Program Description

The A.S. Degree in Performing Arts provides training and education in the fields of Music, Dance and Theater. Our A.S. Degree transfers to a wide variety of 4-year universities offering B.S., B.A. or B.F.A. degrees in the fields of Music, Dance and Theater.

The 2-year Music program includes courses in Music History, Music Theory and Ear Training, Vocal and Instrumental Ensembles, Music Technology and Sound Engineering, as well as private lessons in all the instruments, voice, and composition. All of our Music courses transfer to 4-year universities offering degrees in Music Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy, and Music Production.

Our Dance program offers Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz Improvisation, Hip Hop, Latin Dance and Choreography. Our Theater program offers courses in Acting, and opportunities to be in a staged production.

Because of our proximity to New York City, our students can take advantage of the performing arts opportunities offered in the City.

Program Note

Students are encouraged to apply early due to an extraordinary demand.

Program Requirements

60 credits are required for the degree:

• General Education - 30 credits
• Required Degree Courses - 30 credits

General Education Requirements - 30 Credits

• Communication - Written and Oral (3 credits): ENG 101 Writing and Research  
   
• Humanities (3 credits): ENG 102 Writing and Literature  
   
• Mathematics (and Quantitative Reasoning) (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• Natural Sciences (and Scientific Reasoning) (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• Diversity: Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• Social Sciences (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• The Arts (3 credits):  ART 108 - Art of the Ancient World: Prehistory to Fourteenth Century , ART 109A - Contemporary Art , ART 109 - Art of the Modern World: Fifteenth Century to Contemporary , FILM 100 - Introduction to Film , FILM 101 - Film 1895 to 1945 , FILM 102 - Film 1945 to Present , MUSIC 100 - History of Western Music: Up to 1800 , MUSIC 102 - History of Electronic Music , MUSIC 103 - History of Jazz , MUSIC 110 - Basic Musicianship , MUSIC 111 - Music Theory 1 , MUSIC 150 - Music Appreciation 1 , OR THEAT 101 - Introduction to the Theatre  
   
• US History and Civic Engagement (3 credits): choose from this category of general education courses  
   
• World History and Global Awareness OR World Languages (3 credits): choose from either category,  World History and Global Awareness  OR World Languages  
   
• Additional General Education Electives (3 credits): choose from all general education courses  

Where specific courses are not listed within the categories above, courses must be selected from the list of all general education courses . 

Required Degree Courses - 30 credits

• History/Theory of Arts Electives (9 credits): select THREE courses from the following
  • ART 108 - Art of the Ancient World: Prehistory to Fourteenth Century  
  • ART 109A - Contemporary Art  
  • ART 109 - Art of the Modern World: Fifteenth Century to Contemporary  
  • DANCE 103 - Dance Perspectives  
  • FILM 101 - Film 1895 to 1945  
  • FILM 102 - Film 1945 to Present  
  • FILM 103 - The Great Directors  
  • FILM 109 - Film – American Cinema  
  • FILM 113 - Film Study: World Cinema  
  • FILM 125 - Writing for Film  
  • MUSIC 100 - History of Western Music: Up to 1800  
  • MUSIC 101 - History of Western Music: 1800 to Present  
  • MUSIC 102 - History of Electronic Music  
  • MUSIC 103 - History of Jazz  
  • MUSIC 110 - Basic Musicianship  
  • MUSIC 111 - Music Theory 1  
  • MUSIC 150 - Music Appreciation 1  
  • THEAT 101 - Introduction to the Theatre  
     
• Performing Arts Electives (18 credits): select  from the following Performing Arts courses list. Music students may opt to take a 2-credit ensemble class and 1-credit Applied Music. Music students should take all 4 levels of the same ensemble and Applied Music.
   
  • Performing Arts Courses - Theatre
    • THEAT 101 - Introduction to the Theatre  
    • THEAT 111 - Acting 1  
    • THEAT 113 - Acting 2  
    • THEAT 117A - Drama Improvisation  
    • THEAT 121 - Theatre Practicum 1  
    • THEAT 122 - Theatre Practicum 2  
    • THEAT 201 - Acting 3  
    • THEAT 202 - Theatre Practicum 3  
       
