FAST (4+1) B.A./M.A. Program

Earn both degrees in 5 years

The FAST 4+1 program is a blended pathway that lets you complete the B.A. in Music and the M.A. in Music in 5 years rather than 6. You continue in your B.A., apply during your junior year, and begin graduate coursework while finishing the bachelor's, with a set of courses counting toward both degrees. You declare one area of emphasis, in Performance (Classical or Jazz), Choral Conducting, or Composition.

Eligibility

You apply as a current B.A. in Music student at CSU East Bay. To be eligible you need:

  • 60 to 90 units completed, including the lower-division core music coursework (15 units) and the lower-division general education requirements.
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in music courses.

Students may be admitted for either the fall or the spring term.

How to apply

Apply by January 15th of your junior year, between semesters 5 and 6. The application has three parts:

  1. Statement of purpose. A 1- to 2-page statement of your objectives for the blended program, your academic and musical goals, and how the program fits your longer-term aspirations.
  2. Faculty recommendations. Two letters from Music Department faculty who can speak to your readiness for graduate-level study, based on your academic performance and musical ability.
  3. Evidence of abilities, depending on your area of emphasis:
    • Performance (Classical or Jazz): an audition or recordings demonstrating proficiency on your instrument or in voice.
    • Choral Conducting: a demonstration of conducting, such as a video of a rehearsal or performance.
    • Composition: original compositions or a portfolio showing compositional skill.

For program questions, contact the Music Department Graduate Coordinator, Inés Thiebaut, at ines.thiebaut@csueastbay.edu.

Start with the B.A.

FAST is for students already in the B.A. in Music, so admission to the bachelor's program comes first. If you are not yet a music major, apply to the B.A. in Music and follow its application process. Once you are in the B.A. and meet the FAST eligibility, you apply in your junior year.

How the 5 years fit together

A roadmap lays out the courses to take each semester across the undergraduate and graduate years to earn both degrees. Up to 11 units count toward both the bachelor's and the master's:

  • MUS 351–355 and/or MUS 360–369, ensembles (4 units). Already an M.A. requirement, so no undergraduate replacement is needed.
  • MUS 601 Analysis of Musical Styles (2 units).
  • MUS 603 Entrepreneurship in the Arts (3 units).
  • MUS 661–668 Graduate Applied Study (2 units).

The latter 7 units, MUS 601, MUS 603, and MUS 661–668, replace undergraduate music electives.