When students in Weber State University’s new Bachelor of Applied Studies program in Sound Production swap a semester of electives out for more concentrated upper division courses and practicum credits, they will graduate with theory and on-the-job experience garnered alongside some of the most prestigious sound companies in Utah.
The bachelor of sound production program officially rolls out spring 2026, with the first set of students expected to graduate in 2027. The new degree is one of several potential accelerated degrees called “Sub-120 degrees” that were outlined by HB 265, Higher Education Strategic Reinvestment, sponsored by Rep. Karen M. Peterson.
“Sub-120 bachelor’s degrees will especially benefit adult learners, but all types of students can benefit from the accelerated completion and reduced cost,” Rep. Peterson said in an email exchange, highlighting the work the Utah Board of Higher Education has been doing in developing these new applied science programs.
The title “Sub-120” refers to the fact that these bachelor’s degrees require less than the traditional 120 credit hours to graduate. The new sound production degree will require around 90 credit hours, which will allow students attending full-time to complete the degree in three continuous years.
To make this possible, the new degrees have a curriculum that is exclusively focused in the area of study. “We basically remove some of those or retarget some of the electives to be highly focused on the degree itself,” said Aaron Hubbard, professor of music and sound production.
Despite the reduced credit requirement, the level of educational achievement remains the same. According to Hubbard, a lot of research went into aligning the skills acquired through the program with areas in the industry that are experiencing workforce shortages.
“We cast a wide net in terms of the audio industry,” Hubbard said about the targeted curriculum. The program will focus on music production, post-production and heavily target the live sound side of the field. Hubbard noted that potential career opportunities could include covering things like FanX, where sound professionals are hired to manage, create and cover audio for events.
Students will get practicum credits by pairing with companies in the industry, something Hubbard says the department has modeled after sound apprenticeships. “They’re basically not starting from scratch when they enter the career field,” Hubbard said.
Several companies have already opened up work-experience opportunities, including Mountain Town Music, which offers paid slots to students who want to learn alongside some of the industry’s top professionals. These paid slots fill up fast.
“They’re actually getting paid for the time they’re spending working with that company and getting practicum credit at the same time,” Hubbard said.
Carey Campbell, professor of music and advisor for the music department, noted that the third year of the degree is going to open opportunities for students that they wouldn’t get in the associates program. “I’m excited about it, “ he said “Our Sub-120 is definitely a value-add to the sound program.”
The new accelerated program mirrors a broader shift in higher education and one where institutions are looking to better serve students with more concentrated and cost efficient programs that meet the needs of the current economic environment.
“We’re thrilled to see Weber State University and Utah Valley University stepping forward with some of the first accelerated bachelor’s degrees in Utah’s public higher education system,” said Aaron Skonnard, Utah Board of Higher Education member in a press release dated July 18.
The move signals the intense demand for career-focused education in a rapidly changing job market, and sets a new standard for workforce-ready degree programs throughout Utah.
