2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
MUS1251 Music Psychology and Society
20 creditsClass Size: 40
Module manager: Dr Freya Bailes
Email: f.bailes@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Module summary
On this module you’ll be introduced to the ways in which music psychology helps us to understand the social functions of music in a range of contexts, such as promoting social connections, forging collective identities and reinforcing health and wellbeing. The module will consider themes that may include music psychology in everyday life, music and education, researching communities, musical participation, and music in commercial environments.Objectives
This module applies a psychological lens to examine music’s capacity to serve a wide variety of social functions. Through a series of lectures, you will explore existing and potential ways that music can address societal issues such as those that relate to key Sustainable Development Goals (e.g., Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Climate Action, Peace and Justice, Strong Institutions). You will be assessed on your proposed application of music psychology knowledge to respond to a real-world problem of your choice. Interactive seminars and online learning will support you to develop and share your ideas. You will select your preferred assessment modality (e.g. blog, vlog, podcast) to communicate with non-specialists in a final showcase event.Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will be able to:
1. Explain the social functions that music can serve and the range of contexts in which these may occur.
2. Evaluate evidence of the impact of music in different communities.
3. Apply your knowledge of music psychology to address societal challenges.
4. Appraise critical, global and ethical contexts of music and music psychology.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module you will be able to:
5. Communicate ideas to specialists and non-specialists.
6. Demonstrate critical reflection on your positionality as a researcher.
Syllabus
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Lecture | 8 | 1.50 | 12.00 |
| Practical | 1 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Seminar | 2 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Independent online learning hours | 2.00 | ||
| Private study hours | 179.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 19.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Seminar one will take place around week 3, designed as an opportunity for students to collectively explore the results of their independent online learning about key societal challenges, and to consider the potential role of music to address these. Formative feedback on these reflections will come from peers and module staff.Seminar two will take place around week 7, with module staff providing plenary feedback on summative assessment plans, submitted around week 5.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Assignment | Choice of submission modality (blog, vlog, podcast, poster) | 100.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Students can select their preferred assessment modality for the summative submission: blog, vlog, podcast or poster. Guidance will be provided in each case to help students to successfully meet the learning and skills outcomes for the module. The submission must incorporate critical reflection on the students’ positionality (LO6) and be addressed to a non-specialist audience (LO5). Summative assessment submissions will be shared with other students in the cohort and wider members of the University community at an end-of-module showcase event (the three-hour ‘practical’ method listed in section 5), constituting a further opportunity for teaching and learning.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 26/01/2024
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