Popular Music
Programme Structure
The M.Litt in Popular Music Studies programme aims to introduce and develop a critical understanding of the academic study of Popular Music at postgraduate level. As a relatively new area of academic enquiry, Popular Music Studies draws upon a range of academic disciplines including Sociology, Cultural Studies, Musicology and Literary Studies. Popular Music Studies is inherently multidisciplinary and a range of academic approaches will be adopted throughout the programme. This will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to critically evaluate the role of Popular Music in contemporary society.
There are three separate degree programmes with a common core. The degrees are Popular Music Studies, Popular Music Studies (Music Industries) and Popular Music Studies (Creative Practice). They have been designed to allow students to specialise according to whether their interest in Popular Music Studies is primarily academic, based on an interest in working in the music industries or as a creator. The pathways through the separate degree programmes are listed below.
| Core Modules (semester 1) |
|---|
| Popular Music Theory (30 credits) |
| Popular Music History (30 credits) |
|
Exit Route: Postgraduate Certificate possible via a combination of Theory and History or one of those and another course. |
| Routes (semester 2) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Popular Music Studies | Popular Music Studies (Music Industries) | Popular Music Studies |
| Music Industries (30 credits) |
Music Industries (30 credits) |
Creative Practice [Theory] (30 credits) |
| Popular Music Politics (30 credits) |
Placement1 (30 credits) |
Creative Practice2 [Creative Project] (30 credits) |
|
Exit Route: PG Diploma possible with Theory, History and two other courses. |
||
| Summer |
|---|
|
Dissertation (60 credits) Students opting for particular routes will be required to do their dissertation research in the relevant area (i.e. Music Industries or Creative Practice). |
| Exit Route: M.Litt. |
1 The music industries placement gives you the chance to work within a music industries environment as part of a placement. You will undertake a project supervised by the host organisation in conjunction with academic staff.
2 The creative project can include work such as song writing; making music for a film or video; or designing and performing a gig. You will benefit from the personal supervision of an academic, who is also a practitioner.