Associate in Fine Arts Degree-Music Production

The Associate in Fine Arts-Music Production is intended for music production students who wish to advance their skills while enriching their music knowledge and experience.

Students who intend to major in music for the baccalaureate degree are strongly encouraged to complete the Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) degree in music, not the Associate in Arts (AA) degree or the Associate in Science (AS) degree, prior to transfer.

To transfer as a junior into a baccalaureate program with a major in music, students should select the option described below in consultation with a faculty member in the music department. Students will need to fulfill the general education requirements of the institution to which they transfer. Transfer admission is competitive. Completion of this option alone does not guarantee admission either to the baccalaureate program or to upper-division or specialty music courses. Students may be required to demonstrate skill level through auditions and placement testing at the institution to which they transfer. In some colleges and universities, a baccalaureate degree may also require competency in a foreign language.

The college recommends using the Academic Planning, Registration, and Payment Tool on accessECC to track your progress toward completion.

The general education courses required for the AFA degree are approved by the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI); however, the structure of the AFA degree does not meet the minimum IAI general education core requirements, nor does it meet the requirements for the AA or AS degrees.

Degree Requirements

Course Title Credits
General Education Requirement
Communications9
Three courses including a two-course sequence in writing and one course in oral communication. A grade of C or better in ENG 101 and ENG 102 is required.
ENG 101English Composition I3
ENG 102English Composition II3
CMS 101Fundamentals of Speech3
Mathematics3-4
MTH 102General Education Statistics3
MTH 104General Education Mathematics3
MTH 120Statistics I4
MTH 125Finite Math for Business & Managmt3
MTH 126Calculus for Business/Social Science4
MTH 190Calculus with Analytic Geometry I5
MTH 210Calculus with Analytic Geometry II5
MTH 230Calculus with Analytic Geometry III5
Physical &Life Sciences7-8
Physical and Life Sciences (Two courses with at least one course selected from the life sciences & at least one course from the physical sciences, one of these must include a lab)
ATY 100Astronomy3.5
ATY 101Elementary Astronomy3
GEO 115Intro to Physical Geography3
GLY 105Environmental Geology3
Physical Sciences Courses with Lab
APS 101Earth Science4
APS 111Applied Physical Science4
CHM 101Preparatory Chemistry5
CHM 112Elements of Chemistry: General5
CHM 142General Chemistry I5
GLY 112Physical Geology4
Life Sciences Courses
PHY 101General Physics I5
PHY 211Engineering Physics I5
BIO 105Survey of Environmental Biology3
Life Sciences Courses with Lab
BIO 108Biology for Contemporary Society4
BIO 110Principles of Biology4
BIO 113Molecular & Cellular Biology4
BIO 114Organismal Bio, Evolution, Ecology4
BIO 115Environmental Biology4
Humanities6
Humanities and Fine Arts (Two courses with one course selected from humanities and one course selected from the fine arts)
Recommended Humanities Courses for AFA in Music Production
HIS 160American Civilization3
HIS 182History of Mexico3
HUM 103Intro to Non-Western Humanities3
HUM 170Introduction to Asian Philosophies3
HUM 201Comparative Religions3
LIT 203Introduction to Literature:Poetry3
LIT 206Latinx Literatures of the US3
LIT 209African American Lit 1619-19403
LIT 210Multicultural American Literature3
LIT 211Intro to Literature by Women3
LIT 218African American Lit (1940-Present)3
LIT 220LGBTQ Literature3
LIT 223International Literature3
Humanities Courses
FRN 202Intermediate French II4
GRM 202Intermediate German II4
SPN 202Intermediate Spanish II4
SPN 252Spanish for Spanish Speakers II4
HUM 101Ancient & Medieval Western Humanities3
HUM 102Modern Western Humanities3
HUM 110Introduction to Philosophy3
