through music-specific forms of representation

Actively engage with different cultural and indigenous perspectives at local, national and international levels

Undertake sustained, independent and collaborative music practice

Actively engage with different cultural and indigenous perspectives at local, national and international levels

Prepare for a career in music demonstrating reflective and ethical practice, integrity, legal obligations and adaptability, in a dynamic industry.

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

Students can focus their study on either contemporary music performance, songwriting, composition or production.

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.

Students who complete the degree 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.

Please note, an interview/audition is part of the application process for the Bachelor of Contemporary Music. Details

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Coomera Term 1, Term 3 N/A N/A
Lismore Term 1, Term 3 N/A N/A

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

Students wishing to enter the BCM must complete the audition/interview process prior to entry into the course.

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Contemporary Music, students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising:

  • 20 core units (240 credit points), and 
  • 4 equivalent elective units (48 credit points).

Exit awards

Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Contemporary Music after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising 8 core units as per the Schedule of Units.

Course structure

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.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Notes

Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award

First Year

MUSC1012 Music Craft I
Term1
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term1
Term1
Lismore
Term1
Term1
Anti-requisites MUSC1003 - Musicianship I MUSC1005 - Specialist Studies I
MUSC1001 Creative Music Practice I
Term1
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term1
Term1
Lismore
Term1
N/A
MUSC1013 Music Craft II
Term2
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term2
Term2
Lismore
Term2
Term2
Pre-requisites MUSC1012 - Music Craft I
Anti-requisites MUSC1003 - Musicianship IMUSC1005 - Specialist Studies I
CRTV1002 Create: Innovate: Change
Term2,4
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term2
Term2
Lismore
Term2
Term2
Online
Term2,4
N/A
Anti-requisites AAD71103 - Design Fundamentals ART00630 - Design ART10094 - Digital Art and Design I
MUSC1014 Music Craft III
Term3
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term3
Term3
Lismore
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisites MUSC1013 - Music Craft II
Anti-requisites MUSC1004 - Musicianship IIMUSC1006 - Specialist Studies II
MUSC1002 Creative Music Practice II
Term3
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term3
Term3
Lismore
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisites MUSC1001 - Creative Music Practice I
MUSC1015 Music Craft IV
Term4
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term4
Term4
Lismore
Term4
Term4
Pre-requisites MUSC1014 - Music Craft III
Anti-requisites MUSC1004 - Musicianship IIMUSC1006 - Specialist Studies II
MUSC1008 Music Industry Landscapes
Term4
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term4
Term4
Lismore
Term4
Term4
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Contemporary Music after completing the above 8 (eight) units.

Second Year

MUSC2008 Music Craft V
Term1
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term1
Term1
Lismore
Term1
Term1
Pre-requisites MUSC1015 - Music Craft IV
Anti-requisites MUSC2002 - Musicianship IIIMUSC2003 - Specialist Studies III
MUSC2005 Creative Music Practice III
Term1
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term1
Term1
Lismore
Term1
Term1
Pre-requisites MUSC1002 - Creative Music Practice II
MUSC1009 Sounds, Styles and Cultures
Term2
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term2
Term2
Lismore
Term2
Term2
MUSC2009 Music Craft VI
Term2
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term2
Term2
Lismore
Term2
Term2
Pre-requisites MUSC2008 - Music Craft V
Anti-requisites MUSC2002 - Musicianship IIIMUSC2003 - Specialist Studies III
MUSC2010 Music Craft VII
Term3
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term3
Term3
Lismore
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisites MUSC2009 - Music Craft VI
Anti-requisites MUSC3004 - Musicianship IVMUSC2004 - Specialist Studies IV
MUSC2007 Creative Music Practice IV
Term3
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term3
Term3
Lismore
Term3
Term3
Pre-requisites MUSC2005 - Creative Music Practice III
MUSC3010 Oceans of Sound
Term4
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term4
Term4
Lismore
Term4
Term4
Enrolment information The content and assessment for this unit draws on ethnomusicological concepts introduced in MUSC1009 - Sounds, Styles and Cultures. It is recommended that students complete MUSC1009 - Sounds, Styles and Cultures prior to enrolling in this unit.
MUSC2011 Music Craft VIII
Term4
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term4
Term4
Lismore
Term4
Term4
Pre-requisites MUSC2010 - Music Craft VII
Anti-requisites MUSC3004 - Musicianship IVMUSC2004 - Specialist Studies IV

Third Year

Elective
Note 1, Note 2
MUSC3001 Creative Music Practice V
Term1
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term1
Term1
Lismore
Term1
Term1
Pre-requisites MUSC2007 - Creative Music Practice IV
MUSC1010 Music Second Study
Term2
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term2
Term2
Lismore
Term2
Term2
Elective
Note 1, Note 2
Elective
Note 1, Note 2
Elective
Note 1, Note 2
MUSC3008 The Portfolio Career Musician
Term4
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Term4
Term4
Lismore
Term4
Term4
Enrolment information This is a capstone unit that integrates the knowledge you have developed during your degree. Students enrolling in this unit should have completed units equivalent to 144 credit points (typically 12 units) in MUS code units. The focus of the assessment is to prepare you for a career in music.
COMM3004 Independent Project
Dual Term2,4
Location Domestic International
Coomera
Dual Term2,4
Dual Term2,4
Online
Dual Term2,4
Dual Term4
Enrolment information This is a capstone unit that integrates the knowledge you have developed during your degree. In it you will work independently with an academic supervisor. To successfully complete this unit, you should have completed units equivalent to 192 credit points (typically 16 units).

Note 1:

Electives can be any University-wide elective or the elective music units - Advanced Music Studio Practice I and Advanced Music Studio Practice II.

Note 2:

Students wishing to gain entry into a graduate music education course (e.g., Masters of Teaching) are advised to complete 4 electives that will contribute to a second specialisation within the Faculty of Education. Confirm with the Faculty of Education regarding areas of specialisation and the specific units required.

Unit Code Unit Title Notes

Core Units
MUSC1012 Music Craft I
MUSC1001 Creative Music Practice I
MUSC1013 Music Craft II
CRTV1002 Create: Innovate: Change
MUSC1014 Music Craft III
MUSC1002 Creative Music Practice II
MUSC1015 Music Craft IV
MUSC1008 Music Industry Landscapes
Students may be eligible to exit with a Diploma of Contemporary Music after completing the above 8 (eight) units.
MUSC2008 Music Craft V
MUSC2005 Creative Music Practice III
MUSC1009 Sounds, Styles and Cultures
MUSC2009 Music Craft VI
MUSC2010 Music Craft VII
MUSC2007 Creative Music Practice IV
MUSC3010 Oceans of Sound
MUSC2011 Music Craft VIII
MUSC3001 Creative Music Practice V
MUSC1010 Music Second Study
MUSC3008 The Portfolio Career Musician
COMM3004 Independent Project

Elective Units

 Note 1, Note 2
Choose 4 elective units from the following
MUSC3005 Advanced Music Studio Practice I
MUSC3006 Advanced Music Studio Practice II
University-wide electives