Music and Philosophy BA

Program Overview

The University of Sheffield's Music and Philosophy BA offers an unparalleled blend of musical and philosophical studies. The program culminates in the creation of a final project that integrates insights from both disciplines. Graduates are well-equipped for careers in music, academia, and fields requiring critical analysis and philosophical understanding.

Program Outline

Students will develop key skills in both disciplines, gaining a deep understanding of musical theory, performance, and analysis, while simultaneously engaging with fundamental philosophical questions. The program emphasizes critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to apply philosophical frameworks to the study of music.

Objectives:

The program aims to:

• Develop students' understanding of music theory, history, and performance.
• Equip students with the skills to analyze and interpret music from various genres and historical periods.
• Foster critical thinking and analytical skills through the study of philosophy.
• Prepare students for a variety of careers in music, academia, and other fields.

Outline:

The Music and Philosophy BA is a three-year, full-time program that starts in September. It is a dual honors program, meaning students will take modules in both Music and Philosophy. The program structure is flexible, allowing students to choose modules that align with their interests.

Course Schedule:

Year 1:

• Music: Students choose from a variety of modules, including Composition, Composing Electronic Music, Exploring Tonal Styles, Folk Music Participation, History of Western Music, Music in a Global Context, Music Psychology, Performance, Popular Music Studies, Technologies for Music, and Tonal Music Analysis and Criticism.
• Philosophy: Students must take Writing Philosophy and at least one other core Philosophy module from the list below: Ethics and Society, Mind and World, Reason and Argument.
• Optional Philosophy Modules: Students can choose from a selection of optional Philosophy modules, including Ethics in Antiquity: East and West, History of Philosophical Ideas, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Sex, and Death.

Year 2:

• Music: Students can choose from a variety of optional modules, including Intermediate Performance, Intermediate Composition, Creative Applications of Music Technology, Analysis of Classical and Early Romantic Music, Baroque Music, Community, Music and Education, Ensemble Performance, Ethnomusicology, Jazz Studies, Musical Culture in East Asia, Mozart in Vienna, 1781-1791, Music in Renaissance Europe, Music and Wellbeing, Music Psychology in Everyday Life, Opera and Identity, Orchestral Technique, Creative Performance, Psychology of Music: methods and applications, Performing South Asian Melody, Sound and Moving Image, Sound Recording Practice, Topics in Popular Music, The Broadway Musical, Traditional Music in the Modern World, and Work in Music.
• Philosophy: Students typically take 60 credits of Philosophy modules.
All second-year Philosophy modules are worth 20 credits.
• Optional Philosophy Modules: Students can choose from a selection of optional Philosophy modules, including Ethics, Feminism, Formal Logic, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Education, Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy of the Arts, Plato, History of Political Philosophy, Reference and Truth, Religion and the Good Life, and Theory of Knowledge.

Year 3:

• Music: Students must take at least 20 credits from among the Final Year Project modules.
Optionally, they can also take a second Final Year Project module at 20 or 40 credits.
• Philosophy: Students typically take 60 credits of Philosophy modules.
All third-year Philosophy modules are worth 20 credits.
• Optional Philosophy Modules: Students can choose from a selection of optional Philosophy modules, including Advanced Logic, Aristotle, Ancient Chinese Philosophy, Feminism, Ethics and Belief, Free Will & Religion, Feminist and Queer Studies in Religion, Global Perspectives, Global Justice, Hegel and the Phenomenology of Spirit, Bodies and Souls, Moral Theory and Moral Psychology, Pain, Pleasure, and Emotions, Phenomenology, Dissertation Project 1, Dissertation Project 2, Philosophy of Law, Philosophy and Revolution, Philosophy of Psychology, Plato's Symposium, The Political Philosophy of Climate Change, The Radical Demand in Logstrup's Ethics, Sources of Normativity.

Assessment:

• Music: Assessment methods vary depending on the module and may include coursework (essays, journals, compositions, recordings, group projects), assessed performances, and formal exams.
• Philosophy: Assessment is typically through a combination of coursework essays and exams, with long essay options available instead of exams.

Teaching:

• Music: Students learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, interactive classes, tutorials, and independent study.
Instrumental lessons are available in the first year and throughout the rest of the degree for students taking assessed performance modules.
• Philosophy: Students are taught by world-leading experts in the field.
Lectures and seminars are informed by current research, making them relevant and engaging.

Careers:

• Music: Graduates from the Music program have gone on to work in a variety of roles, including artist management, audio programming, composition, concerts coordination, instrument repair, marketing and communications, music research, music promotion, music therapy, orchestral management, professional performance, publishing, sound engineering, and teaching.
• Philosophy: Graduates from the Philosophy program have pursued careers in teaching, law, social work, computing, the civil service, journalism, paid charity work, business, insurance, and accountancy.

Other:

• The University of Sheffield is an All-Steinway School, providing students with access to high-quality pianos.
• The Department of Music has a dedicated Jessop Building, Soundhouse, and performance facilities.
• The Department of Philosophy is based at 45 Victoria Street, close to other Arts & Humanities departments.
• The University of Sheffield is ranked highly in national and international rankings.
• The University offers a variety of support services for students, including a 24/7 online library service, study spaces, and computers.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, including the Philosophy Society, the Philosophy Undergraduate Conference, and the Reading Weekend.
• The University offers a placement year option for students who wish to gain work experience.
• Students can also choose to study abroad for a year during their degree.

£9,250Home students 2024 annual tuition fee £25,540Overseas students 2024 annual tuition fee