HUM 112Ancient & Medieval Western Philosophy3
HUM 113Modern Western Philosophy3
HUM 115Critical Reasoning3
HUM 116Logic3
HUM 200Introduction to Religious Studies3
HUM 202Philosophy of Religion3
HUM 205Introduction to Mythology3
HUM 216Ethics3
LIT 201Introduction to Literature:Fiction3
LIT 202Introduction to Literature:Drama3
LIT 205Introduction to Shakespeare3
LIT 225Children's Literature3
LIT 229Novel and Film3
LIT 230Masterpieces of World Lit3
LIT 235Bible as Literature3
LIT 241Great Books Seminar I3
LIT 242Great Books Seminar II3
LIT 243Great Books Seminar III3
LIT 244Great Books Seminar IV3
LIT 245Great Books Seminar V3
Fine Arts
MUS 104Musics of the World3
MUS 105Music Appreciation3
MUS 145Hip Hop Music Appreciation3
MUS 146Rock and Roll Music Appreciation3
Social & Behavioral Sciences3
Social & Behavioral Sciences (One course from either social or behavioral sciences)
Recommended Social Science Courses for AFA in Music Production
ECN 101Fundamentals of Economics3
HIS 115History of World Civilizations I3
HIS 116History of World Civilizations II3
HIS 119History & Politics of Gender3
HIS 130History of Latin America I3
HIS 131History of Latin America II3
HIS 140History of Asia: Ancient to 15003
HIS 141History of Asia: 1500 to Present3
HIS 180History of U.S. Latinas and Latinos3
HIS 189African American History I3
HIS 190African American History II3
Social Sciences Courses
ECN 201Principles of Microeconomics3
ECN 202Principles of Macroeconomics3
GEO 116Human Geography3
GEO 216Geography of the Developing World3
HIS 101History of Western Civilization I3
HIS 150History of Native America3
HIS 151U S History to 18703
HIS 102History of Western Civilization II3
HIS 152U S History Since 18653
POS 150Amer Government - National3
POS 151Amer Govt State Local3
POS 152Principles of Political Science3
POS 250Comparative Political Systems3
POS 251International Relations3
Recommended Behavioral Sciences Courses for AFA in Music Production
ATR 120Introduction to Anthropology3
ATR 210General Prehistoric Archeology3
SOC 209Racial and Ethnic Relations3
SOC 220Gender Roles and Social Change3
Behavioral Sciences Courses
ATR 220Cultural Anthropology3
ATR 250Human Evolution3
PSY 100Intro to Psychology3
PSY 212Child Psychology3
PSY 214Adulthood and Aging3
PSY 215Social Psychology3
PSY 218Human Growth and Development3
SOC 100Principles of Sociology3
SOC 201Social Problems3
SOC 210Marriage and Family3
SOC 215Social Psychology3
Core Music Requirements21
MUS 150Intro Mus Prod: Listening & FX3
MUS 155Seminar in Music Business3
MUS 158Beat-Making with Ableton Live3
MUS 160Fundamentals of Music Technology3
MUS 170Recording Techniques 1:Rec./Acous.3
MUS 171Recording Tech 2: Adv Rec and Mixing3
MUS 172Rec Tech 3:Mastering and Distrib3
Applied Music (One or more courses in this category, with a requirement of 2 credit hours)2
MUS 126Class Piano I2
MUS 127Class Piano II2
MUS 135Class Guitar I2
MUS 140Applied Music - Half Hour Lessons1
MUS 141Applied Music-One Hour Lessons2
MUS 240Applied Music II - Half Hour Lessons1
MUS 241Applied Music II One Hour Lessons2
MUS 101Concert Band1
MUS 102Jazz Lab Band1
MUS 110Choir I1
MUS 112Elgin Master Chorale1
MUS 116Musical Theater1
MUS 122Steel Band Ensemble1
MUS 124Symphony Orchestra1
MUS 131American Roots Ensemble1
MUS 132Electronic Music Ensemble1
MUS 133Hip Hop Ensemble1
Music Mechanics11-12
MUS 128Theory & Ear Training I4
MUS 129Theory & Ear Training II4
MUS 152Songwriting3
or
MUS 228Theory & Ear Training III4
Music Electives2-4
MUS 228Theory & Ear Training III4
MUS 152Songwriting3
MUS 105Music Appreciation3
MUS 104Musics of the World3
MUS 145Hip Hop Music Appreciation3
MUS 146Rock and Roll Music Appreciation3
MUS 205Topics in Music1-3
ART 130Art of Film3
MUS 100Introduction to Music Theory2
MUS 106Music Literature From 1400 to 17503
MUS 107Music Liter. From 1750 to Present3
MUS 229Theory & Ear Training IV4
MUS 180Music Composition3
MUS 205Topics in Music1-3
MUS 297Independent Study in Music1-3
CDN 230Introduction to Videography3
ART 122Digital Photography3
ART 130Art of Film3
THE 100Theatre Appreciation3
THE 166Theatrical Sound Design & Technology3
Total Credit Hours64-68