HomeMy WebLinkAboutMUS-101Departmental Policy Syllabus
Revised 12/5/14, Updated 5/15/18
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Bergen Community College
Division of Business, Arts, and Social Sciences
Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Course Syllabus
MUS-101 Introduction to Music
Basic Information about Course and Instructor
Semester and year:
Course and Section Number:
Meeting Times and Locations:
Instructor:
Office Location:
Phone:
Departmental Secretary: [optional]
Office Hours:
Email Address:
Course Description
MUS-101 Introduction to Music is an introduction to the study of music, including a variety of musical
styles and genres, spanning from ancient times to the present. Through attentive listening and critical
thinking, students will develop the ability to analyze and communicate effectively about the role of music
in human societies.
3 lectures, 3 credits
General Education Course – Humanities Elective
No prerequisites
Student Learning Objectives: As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be able
to:
1.articulate a critical perspective on the social, cultural, political and economic forces that influence
the composition, performance, production, and consumption of music;
2.listen critically to musical examples by identifying the characteristics that differentiate various styles
and genres;
3.employ the basic vocabulary used to describe the physics of musical sound, the psychology of
musical perception, and the description of musical elements, such as timbre, rhythm, harmony,
melody, and structure, in written and oral communication;
4.discuss the ethical implications of race, ethnicity, gender, and class on the production and
consumption of music in local communities and global societies;
5.utilize library and online resources and research tools to retrieve primary and secondary sources,
in order to present an individual perspective on the role of music in contemporary society;
6.critique live and recorded music representing numerous and varied musical cultures and
traditions, using the skills and vocabularies mastered during coursework.
Departmental Policy Syllabus
Revised, 5/15/18
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In pursuit of the foregoing goals, the course is based on the reading and discussion of musicological and
sociological writings on music, as well as on attentive listening techniques for musical selections; students
are given the opportunity and are encouraged to participate actively in class discussions; and students are
required to do a substantial amount of expository and critical writing in response to the material presented
in the course.
Learning Assessment
The Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) in this course are intended to be aligned with as many of the
college's General Education Goals as possible. They are also correlated with the overall Learning Goals
of the Music Program. In addition, student progress in reaching the course's SLOs is to be assessed
through various means of assessment, such as the "Suggested Means of Assessment" listed below.
Student Learning Objective Suggested Means of Assessment
1. articulate a critical perspective on the social, cultural,
political and economic forces that influence the
composition, performance, production, and consumption of
music;
• Essay examinations
• Quizzes and objective tests
• Writing assignments
2. listen critically to musical examples by identifying the
characteristics that differentiate various styles and genres;
• Essay examinations
• Quizzes and objective tests
• Writing assignments
3. employ the basic vocabulary used to describe the physics
of musical sound, the psychology of musical perception,
and the description of musical elements, such as timbre,
rhythm, melody, and harmony, in oral and written
communication;
• Essay examinations
• Quizzes and objective tests
• Writing assignments
4. discuss the ethical implications of race, ethnicity, gender,
and class on the production and consumption of music in
local communities and global societies;
• Essay examinations
• Quizzes and objective tests
• Writing assignments
5. utilize library and online resources and research tools to
retrieve primary and secondary sources, in order to present
an individual perspective on the role of music in
contemporary society; and
• Essay examinations
• Quizzes and objective tests
• Writing assignments
6. critique live and recorded music representing numerous and
varied musical cultures and traditions, using the skills and
vocabularies mastered during coursework
• Writing assignments
Course Content
The course is intended to introduce students to the academic study of music, including musicological
analysis and various approaches to the historical and sociocultural issues regarding music. Therefore, the
course includes the following (mandatory) components:
1. A review of the musicological analysis of music, studying the musical elements of timbre, rhythm,
melody, harmony, texture, and form.
2. The variety of ways music can be studied: e.g., the science of acoustic and musical sound, the
psychology and neuroscience of human musical experience, and the historical and sociocultural
context of musical expression.
Departmental Policy Syllabus
Revised, 5/15/18
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Special Features of the Course (if any) [to be designated by the instructor]
E.g., the use of learning technologies in the course (Internet, PowerPoint, web enhancement via a parallel
course website, etc.); the inclusion of technological literacy learning in the course; etc.
Course Texts and/or Other Study Materials
The World of Music. David Willoughby. New York: McGraw-Hill., 8th ed., 2017.
Alternative textbooks or resources can be used by individual faculty with permission of the music discipline
textbook committee. The Faculty Senate “Policy on the Selection of Texts and Other Instructional
Materials,”states that “individual faculty members and/or departments should strive to select texts,
whenever possible, that are most affordable for students.”
Writing and Critical Thinking Requirement(s)
Because MUS-101 is a General Education course, it requires students to complete a variety of critical
thinking and writing assignments. These assignments may include class discussions and debates requiring
the application of critical thinking skills, short in-class essays, out-of-class writing projects (journals,
research papers, argument-analysis papers, book reviews, etc.), tests and examinations containing essay
components, and so forth. Instructors will respond to and comment on students' writing in detail.
Grading Policy
A student's final grade for the course is based primarily on his or her performance on the required work for
the course (writing assignments, examinations, class presentations, etc.) and on his or her overall mastery
of the material covered in the course. A student's class participation may also be evaluated, and the grade
thereon may be used as a factor in determining the student's final grade for the course; but a class
participation grade will count for no more than twenty percent (20%) of the final grade. A student's research
and writing work will count at least forty percent (40%) of the final grade.
