World Music Minor

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Banner Code: WMUS

Performing Arts Building, Room A417
Phone: 703-993-1380
Web: music.gmu.edu

Faculty

Carroll, Lepore, Owens, Robinson (coordinator)

Requirements

Students must complete 16 to 18 credits, with a 10-credit core and opportunities to take electives in several departments at Mason.

Prerequisite

Students must first demonstrate to the World Music coordinator a basic level of knowledge and training in some area of Western or non-Western music, or earn a grade of B or higher in MUSI 103 or 431. Prerequisites for specific courses are indicated below.

University policy states that students must earn 8 distinct credits that are not used for their major toward their minor.

Course Work

This program is designed for those who wish to widen their scope of knowledge about music while deepening their understanding of the world’s peoples. Students learn in the classroom, as well as experientially, in the form of applied studies and exercises in field work how music making functions within cultural contexts, conveying varied meanings in bodily action and musical sound worldwide. Students gain skills that will serve them in many fields of endeavor, from developing specific musical expertise to acquiring proficiency with technological and anthropological aspects of ethnographic enquiry.

Core (10 credits)

MUSI 103 - Musics of the World Credits: 3
ANTH 114 - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology Credits: 3
MUSI 497 - Independent Study Credits: 1-3

One of the following two courses (1 credits):

Applied Music (PMI)
or
Ensembles (Selection of private music instruction or ensemble must be approved by minor coordinator.)

Electives (6-8 credits)

Electives must be approved by the minor coordinator and should be selected from the following:

Applied Music (PMI) (1-3)
MUSI 485 - Chamber Ensembles Credits: 1
MUSI 102 - Popular Music in America Credits: 3
MUSI 107 - The Development of Jazz Credits: 3
MUSI 379 - Introduction to Jazz Improvisation Credits: 1
DANC 118 - World Dance Credits: 3
DANC 119 - Dance in Popular Culture: Afro-Latino Dance Credits: 3
COMM 157 - Video Workshop Credits: 1
COMM 305 - Foundations of Intercultural Communication Credits: 3
ENGH 315 - Folklore and Folklife Credits: 3
AFAM 200 - Introduction to African American Studies Credits: 3
AFAM 390 - Special Topics in African and African American Studies Credits: 3
AVT 378 - The African American Experience in the Performing Arts Credits: 3
ANTH 302 - Peoples and Cultures of Latin America Credits: 3
ANTH 306 - Peoples and Cultures of Island Asia Credits: 3
ANTH 309 - Peoples and Cultures of India Credits: 3

Note:

Additional electives may include summer travel courses, as appropriate, and must be approved by the minor coordinator.

Total: 16-18 credits