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MUSC 586

MUSC 586: Psychology of Music II

Prerequisites: MUSC 585

Credit Hours: (3)

This course is designed to establish an understanding of research methods for music therapy, as well as other music disciplines. Additional topics to be covered include measurement and evaluation in music, learning theory and creativity. Time permitting, additional special topics in psychology of music will be included.


Detailed Description of Course

Psychology of Music II is designed to establish an understanding of research methods for music therapy, as well as other music disciplines.  Additional topics to be covered include measurement and evaluation in music, learning theory and creativity.  Time permitting, additional special topics in psychology of music will be included (physiological response to music, music and stress/pain management, music-assisted self-management techniques)    
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The class is a combination of lecture and interactive discussion with emphasis on the experimental studies required to be conducted by each student.  Numerous print, video, and web sources will be explored and discussed, many through the current online course management system.


Goals and Objectives of this Course

Upon completion of MUSC 586, students will:

• have a functional knowledge of basic research methodology with regard to the various effects of music on human behavior and learning
• have a working knowledge of selected statistical instruments suitable for experimental research in music
• gain practical experience in observation, evaluation, and reliability computation of music events and phenomena
• produce a formal research project in a format that might  be found in the  professional research journals relating to the fields of music, education, therapy, and psychology
• examine and understand the nature, measurement, and evaluation of music ability and aptitude
• examine and understand selected learning theories with application to music
• gain a basic functional understanding the nature of creativity
• have a basic understanding role of music in stress and pain management

Assessment Measures
 
May include but are not limited to:

• Exams on class lectures/discussions/presentations and reading assignments
• Formal Research Project: The scope and content of the research project must be of an advanced depth and breadth indicative of graduate level writing and research.  For example, the review of the literature will contain a minimum of 35 references and the statistical analysis must be parametric.
• Class participation
• Promptness of all small assignments


Other Course Information

A research project for this graduate course will be expected to contain an in-depth review of literature and detailed analysis of data collected in the student’s investigation. The research must meet standards of depth and breadth commensurate with graduate level academic production.  An alternative assignment requiring graduate level analytical ability and comprehension may be used.


Review and Approval

April 10, 2013