Course Descriptions

MUS 119 - Music in World Cultures

3 Credits

A diverse overview of classical, popular, and folk music traditions comprising various world cultures. The objectives of the course are to closely examine how we define what music is and what social and cultural roles it serves in our lives. Students will listen to music from other cultures and analyze how the music reflects differences in the way that another society defines music and its role in their lives. Through well-reasoned arguments, students will compare and contrast both cultures and their music, examining cultural bias as it relates to their own music and culture. The course will also explore the role of music as ritual, mode of communication, work accompaniment and artistic expression.

New SUNY General Education: SUNY - Critical Thinking and Reasoning Competency, SUNY - World History and Global Awareness

Retiring SUNY General Education: SUNY-OWC - Other World Civilizations (SOW2)

MCC General Education: MCC-GLO - Global Understanding (MGLO), MCC-SSD - Social Science and Diversity (MSSD)

Course Learning Outcomes
1. Define elements of music common to cultures throughout the world.
2. Describe how a culture's popular, classical or folk music has been influenced by other cultures throughout history.
3. Differentiate between music as entertainment and as a ritual element of a culture.
4. Compare each culture examined in the course with another culture in terms of customs or rituals.
5. Discuss how to critically listen to or appreciate different music cultures.
6. Aurally identify music from various cultures.
7. Analyze the role of music and culture as they relate to current and past societal structures.
8. Compose a well-reasoned argument based on the interpretation of music and cultural analysis.

Use links below to see if this course is offered:
Fall Semester 2025
Spring Semester 2025
Summer Session 2025