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ATS1343 · Popular music in global perspective

Official Handbook

2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 1Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance

Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTC

Overview

Popular music, namely, music that appeals to large audiences and which is disseminated via mass media, is an increasingly global phenomenon. From rock to reggae, hip-hop to Afro-pop, this unit introduces you to select popular musics from around the world, while also exploring basic research principles of ethnomusicology and popular music scholarship. The unit is open to all students with an interest in music. No prior musical experience required.

Areas of study: Music Music performance Composition and music technology Creative music technology Ethnomusicology and musicology

Offerings

The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

#AssessmentTypeWeightHurdle
1Online quizzesQuiz / Test30%
2Guided reading activity assessmentExercise10%
3Coursework essayWritten30%
4Popular Music ExpositionPresentation30%

Within semester assessment: 100%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

  1. Recognise and articulate some of the historical, social and cultural forces that have shaped select popular musics from around the world;
  2. Critically read scholarly sources by undertaking a guided reading activity;
  3. Evaluate and analyse scholarly sources pertinent to popular music research;
  4. Undertake a popular music research project utilising academic research and writing skills.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

ActivityDuration
Lectures12 hours
Tutorials24 hours

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