MUSC 170: Music and the Environment
Students will engage in a course-based undergraduate research project exploring the relationships between sound, music, people, and the natural environment. Working collaboratively, students develop their own research questions about topics such as environmental soundscapes, birdsong, underwater communication, human-generated noise, and the effects of sound on human and ecological well-being. Through activities including soundmapping, field recordings, listening journals, and the use of sound-monitoring tools, students collect and interpret evidence before presenting their findings in a research poster at the campus student showcase.
By enrolling in MUSC 170, students will develop the following transferable skills:
- Develop research questions and hypotheses based on curiosity, observation, and critical inquiry
- Design a research plan and identify appropriate methods for collecting evidence
- Use active listening, field observation, and recording tools to document and investigate sound environments
- Analyze and interpret qualitative and quantitative information
- Work collaboratively to plan and carry out a research project
- Communicate research findings through visual presentation and discussion
- Evaluate and cite research sources to support their conclusions
MUSC 102: Global Popular Music
Students will undertake a quarter-long research project exploring global popular music. Students select a topic related to the popular music of a particular country or culture, an artist, a musical instrument, or a genre, and gather and organize information to develop a deeper understanding of their topic. Through sessions with the campus librarian, students learn how to locate and evaluate research materials, distinguish reliable sources from less useful ones, and document and cite different kinds of materials, including music recordings, interviews, and books. Working in small groups, students present their research in a presentation shared with the class.
By enrolling in MUSC 102, students will develop the following transferable skills:
- Select and focus a research topic related to global popular music
- Locate and use campus library resources and reference materials
- Evaluate sources for credibility, relevance, and usefulness
- Gather information from a variety of sources, including music recordings, interviews, and books
- Properly document and cite different types of research materials
- Organize and synthesize information from multiple sources
- Work collaboratively to complete a research project
- Communicate findings through a visual presentation and discussion
MUSC 104: Music in World Cultures
Students will undertake a quarter-long research project exploring music-making in a particular culture or community. Students select a topic related to a country or culture, a musical artist or tradition, an instrument, or a musical genre, with an emphasis on understanding music within its local and cultural context. Through sessions with the campus librarian, students learn how to locate and evaluate research materials, distinguish reliable sources from less useful ones, and document and cite different kinds of evidence, including music recordings, interviews, books, and ethnographic observations. Working in small groups, students gather and organize information about their selected topic and present their research in a presentation shared with the class.
By enrolling in MUSC 104, students will develop the following transferable skills:
- Select and focus a research topic related to music in a particular cultural context
- Locate and use campus library resources and reference materials
- Evaluate sources for credibility, relevance, and usefulness
- Gather information from a variety of sources, including music recordings, interviews, books, and ethnographic observation
- Consider music in relation to the cultural practices and communities in which it takes place
- Properly document and cite different types of research materials
- Organize and synthesize information from multiple sources
- Work collaboratively to complete a research project
- Communicate findings through a visual presentation and discussion