Music and Society

Program Overview

The Music and Society major at UWA equips students with critical thinking skills and a deep understanding of music's history, social significance, and performance practices. Through core courses, students explore a wide range of music styles and contexts, developing valuable transferable skills in research, communication, and critical analysis. Graduates gain expertise applicable to careers in the arts, cultural history, and community organizations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Music and Society major develops skills and expertise in thinking critically about music. It explores a broad range of styles and contexts, encompassing Music's histories, social and political meanings, and performance and listening practices. This major is designed for anyone wanting to add critical thought and culture to their learning experience.

Outline:

• Level 1:
• Core:
• MUSC1340 Musical Revolutions (6 points)
• MUSC1350 Popular Music in Global Perspective (6 points)
• MUSC1351 Women in Music (6 points)
• Level 2:
• Core:
• MUSC2341 Music and Practices of Listening (6 points)
• MUSC2342 Music in Action (6 points)
• Level 3:
• Core:
• MUSC3335 Music in the Sixties (6 points)
• MUSC3336 Music in Film, TV and Video Games (6 points)
• MUSC3341 Music, Society, and Ideas (6 points)

Careers:

Graduates will gain skills applicable to a range of creative and theoretical professions. Some may pursue careers as an Arts and Cultural sector worker, a cultural historian or discover a role within a community organisation.

Other:

• This major can be studied alongside many different degrees at UWA.
• It is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Philosophy degrees.
• It is also offered as a second major in other bachelor's degrees.
• Students will learn to:
• Discover broad historical perspectives on the nature and contexts of music and the relevance of historical and stylistic conventions from various periods.
• Develop transferable skills in research, critical thinking and communication which enable successful tertiary study, and facilitate further study and lifelong learning.
• Critically engage with, and interpret key texts and works from, a range of music sub-disciplines.
• Demonstrate a socio-cultural and historically sensitive perspective of various forms of music and music cultures.
• After completing the Music and Society major, students can pursue further studies at honours level or complete a PhD in Music Research.