  • Performing Arts Courses - Music
    • MUSIC 100 - History of Western Music: Up to 1800  
    • MUSIC 101 - History of Western Music: 1800 to Present  
    • MUSIC 102 - History of Electronic Music  
    • MUSIC 103 - History of Jazz  
    • MUSIC 110 - Basic Musicianship  
    • MUSIC 111 - Music Theory 1  
    • MUSIC 112 - Ear Training 1  
    • MUSIC 113 - Ear Training 2  
    • MUSIC 120 - Piano Class 1  
    • MUSIC 121 - Piano Class 2  
    • MUSIC 122 - Guitar Class 1  
    • MUSIC 123 - Guitar Class 2  
    • MUSIC 130 - Chorus 1  
    • MUSIC 131 - Chorus 2  
    • MUSIC 132 - Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble 1  
    • MUSIC 133 - Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble 2  
    • MUSIC 141A - Applied Music — Strings 1  
    • MUSIC 141B - Applied Music — Strings 2  
    • MUSIC 141C - Applied Music — Strings 3  
    • MUSIC 141D - Applied Music — Strings 4  
    • MUSIC 142A - Applied Music — Voice 1  
    • MUSIC 142B - Applied Music — Voice 2  
    • MUSIC 142C - Applied Music — Voice 3  
    • MUSIC 142D - Applied Music — Voice 4  
    • MUSIC 143A - Applied Music — Winds 1  
    • MUSIC 143B - Applied Music — Winds 2  
    • MUSIC 143C - Applied Music — Winds 3  
    • MUSIC 143D - Applied Music — Winds 4  
    • MUSIC 144A - Applied Music — Piano 1  
    • MUSIC 144B - Applied Music — Piano 2  
    • MUSIC 144C - Applied Music — Piano 3  
    • MUSIC 144D - Applied Music — Piano 4  
    • MUSIC 145A - Applied Music — Percussion 1  
    • MUSIC 145B - Applied Music — Percussion 2  
    • MUSIC 145C - Applied Music — Percussion 3  
    • MUSIC 145D - Applied Music — Percussion 4  
    • MUSIC 146A - Applied Music — Guitar 1  
    • MUSIC 146B - Applied Music — Guitar 2  
    • MUSIC 146C - Applied Music — Guitar 3  
    • MUSIC 146D - Applied Music — Guitar 4  
    • MUSIC 147A - Applied Music — Brass 1  
    • MUSIC 147B - Applied Music — Brass 2  
    • MUSIC 147C - Applied Music — Brass 3  
    • MUSIC 147D - Applied Music — Brass 4  
    • MUSIC 148A - Applied Music — Composition 1  
    • MUSIC 148B - Applied Music — Composition 2  
    • MUSIC 148C - Applied Music — Composition 3  
    • MUSIC 148D - Applied Music — Composition 4  
    • MUSIC 160 - Introduction to Audio 1  
    • MUSIC 161 - Introduction to MIDI Technology 1  
    • MUSIC 162 - Introduction to MIDI Technology 2  
    • MUSIC 163 - Electronic Music Composition  
    • MUSIC 165 - Recording Engineering 1  
    • MUSIC 167 - Live Sound Engineering 1  
    • MUSIC 220 - Piano Class 3  
    • MUSIC 221 - Piano Class 4  
    • MUSIC 222 - Guitar Class 3  
    • MUSIC 223 - Guitar Class 4  
    • MUSIC 230 - Chorus 3  
    • MUSIC 231 - Chorus 4  
    • MUSIC 232 - Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble 3  
    • MUSIC 233 - Instrumental and Vocal Ensemble 4  
    • MUSIC 265 - Recording Engineering 2  
       
  • Performing Arts Courses - Dance
    • DANCE 101 - Elementary Modern Dance 1  
    • DANCE 102 - Elementary Modern Dance 2  
    • DANCE 103 - Dance Perspectives     
    • DANCE 105 - Movement Improvisation  
    • DANCE 107 - Elementary Ballet  
    • DANCE 111 - Yoga  
    • DANCE 112 - Latin Dance 1  
    • DANCE 115 - Hip Hop 1  
    • DANCE 121 - Contemporary Jazz  
    • DANCE 197 - Dance Practicum 1 
    • DANCE 198 - Dance Practicum 2 
    • DANCE 199 - Dance Practicum 3 
    • DANCE 205 - Choreography and Dance Performance Combined  
    • DANCE 207 - Independent Study in Dance Performance  
    • DANCE 208 - Dance Internship  
       
• Free Electives (3 credits): select any college course(s)

Program Map

The program map is a recommended semester-by-semester schedule of courses based on degree requirements and serve as a general guideline to help students complete their program in two years. Although designed for full-time enrollment, these are easily adaptable for part-time study. For additional, individualized guidance, students should review Degree Works and consult an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to ensure they are on track to complete their program.

Semester 1

Semester 2

Semester 3

Semester 4

Minimum Total Credits: 60

Transfer Opportunities

Westchester Community College is committed to facilitating a smooth transfer process to ensure that graduates of the college are prepared to transfer with junior status, and are able to complete a bachelor’s degree within two years of full-time study upon transfer. View 4-year institutions’ transfer agreement information by program here.

Career Opportunities

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