Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Songwriting II (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 3160-01

Course: MUSC 3160-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: MUSC
CRN: 11641

Course Description

A continued introduction to various songwriting styles and the techniques needed to compose well-crafted lyrics and music, providing students with the opportunity to create original music, collaborate with others, analyze popular music, and discuss historic and current songwriting trends. (Spring - Odd Years) Prerequisite(s): MUSC 2160 - Prerequisite Min Grade: C Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

2 Notebooks.

Learning Outcomes


Students who complete this course will be able to:


  • Unlock the Power of Archetypes: Understand the core archetypes found in fiction and myth, and learn how to weave them into your lyrics, melodies, and arrangements to create songs that speak to universal human experiences.
  • Use a blend of storytelling techniques, songwriting exercises, and explore various genres through co-writing and collaborative creativity.


  • Develop a deeper sense of artistry and Identity in their songcraft by incorporating imagery and visual concepts. 

Course Requirements


Composition Journal -
Intentionally keeping a diary is difficult, it can be a challenge to write and quite honestly, a challenge to read. The style of journaling required for this class will be different. These composition notebooks will change you. You will be expected to completely fill at least two of them over the course of this semester. You must take this task seriously as it will be ⅓ of your grade. Think of your composition book as a gathering place for snippets from your daily life. Keep it with you at all times. Along with diary pages, songs, poems, and writing assignments, I'd like you to catch quotes and notes from class, sparks of interest, ideas, rants, plans, insults, and inspirations. I’d also like you to include transient scraps from your everyday existence. Candy Wrappers, receipts, stickers, and lists. Torn out magazine collages, you can glue or tape them in. and don't forget to doodle! Over time, patterns will begin to surface, offering valuable insights into what we often call "the back of your mind." This project will allow you to view your life with an essence of mindfulness that brings the back of the mind to the forefront. Where you can begin to create your living, breathing songs. A semester of songwriting by hand, using comp books and the natural instinct for storytelling, We will ask the question: what does Originality have to do with the original creative tool?  

6 Short Songs/ 6 Portfolio Songs:

In this songwriting course, you'll embark on a creative adventure akin to the Hero's Journey, using archetypal fiction as your map and guide. Just as myths and legends have stood the test of time, so too can your songs resonate with universal themes, deeply felt emotions, and timeless narratives.


The course begins by introducing you to the essential archetypes of storytelling — the Hero, the Magician, the Sage, the Rebel, and others — and shows you how these figures can shape the emotional and structural heart of your songs, with you being the soul. Throughout the course, Students will be writing archetypal themed songs. These songs will demonstrate their ability to apply concepts learned in class.  Students must include both a recording and lead sheet of their songs when submitting work.


4 main themes: The Journey, The Legacy, Connection to Others, Providing Structure. 

Final Portfolio Project: Interdisciplinary Creative Imagery Presentation. After weeks of collecting your living-breathing songs, your notebook will begin to develop patterns. The Magical Big Something that wants to be your final project will begin to reveal itself. We will meet individually in a student/teacher conference, to discuss the validity and the process of form that will be your final project, and how to best share during finals week: A concept Album, a music video, a fully illustrated lyric book. You will know what it is that needs to be made. We will schedule our student conference shortly after Spring Break. Bring your notebooks.  

Course Outline

Date  | Schedule | Tests & Assignments
January  | 7 | Syllabus - Songwriting as Storytelling | The Sage
Innocent | 12 | Expanding Creative Inventory | Song Introductions
Explorer | 14 | Exploring Rhythm and Melody | Notebook Check - 1

| 19  | No Class Martin Luther King Jr Day | 

Hero | 21 | No Class - DOCUMENTARY DAY | RESPOND in CANVAS

| 26 | Rhyming Road Map | 


| 28 | SONG SHARE | The Charted Journey - 3
February | 2 | The Rebel - Protest songs | 


| 4 | 
| Rebel Song - 4

| 9 | The Magician & The Artist’s Way | 


| 11 | 
| Magic Song - 5

| 16 | No Class - President’s Day | 


| 18 | The Hero’s Return - ARTIST DATE | 


| 23 | The Legacy | Notebook Check#2 /Review

| 25 | SONG SHARE - MIDTERM  | The Charted Legacy - 6
March | 2 | The Lover | 


| 4 | 
| SUBMIT to Class Playlist

| 9 | SPRING BREAK | 


| 11 | SPRING BREAK | 


| 16 | The Jester  | 


| 18 | 
| The Jester Song - 7

| 23 | The Everyone | 


| 25 | 
| The Everyone - 8

| 30 | The Caregiver | Notebook Check #3
April | 1 | 
| The Charted Connection - 9

| 6 | The Ruler | 


| 8 | 
| The Ruler - 10

| 13 | The Creator | 


| 15 | 
| The Creator - 11 

| 20 | FINAL REVIEW | 


| 22 | FINALS WEEK | FINAL NOTEBOOK CHECK

| 28 | FINAL EXAM | The Structured Original Something - 12 





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

None.

Attendance Policy

None.

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.