Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Songwriting I (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 2160-01

Course: MUSC 2160-01
Credits: 2
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: MUSC
CRN: 11549

Course Description

An introduction to commercial songwriting that helps students develop the necessary skills by analyzing the writing styles of major artists and examining the foundational elements of different genres. (Spring - As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): MUSC 1120 - Prerequisite Min Grade: C Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Great Songwriting Techniques by Jack Perricone. Published by Oxford.

Available on Amazon for $35.86.


Learning Outcomes


Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
 Organize harmonic, melodic, rhythmic and lyrical elements into a compelling and
cohesive song.
 Examine and analyze songs in a variety of genres.
 Apply a greater understanding of the songwriting craft to their own songs.
 Write and record demo songs and lead sheets.

Course Requirements

Homework: Each lesson will have accompanying homework that will be
assigned at the end of class. Homework assignments are creative in nature and
are intended to help stimulate the songwriting process. Assignments will include
specific page references to the textbook for reading and application.


In-Class Discussions: Most classes will feature a 10-minute block where
students will have the chance to participate in a discussion about the reading
material. Participation is optional, but students that participate in these
discussions will gain a deeper understanding of course material. Students must
participate in at least 5 of these discussions to get credit for this.


Open Mic Class: These class sessions are an opportunity for students to share
the songs they’ve been writing in class and get instant feedback on them from
the instructor and other students. Students are invited to participate in 3 of
these in-class events during the semester.

Song Demo and Lead Sheet Project: For this project, students will make a
demo recording of one of their songs, either using their own equipment or the
resources in the Music Tech Center. They will also be writing a professional
quality lead sheet for their song to be used in tandem with the recording.

Midterm and Final Songs: During Midterms and Finals, instructions will be
given to students for crafting songs using elements discussed in class. Students
will be asked to submit a rough recording of these songs in lieu of tests. The
Final Song will be presented in class as part of the final exam during Finals
Week.

Course Outline

Week by Week Class Schedule: (subject to change)
Date SCHEDULE Tests &
Assignments

January 7: Course Intro - Syllabus
12: Chp 1: Beginning A Song
14: Chp 2: Intro To Melody
19: No Class – Martin Luther King Day
21: MUSIC DOCUMENTARY DAY
26: Discussion/Open Mic Class
28 Chp 3: Rhythm and Rhyme

February 2: Rhythm & Rhyme song share
4 Chp 4: Tone Tendencies
9  Song Share
11 Chp 5: Setting Music to Lyrics
16 No Class – Presidents’ Day
18 Song Share
23 Chp 6: Simple and Interesting
25 Open Mic Class

March 2 Midterm Song
4
9 SPRING BREAK
11 SPRING BREAK
16 Song Demo and Lead Sheet Project
18 Chp 8: Blues, Rock, R&B and Modal Env.
23
25
30 Open Mic Class

April 2 Chp 11: Form and Function
6
8
13 Final Song
15
20 Finals Week
22Final Exam 7:00 – 8:50

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Work Policy
No late work will be accepted

Attendance Policy

Attendance Policy: Students are expected to arrive to each class on time and
should only miss a class if there is an emergency or other valid reason.
Attendance counts for 10% of the final grade and will be impacted greatly if
students do not show up. Each student will be allowed one excused absence.
Students must communicate with the instructor via email or phone at
least 24 hours in advance of the class to be missed in order to excuse
their absence. Texting will not be permitted as a method of communicating
these absences.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.