MUSC2684: Semester 2, 2026

Units MUSC2684 Semester 2 2026 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

MUSC2684: Pop Musicology

Semester 2, 2026 [Normal day] - Sydney

Overview

A great riff, a catchy melody, or a heartfelt lyric—these elements define popular music’s ability to connect with and resonate deeply with audiences. But how do these musical moments work? This unit explores key concepts and analytical techniques in pop musicology, equipping students with the tools to critically engage with and understand the distinctive qualities of popular music from multiple perspectives. Topics include genre, song structure, chord progressions, production techniques, lyrical themes, texture, and instrumentation, alongside analytical approaches such as musical semiotics and empirical musicology. Through interactive tutorials, students will apply these concepts through discussion, listening exercises, and hands-on tasks such as drawing, chart-making, and creating diagrams. This unit is ideal for students who want to deepen their understanding of how popular music works, develop analytical techniques for further study, and explore how we make meaning from the music we love.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Analysis, History and Cultural Studies
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	MUSC1503 or MUSC1504 or MUSC1501 or MUSC2693 or MCGY1008 or JAZZ1621 or JAZZ1019
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jade O'Regan, jade.oregan@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 August 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Contribution	Tutorial Participation Contribution to weekly tutorials.	30%	Multiple weeks	Weeks 2-12 in class time.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Contribution	Early Feedback Task: Popular Music Recommendation & Reflection Discussion board post.	5%	Week 02 Due date: 14 Aug 2026 at 23:59	200-250 Words.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Music Analysis Project Proposal Written proposal.	0%	Week 08 Due date: 25 Sep 2026 at 23:59	150-250 Words equiv.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Music Analysis Project Research project.	40%	Week 11 Due date: 23 Oct 2026 at 23:59	1500-2000 words or equiv.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-person written or creative task	Listening Test In-class listening test.	25%	Week 13 Due date: 03 Nov 2026 at 15:00	50 minutes	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
= early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Please see Canvas for further assessment details.

Assessment Requirements
All assessment tasks must be attempted. Failure to submit or attend any assessment task will normally result in an Absent Fail (AF) or failure of the unit.

If a task is specified as a hurdle requirement, you must obtain a minimum mark of 50% in that task to pass the unit, even if your overall mark is higher.

Assessment criteria

See Canvas site for detailed instructions on assessment grading and rubric tables.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date: Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	This Must Be… Pop!: A Short History of Studying and Analysing Pop Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	I Saw the Sign: Semiotics and Popular Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Week 2 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	What’s my Scene?: Genre and Style in Popular Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Week 3 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Can’t Get You Out of my Head: Hooks as a Defining Feature of Pop Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Week 4 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Climbing up the Walls (of Sound): Texture and Shape in Popular Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Week 5 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	We Built This City: Song Structure in Popular Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Week 6 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	I Want to Tell You: Lyrics and Themes in Popular Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Week 7 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Harmony and Me: How the Perfect Chord Can Tell a Story.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Week 8 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Pumping on Your Stereo: Production in Popular Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Week 9 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Rikki Don't Lose That Number: Empirical Analysis in Popular Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Week 11 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Fun Fun Fun: Novelty in Popular Music.	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Week 12 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	End of the Road: Where Do We Go From Here?	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Week 13 Tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

This is an in-person class. All teaching activities require attendance.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See Canvas site for details on readings.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Engage with a broad range of musicological methods to analyse and understand popular music
LO2. Understand the ways in which popular music connects to a wider cultural context
LO3. Demonstrate the ability to critically think about, write about, listen to, and analyse popular music
LO4. Demonstrate skills in independent research through written and spoken assessment tasks
LO5. Engage in respectful and critically-informed discussion with peers on relevant topics

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Additional information

Bringing a set of headphones and a laptop/phone to play music would be helpful to bring to classes in this unit.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links