Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Survey of Classical Music (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 3560-01

Course: MUSC 3560-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: MUSC
CRN: 11769

Course Description

A survey of the trends and styles of classical music with examples from various time periods from ancient to modern. (Spring - Odd Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): MUSC 2120 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Required Texts

Douglas L. Ipson, Historical Anthology of Classical Music [available via Canvas].

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
  • identify the major composers, important works, and distinguishing characteristics of music in the western Classical tradition and explain how these reflect their historical and cultural contexts
  • describe and assess the principal genres, forms, styles, techniques, and performance practices of this music and interpret its most significant notational conventions

Course Requirements

Examinations
Five examinations, which together will constitute 60% of your final grade, will be given on the dates listed in the Course Schedule. For each exam you will be accountable for the material presented in class and in the reading and listening assignments for a single unit of the course. These exams will require you to identify audio and/or score excerpts from compositions on the works in the course anthology and to answer questions related to those excerpts as well as other general concepts introduced in that unit. The first test can be taken anywhere that Canvas is available and will be open book/notes. The other four exams must be taken in the Testing Center and will be closed book/notes.

Analytical Essays
Over the course of the semester you will study (on your own) nine individual works selected from a list of supplemental works that will be provided to you and will write a brief analytical essay about each. For each piece you should do some rudimentary research (in the library and/or online) and listen to each work repeatedly, following along in the score when possible. You will then write a brief essay (of at least approximately 500 words) about the aspects of the piece that most intrigue you. You need not attempt to address any piece in a comprehensive way, but your essay should be relatively formal in tone and should demonstrate fluency in the concepts and vocabulary we are developing in class. (Since this course is part of the Commercial Music program, it would be entirely appropriate to discuss the ways a particular work or style has influenced or otherwise intersected with popular culture.) Formal citations will not be necessary for well-established facts about individual composers and works, but you must give credit (in an appropriate format) for any unique ideas that you draw upon in your essays. For the most part, your essays should contain your own analysis and insights and not be a patchwork of other people’s ideas. Feel free to include original charts or graphs as part of your essays. Together your analytical essays will constitute 30% of your final grade.

Assignments, Quizzes, and Participation
Throughout the semester I may give short assignments reinforcing the concepts we will discuss in class. I may also give unannounced quizzes from time to time. Since this is a face-to-face course, you are expected to attend class in person except when health or other unusual circumstances make it impossible. Live Zoom broadcasts of the class will not generally be available but may be provided, at my discretion, for individual students in exceptional circumstances. Zoom broadcasts will not ordinarily be recorded or archived. I expect you participate in our classes and to contribute meaningfully to the overall learning environment of the course. An unacceptable pattern of absence, disruption, or non-participation will negatively affect your grade. Together, assignments, quizzes, and citizenship will make up the final 10% of your grade.

Course Outline

Unit I: The Middle Ages and the Renaissance
  • The Middle Ages
  • The Renaissance

Unit II: The Baroque Period
  • The Baroque: Introduction
  • Early Baroque Opera
  • Late Baroque Instrumental Music
  • Late Baroque Vocal Music

Unit III: The Classical Period and Beethoven
  • The Classical Period: Introduction
  • The Classical Symphony
  • Other Classical Genres
  • Beethoven

Unit IV: The Romantic Period
  • Early Romantic Song
  • Early Romantic Piano Music
  • Early Romantic Orchestral Music
  • Romantic Opera: Italy
  • Romantic Opera: Germany
  • Late Romantic Orchestral Music

The Twentieth Century
  • The Twentieth Century: Introduction
  • Parisian Breakthroughs
  • The Second Viennese School
  • Between Two World Wars
  • The Later Twentieth Century

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

Late assignments may be accepted only in extenuating circumstances at the instructor’s discretion with a deduction in grade, as appropriate. 

Attendance Policy

An unacceptable pattern of absence or tardiness will be factored into the participation component of the final grade.

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

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.