Course Catalogue

Music in History, Culture and Society 2 MUSIC4102

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Culture and Creative Arts
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

The course aims to consolidate the students' skills and knowledge in the study of Music history, broadly understood to encompass any historical period, geographical era, genre, style and tradition. Through specialistic study of two or three specific historical contexts or phenomena the course will strengthen the students' skills in identifying, articulating and discussing how musics have historically embedded into cultures and societies and functioned as cultural practice.

Timetable

10 x 1 hour lecture over 10 weeks and scheduled on MyCampus

10 x 1 hour tutorial over 10 weeks and scheduled on MyCampus

Requirements of Entry

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into BMus/MA/BEng/MEng, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation."

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Presentation (10 minutes + questions) - 30%

■ Essay (3000 words) - 70%

 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ Recorded presentation with written script of equivalent length as an alternative to the presentation.

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but a flexible deadline and extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

Main Assessment In: April/May

Course Aims

This course aims to:

 

■ Introduce students to the historical study of music through a focus on selected case studies drawn from different eras, geographical areas, genres and musical styles

■ Encourage reflection on the sources, methodologies and approaches used in the study of music history

■ Encourage students to think of music as a cultural practice and to understand how it is embedded in its historical and social context, and in identity-building

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

■ Identify and discuss in a context-specific way how music has developed as a cultural practice in a range of historical periods, geographical areas and genres

■ Interrogate appropriate primary and secondary sources for the study of specific music-historical topics

■ Independently develop musico-historical arguments orally and in writing in ways that are appropriate to different kinds of audiences.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions