We will be using one digital book with free access through Blackboard. 

Understanding Music: Past and Present by N. Alan Clark, Thomas Heflin, Jeffrey Kluball, and Elizabeth Kramer. (ISBN 978-1-940771-33-5). Produced by the University System of Georgia and Published by the University of North Georgia Press. 

Listening Journal (supplied by instructor) 

Note-taking materials (pen and paper, etc) 

Folder/Binder 

Blackboard Access 

Office 365 Access 

1. Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral, and visual communication.  

2. Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts, and constructing solutions.  

3. Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.  

4. Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.  

5. Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making. 

Lecture topics are presented in 4 modules throughout the course. Module topics are as follows: 

Module 1: Music Fundamentals, Music of the Middle Ages, and Music of the Renaissance 

Module 2: Music of the Baroque Period and of the Classical Period 

Module 3: Nineteenth Century Music and Romanticism and The Twentieth Century and Beyond 

Module 4: Popular Music in the United States 

Students are expected to complete quizzes, assignments, and Listening Journals on a weekly basis. All assignments are due on Fridays at 11:59pm unless otherwise specified by the instructor.  

All Exams (Modules 1-3) will open and close in Blackboard on the dates below. Students must take the module exams during the stated windows. Failure to take an exam during the window will result in an exam grade of zero (0). Students will have 2 hours to take each module exam. Module 4 Presentations will be due on the date below, in lieu of a Module 4 Exam.  

Students will only be granted a make-up exam at the instructor’s discretion in extreme circumstances (extreme illness or injury, death, etc.). 

Students may use their textbooks for in-class tests but are NOT permitted to use AI tools. 

Exam extensions will will only be granted in extreme circumstances (severe illness, injury, death, etc.).  

The Major Assignments schedule is subject to change based on semester events and course pacing, at the instructor's discretion. 

Module 1 Exam: Week 4 

Module 2 Exam: Week 8 

Module 3 Exam: Week 13 

Module 4 Final Project: Due by 11:59pm on Friday, May 8th (Week 15) 

The contents of this syllabus (schedule, major assignments, instructor policies, etc.) are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. 

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty is never tolerated in this or any course. Students are always expected to submit original work and cite all outside sources. The instructor may use Blackboard tools such as SafeAssign and Respondus to ensure student work is authentic and original. Failure to maintain academic integrity may result in a zero grade or course failure. 

Artificial Intelligence: The use of Artificial Intelligence tools (ex. ChatGPT, Gemini, Grammarly, etc.) for exams, essays, homework, quizzes, or listening journals is strictly prohibited unless explicitly stated by the instructor. Unauthorized use will be treated as academic dishonesty and may result in a zero for the assignment or failure of the course. If AI use is suspected, the instructor will assign a temporary zero and contact the student via email, Blackboard, or in person to schedule a meeting. During this meeting, the coursework will be reviewed and appropriate action determined.  

Grades and Late Work: All grades will be posted in Blackboard. Students must meet with the instructor to discuss grades and grading policies. All work must be submitted on time. Late work will be subject to a 5% grade reduction after one day and a 10% grade reduction for every day after. (For example, if an assignment with a grade of 100% is submitted one day late, the grade would be reduced to a 95%. If the same assignment is submitted two days late, the grade would be reduced to an 85%. After three days, the grade would be a 75%.) The instructor will not accept any work turned in more than one week (7 days) late. Any work submitted more than one week (7 days) late will receive a zero. Submission extensions may be granted in extreme circumstances and must be discussed with the instructor.