Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title MUSC 1221: Popular Music in the United States

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3 (3 lecture)
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) None
Other requirements None
MnTC Goals (if any) Goal 6/Humanities, the Arts, Literature, and Philosophy

Course Description

This course is a survey of American Popular Music from 1840 to the present. The music styles studied include blues, gospel, folk, bluegrass, country, ragtime, jazz, Latin music, musical theater, rock and contemporary popular music. College-level reading and writing skills recommended.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

February, 2025

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. What is American Popular Music?
  2. Definition
  3. Properties of Sound
  4. The Basic Elements of Pop Music
  5. The Sources of American Popular Music
  6. The African Heritage
  7. European Classical Music
  8. Anglo Folk Music
  9. The History of American Popular Music
  10. Early Years (1850-1900)
  11. Early 20th Century (1900-1950)
  12. The Rock Era (1950-The Present)
  13. Early Jazz

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Understand fundamental musical concepts and use this understanding to explain popular music.
  2. Listen critically to music performances to identify and explain similarities and differences among musical styles.
  3. Trace the development of popular music in America over the last 150 years and explain the essential contributions of other cultures to this process of development.
  4. Critically evaluate a performance based upon awareness of the history of popular music.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

Goal 6/Humanities, the Arts, Literature, and Philosophy

The student will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
  2. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.
  3. Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
  4. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Critical Thinking
Students will think systematically and explore information thoroughly before accepting or formulating a position or conclusion.

Special Information (if any)

None