Attendance Policy
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each
section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance will
be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
Attendance Policy in this Course:
[To be designated by the instructor]
Other College, Divisional, and/or Departmental Policy Statements [optional but recommended]
Examples:
Statement on plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty.
ADA statement.
Sexual Harassment statement.
Statement on acceptable use of BCC technology.
Statement on the purpose and value of faculty office hours.
Departmental Policy Syllabus
Revised, 5/15/18
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Student and Faculty Support Services [optional but recommended]
List support services, e.g., the Writing Center, the Math Lab, the Tutorial Center, Online Writing Lab
(OWL), Office of Specialized Services, etc. Include information on the BCC Library.
Example:
Student and Faculty Support Services
The Distance Learning Office – for
any problems you may have
accessing your online courses
Room C-
334
201-612-5581
psimms@bergen.edu
English Language Resource Center Room C-
212
http://www.bergen.edu/elrc
The Tutoring Center Room L-125 201-447-7908
http://www.bergen.edu/tutoring
The Writing Center Room L-125 201-447-7908
http://www.bergen.edu/owl
The Office of Specialized Services
(for Students with Disabilities)
Room S-131 201-612-5270
http://www.bergen.edu/oss
BCC Library – Reference Desk Room L-226 201-447-7436
Special Note on the Tutoring Center
The Henry and Edith Cerullo Learning Assistance Center encompasses the Tutoring Center, the
English Language Resource Center, and the Writing Center. The website of the Learning Assistance Center
is located at https://bergen.edu/current-students/student-support-services/tutoring/. Tutoring services are
available for this course in the Tutoring Center. As listed above, the Tutoring Center is located in Room L-
125, and its phone number is 201-447-7908.
Special Note on the Food Pantry
The Bergen Community College Center for Food Action is available to meet the urgent needs of
members of our campus community. The Food Pantry provides non-perishable food items, toiletries, and
additional support services in an environment that emphasizes discretion and confidentiality. Anyone
needing assistance is encouraged to visit C-111A) Tuesday from 9am-1pm and Thursday from 2pm-6pm.
Monday through Thursday from 9am-4pm and on Fridays from 9am-3pm. Donations will also be
accepted at HS-100. Please call 201-447-7191 for more information.
Include a Course Outline and Calendar [can be combined in a single syllabus section]
The Course Outline and Calendar must include all of the following elements:
• A daily or (at least) weekly schedule of topics to be covered.
• Dates for exams, quizzes, or other means of assessment. (This does not mean that all evaluation
of students must be in groups and at the same time. Exams and other means of assessment can
be listed as "to be scheduled individually.")
• Due dates for major assignments – e.g., when is a paper due; if the topic has to be approved,
when; if an outline or draft is an interim step, when it is due.
• Any required special events must be included in the outline/calendar, e.g., a lecture by a visiting
speaker, a dramatic or musical performance, a field trip.
• Designation of Student Learning Objectives – by number – for each topic (see sample below).
Departmental Policy Syllabus
Revised, 5/15/18
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• A note to students stating that the course outline and calendar is tentative and subject to change,
depending upon the progress of the class.
Sample Format for Course Outline and Calendar
Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change,
depending upon the progress of the class.
Week(s) Date(s) Topics & Assignments Learning
Objectives
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
See the Sample Course Outline and Calendar below.
Departmental Policy Syllabus
Revised, 5/15/18
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21
SAMPLE COURSE OUTLINE AND CALENDAR
[with designation of Student Learning Objectives – by number – for each topic]
Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to change, depending
upon the progress of the class.
Week(s)
Date(s)
Topic/Activity/Assignments
Student
Learning
Objectives
1 Sep 6, 8,
Introducing the World of Music
Read Willoughby, Ch. 1
1-6
2-3 Sep 13, 15, 20,
22
The Nature of Music: Vocabulary for Listening and
Understanding
Read Willoughby, Ch. 2
1-6
4 Sep 27, 29
Listening to American Music: Folk Music Traditions
Read Willoughby, Ch. 3
1-6
5 Oct 4, 6
Listening to American Music: Religious Music Traditions
Read Willoughby, Ch. 4
1-6
6 Oct 11, 13
Listening to American Music: Jazz Styles
Read Willoughby, Ch. 5
1-6
7-8 Oct 18, 20,
25, 27
Listening to American Music: Popular Music
Read Willoughby, Ch. 6
Midterm Review and Midterm Exam
1-6
9 Nov 1, 3,
Listening to World Music: Music of the Americas
Read Willoughby, Ch. 7
1-6
10 Nov 8, 10
Listening to World Music: Music Beyond the Americas
Read Willoughby, Ch. 8
1-6
11 Nov 15, 17
Listening to Western Classical Music: The Medieval,
Renaissance, and Baroque Periods
Read Willoughby, Ch. 9, 10
1-6
12 Nov 22, 24 Listening to Western Classical Music: The Classic
Period (1750-1820)
Read Willoughby, Ch. 11
1-6
13 Nov 29,
Dec 1,
Listening to Western Classical Music: The Romantic
Period (Nineteenth Century)
Read Willoughby, Ch. 12
1-6
14 Dec 6,8 Listening to Western Classical Music: Music of the
Twentieth Century
Read Willoughby, Ch. 13
1-6
15 Dec 13, 15 Final Review and Final Exam 1-6