Course description
Course overview
This programme is designed to meet the needs of students who wish to focus their MA degree on the critical study of popular music. It enables students to benefit from a variety of teaching modules offered in this field, leading ultimately to a dissertation undertaken on a topic of their choosing. Available teaching ranges from lectures giving students a thorough grounding in popular music studies, to critical engagement with key literature in group tutorials, to a practice-based module. A wide range of dissertation subjects within the area of popular music studies, both Western and non-Western, can be accommodated; recent projects include a comparative analysis of Kate Bush and Madonna, drawing upon feminist theory.
With its blend of classroom teaching and individually-supervised research, this programme caters for students seeking to expand their knowledge in the area of popular music studies as well as providing ideal training for those wishing to proceed to a research degree in the field. Students on this pathway receive the award of PGDip/MA in Popular Music Studies. Alternatively, they may opt to receive the award of MA in Music Studies.
Course content
Approaches to Music Studies
This module is delivered weekly over two terms, and provides an education in many aspects of recent musical thought and scholarship, as well as tuition in research methods, writing and presentation skills. For more information, click here.
Critical Readings (Popular Music Studies)
This module takes a closer look at important scholarly literature on popular music studies, through a series of group tutorials. It fosters a critical awareness of current issues in the field of popular music studies, and aims to equip students with the tools they need to critically evaluate current research and methodologies.
Optional modules
Students take one of the following modules:
* Special Project | This module enables students to undertake a specialised independent project associated with their topic of study. Examples of possible projects include: community or professional project; fieldwork project; producing a radio programme; a detailed musicological analysis in liaison with a practising musician(s), and so on. Projects will normally involve some element of ‘applied’ musicology, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge gained elsewhere on the course to a specific case study.
* Taught Module | Students who wish to extend their understanding of a specific aspect of their chosen field may opt to pursue studies in musicology, ethnomusicology or composition alongside final-year undergraduates. Supplementary supervision leads to an assessed research project or composition portfolio directed towards study at postgraduate level.
Dissertation
Students work throughout the programme towards a research dissertation of 12,000-15,000 words (6,000-7,500 words for the PGDip) on a topic related to some aspect of popular music studies, guided through the tutorial support of a supervisor. They also give a presentation towards the end of Spring term on their dissertation work in progress.
Teaching and assessment
The coursework assignments associated with the modules described in the Course Content section aim to deepen students’ understanding of concepts discussed in lectures and seminars, and to develop methodological and writing skills. In addition, throughout the programme, students concentrate on research on a topic of their choice in the context of the dissertation (120 credits, or 60 credits for the PGDip), which is supported by one-to-one tutorials with a specialist in the area of study. Prior to the spring vacation a series of presentation seminars is held, in which students present and discuss their dissertation work in progress.
