Popular Music
UndergraduateUNE-MUSI2352025
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 12 Oct 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 16 weeks
- Start dates
- 20 Oct 2025
- Price from
- $2,338
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Popular Music
About this subject
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- understand and critically evaluate the development of popular music genres within their social and historical contexts of development;
- identify and describe a range of popular music genres and artists;
- effectively transfer knowledge of music to others through written and oral tasks;
- apply knowledge and skills of recent research and performance practices to the interpretation of popular music; and
- develop information literacy and investigative skills relevant to the practice of popular music studies.
- Topics will be available to enrolled students in the subjects Learning Management System site approximately one week prior to the commencement of the teaching period.
Western popular music has developed alongside social movements and youth cultures which have challenged the political order and been used to assert new modes of identity. In this subject you will work through an historical survey of Western popular music from the 1950s to the present day, paying particular attention to how popular music genres have developed within shifting social upheavals, technological innovations, and evolving consumer cultures. You will progress through listening, contextualisation and analysis exercises of popular music genres including rock, pop, folk, hip hop, dance and electronica. Subject learning activities will encourage you to evaluate how popular music has challenged historical music literacies and expanded experiences of music of the last and present century.
Presentation: 1000 words. Relates to Learning Outcomes 3-5;
Listening exercises: 1000 words. Relates to Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 4;
Online Exercises: 600 words (equivalent). Relates to Learning Outcomes 1-5;
Essay: 2000 words. Relates to Learning Outcomes 1-5.- Listening Exercise (20%)
- Presentation (20%)
- Online Exercise (20%)
- Essay (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Elective
- UNE-MTC-DIP-2025 - Diploma in Music Technology
- UNE-MUS-DIP-2025 - Diploma in Music
Additional requirements
- Equipment requirements - Headphones or speakers (required to listen to lectures and other media). Headset, including microphone (highly recommended). Webcam (may be required for participation in virtual classrooms and/or media presentations).
- Software requirements - It is essential for students to have reliable internet access in order to participate in and complete your units, regardless of whether they contain an on campus attendance or intensive school component. Please refer students to link for requirements: For additional information please visit UNE Hardware Requirements: https://www.une.edu.au/current-students/support/it-services/hardware
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateUNE-MTC-DIP
UndergraduateUNE-MUS-DIP