Welcome or just admitted? Transfer receptivity in California State University music programs

2026

Community colleges in the United States create opportunities for students to pursue higher education yet transfer to four-year universities may present barriers that challenge or interrupt student progress. In California, students may begin at one of the California Community Colleges (CCCs) with plans to transfer to one of the California State Universities (CSUs). Although pathways between CCCs and CSUs are designed to promote access, music transfer students may encounter barriers due to the unique nature of music study, including sequenced coursework, limited alignment between institutions, and program-specific requirements such as performance juries and audition requirements, which may not transfer or align consistently across institutions.

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Update: Applications of Research in Music Education; April 9, 2025

Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in Music Education: A Literature Review