MUS 14 -Syllabus

Spring 2020

Course Number: MUS 14 Course Title: World Music

Division: Arts, Communications, & Social Sciences

Credit Hours: 3 Instructor: Brandon Mendez

Days MW Instructor Phone:

Times: 3:00pm-4:14pm Instructor Email: bmendez@shastacollege.edu

Originating Site: Office Hours :

All students are responsible for being sure they are registered for any classes they are
attending. Students wishing to drop a class or who are no longer attending a class are
responsible for completing a drop form with the Admissions and Records Office or an
Extended Education Campus. It is not the instructor’s responsibility to register or drop a
student from a class.

No food or drink (except water) is allowed in the ITV classrooms.

Any student not in class on the first day may be dropped at instructor's discretion. IF YOU
ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND FIRST CLASS MEETING BE SURE TO CONTACT THE
INSTRUCTOR.

COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION

World Music is a global exploration of musical traditions of various representative world musical cultures
and musical techniques in a variety of cultural contexts not included in the broad genre of European based
art music.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Define the basic elements of music in ways applicable to both Western and Global cultures, and describe
the fundamental principles of the field of ethnomusicology
2. Articulate the primary musical elements and instruments of selected non-western music-cultures,
describing both how the culture views its own music as well as how it might be described using Western
music concepts.
3. Be able to aurally discern the distinctive sounds of selected music cultures, as well as recognize when
music cultures have been mixed together.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
1. Analyze and accurately describe music of a variety of cultures using correct music terminology.
2. Understand and explain the significance and application of music within various cultures.
3. Aurally identify music from a variety of cultures.
4. Compare the musical language and musical contributions of various world cultures
5. Investigate world musical cultures by analyzing case methods of anthropologists and
ethnomusicologists.
6. Research the musical foundations which presently influence mainstream Western art music.

COURSE CONTENT

Shasta College
www.ShastaCollege.edu
1. Elements of music, how to analyze music
2. Ethnomusicology, Field work techniques
3. Music in culture
4. South Asia
5. Southeast Asia
6. East Asia
7. The Middle East
8. Europe
9. Sub-Saharan Africa
10. The Caribbean
11. South America
12. North America
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RECOMMENDED TEXTS
1. Miller, Terry E. and Andrew Shahriari. World Music: A Global Journey, 4th ed. New
York, Routledge, 2017. ISBN 978-1-138-91131-4.

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GRADING

Research Paper 20% 200 pts.

“My Music” Assignment 5% 50 pts.
Weekly Quizzes (15 Total) (10 pts. each) 15% 150 pts.
Exams (4 total) (150pts. each) 60% 600 pts.
TOTAL 100% 1000 pts.

Grading Scale:
A = 100%-90%
B = 89%-80%
C = 79%-70%
D = 69%-60%
F = 59%-0%

Missed Assignments: Late assignments will not be accepted. However, students experiencing extreme
difficulties & who have contacted me prior to the due date will be accepted at instructor’s discretion. Late
assignments will be penalized one full grade (from an A to a B for example) each day it’s late or at the
instructor’s discretion.
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CLASSROOM POLICIES

Attendance: Success in the course is dependent upon participation and attendance: attending a class
means arriving on time, coming back to class promptly from breaks, and staying for the entire class period.
Any missed class sessions may affect your performance in the class. If you have a medical condition that
necessitates you leaving the class for brief periods of time, please notify the instructor beforehand.

Students unable to attend at least 80% of the classes should consider dropping the course immediately. If
you have extenuating circumstances requiring an extended absence from class (e.g. illness), please contact
the instructor as soon as possible. Please be aware the instructor may drop a student after the no record
drop deadline.

A student who fails to attend the first meeting of a course without notifying the instructor may be dropped
from the class. If you are unable to attend the first class session, contact the instructor. In addition, an
instructor may drop a student after the no record drop deadline (approximately 25% of the term) and before
the “W” drop deadline (approximately 75% of the term) for excessive absences. Nevertheless, it is always
the student’s responsibility to officially drop or withdraw from the class. Students, who fail to file the
necessary forms, even though they stop attending class, will be assigned a course grade.

Participation: Students are expected to actively participate in ongoing classroom activities by remaining

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attentive and engaged with the course content. If students are consistently disruptive and/or inattentive,
they will be asked to drop the class. All materials are essential to every class meeting and if you do not bring
them then you cannot fully participate in classroom activities.

As a courtesy to your fellow students and instructor, please silence all cellphones and other electronic
devices for the duration of class. If you use your phone in class, you may be asked to leave the class for the
remainder of the meeting; furthermore, you will not receive participation credit for the day. If there is some
pressing issue that requires you to have your phone on, please inform the instructor, and leave the class if
you have to take a call.

Respect: Each person in this classroom comes from a different place, has experienced different things and
is unique. This classroom will have a positive educational environment where we can learn from each other
and grow intellectually. Treat everyone in the classroom with courtesy and respect or you may be asked to
leave the class for the remainder of the meeting.
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COLLEGE POLICIES
GUESTS AND CHILDREN: Only authorized persons are allowed in the classrooms. College liability
coverage does not extend to guests or children and thus they are not allowed in the classroom.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: According to the Shasta College Student Handbook and the Shasta College
Catalog, there are a number of unauthorized behaviors that violate the campus academic honesty policy.
Each student should become familiar with the policy.
Failure to acknowledge the work of other scholars constitutes an egregious breach of ethics and is a
violation of civil law. You must, in all cases, do your own work, acknowledge sources, and document them
appropriately. Otherwise, disciplinary sanctions will be applied. If you have any questions about plagiarism,
please do not hesitate to contact me. In other words, cheating of any sort will not be tolerated and will result
in an “F” for the assignment, quiz, or exam, and the case may be reported to Student Services.

STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE: In accordance with the Student Code of Conduct (Board Policy
5500), students are expected to obey all California State laws and all Federal laws that pertain to behavior
on a college campus. Shasta College’s jurisdiction and discipline shall be limited to conduct that occurs on
Shasta College premises or that is related to school activities. Any student found to have committed
misconduct is subject to the disciplinary sanctions outlined in Board Policy, Section 5520.

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS IMPOSED BY A DISABILITY: Academic adjustments due to a disability

or serious medical condition: Students should contact the office of Partners in Access to College Education
(PACE) for authorization of academic adjustments (accommodations) for this course. The office is located in
room 2006 (242-7790). Students will need to provide documentation that verifies the condition and the
type of limitations that may result. The staff in PACE have been designated with the authority to 1) evaluate
that documentation, 2) determine which academic adjustments are appropriate to this course, and 3)
facilitate the provision of approved academic adjustments. Students will submit notices directly to the
course instructor regarding specific academic adjustments that are authorized for this class.

DROPPING: If a student misses two consecutive weeks of class or more it may be assumed they are no
longer interested in the course. School policy notes that these students may be dropped by the instructor
either on census day or via the instructor initiated drop process. Nevertheless, if the student decides to stop
attending, it is always the student’s responsibility to officially drop or withdraw from the class.

NON-DISCRIMINATION: The Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District (“Shasta College”)

does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religious
preference, age, disability (physical and mental), pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical
conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity, sexual orientation, genetics, military or
veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in admission and access to, or
treatment in employment, educational programs or activities at any of its campuses. Shasta College also
prohibits harassment on any of these bases, including sexual harassment, as well as sexual assault, domestic
violence, dating violence, and stalking.

NOTE: The syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor