1. PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MUSIC CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM

2. Concept
• (1) Transferring existing courses to the
platform (and creating new ones)
• (2) Designing six Music Certificate
Programs

3. Certificate Concentrations
• Basic Musicianship
• Music Appreciation
• Music Technology
• Ethno/Musicology
• Arranging and Orchestration
• Songwriting

4. Certificate Levels
• Basic:
4 courses, 12 credits
• Intermediate:
6 courses, 18 credits
• Merit:
8 courses, 24 credits

5. Basic
Musicianship
Song Writing Music
Appreciation
(1) Basics/ET I—(2) ET II—(3) Music Theory
(4) Critical Listening—(5) Music/Art Western World
(6) Topic–Song— (7) Africa
(8) Asia-Silk Road—(9) Song and Dance of the Balkans
(10) Blues Crossroads—(11) Jazz Traditions—(12) Rock
(13) Music Notation—Finale/Sibelius—(14) Intro to Music Technology
(15) MIDI Applications—(16) MIDI Music Making
(17) Vocal Arrangement—(18) Rhythm and Small Ensembles
(19) Strings and Winds—(20) Large Ensembles
(21) Melody Writing—(22) Lyrics/to Melody
(23) Harmonization Tools—(24) Computer Composition
Arranging and
Music
Orchestration
Technology
Ethno/Musicology

6. Courses
• 24 courses—existing, reframed, and new
• Most serve more than one certificate
• Some unique to one certificate
concentration

7. Curriculum
Basic Musicianship Music Appreciation Music Technology
Basics/ET I Basics/ET Basics/ET I
Music/Art Western World Music/Art Western World Music Notation
Music Notation Africa Intro Music Technology
Intro Music Technology Blues Crossroads MIDI Application
ET II Critical Listening Critical Listening
Music Theory Topic—Song Music Theory
Jazz Traditions Jazz Traditions Computer Composition
Melody Writing MIDI Music Making
Melody Writing
Ethno/Musicology Arranging/Orchestration Songwriting
Music/Art Western World ET II ET II
Africa Music Theory Music Notation
Blues Crossroads Critical Listening Topic—Song
Songs/Dance Balkans Vocal Arranging Melody Writing
Critical Listening Music Notation Computer Composition
Rock Strings /Winds MIDI Applications
Topic—Song Rhythm/Small Ensembles (Arr.) Lyrics/to Melody
Jazz Traditions Harmonization tools

8. Completion Times/Schedule
• 4 concentrations (Basic Musicianship, Music
Appreciation, Music Technology, and Ethno/Musicology):
 Unfold 2 times per academic year (F-W and S-Su)
 Starter clusters—no prerequisites
 Completed in 2 terms at highest (Merit) level
• 2 concentrations (Arranging/Orchestration and
Songwriting):
 Unfold 1 time per year (W-S)
 Share courses with the other 4
 Require Basic Musicianship Basic level pre-knowledge
 Completed in 3 terms

9. Fall
Start:
Basic Musicianship
Music Appreciation
Music Technology
Ethno/Musicology
Summer Winter
End: End:
Arranging and Orchestration Basic Musicianship
Songwriting Music Appreciation
Basic Musicianship Music Technology
Music Appreciation Ethno/Musicology
Music Technology Start:
Ethno/Musicology Spring Arranging and Orchestration
Songwriting
Start:
Basic Musicianship
Music Appreciation
Music Technology
Ethno/Musicology

10. Would
• Attract students beyond Music majors/minors:
high-school seniors, professionals…
• Provide flexible, manageable small-scale
programs, befitting contemporary dynamics
• Offer more venues to a degree in shorter time
• Secure PSU Music as innovative, cutting edge

11. PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
ONLINE MUSIC CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Bryan Johanson
Jelena Simonovic Schiff