Program Overview

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Undergraduate

Music and Society

Develop your skills and expertise in thinking critically about music.

About the course

The Music and Society major develops your skills and expertise in thinking critically about music. Broaden your studies and discover Music’s broad range of styles and contexts.

Course Details

• Status: Available
• Locations: Perth (Crawley campus)
• Attendance: Full-time, Part-time
• Delivery: On-campus, Multi-mode
• Starting dates: Semester 1, Semester 2
• Level of study: Undergraduate
• Course Code: MJD-MUSMS
• Full time/part time duration: 3 years (BA); 4 years (BPhil [Hons])

Course Structure

Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.

Level 1

• Core: Take all units (18 points)
  • MUSC1340 Musical Revolutions (6)
  • MUSC1350 Popular Music in Global Perspective (6)
  • MUSC1351 Women in Music (6)

Level 2

• Core: Take all units (12 points)
  • MUSC2341 Music and Practices of Listening (6)
  • MUSC2342 Music in Action (6)

Level 3

• Core: Take all units (18 points)
  • MUSC3335 Music in the Sixties (6)
  • MUSC3336 Music in Film, TV and Video Games (6)
  • MUSC3341 Music, Society, and Ideas (6)

You'll learn to

• discover broad historical perspectives on the nature and contexts of music and the relevance of historical and stylistic conventions from various periods
• develop transferable skills in research, critical thinking and communication which enable successful tertiary study, and facilitate further study and lifelong learning
• critically engage with, and interpret key texts and works from, a range of music sub-disciplines
• demonstrate a socio-cultural and historically sensitive perspective of various forms of music and music cultures

Careers and further study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

Graduates will gain skills applicable to a range of creative and theoretical professions. Some may pursue careers as an Arts and Cultural sector worker, a cultural historian or discover a role within a community organisation.

Further Study

After completing the Music and Society major, you can pursue further studies at honours level or complete a PhD in Music Research.

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course.

Domestic Student Fees

• Fee calculator

International Student Fees

• Annual course fee: $48,300.00 (2025)
• Fees are subject to annual indexation.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers.

Minimum entry requirements

• All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE): 9
• Canadian High School (except Quebec): 68
• French Baccalaureate: 10
• Gao Kao (PR China NCEE)/750: 507
• GCE A-Levels: 8
• German Abitur: 3.6
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 14
• Indian Senior School Certificate (CISCE): 45
• Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65: 75.5
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 24
• Malaysian STPM: 10
• Monash University Foundation Year: 254
• NCUK Foundation Program: 8
• Norwegian Vitnemål: 3.5
• Singapore - Cambridge A Levels: 6.5
• South African National Senior Certificate: 4
• South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 324
• Sweden Slutbetyg: 14.5
• Trinity College Foundation: 280
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC): 14
• University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program: 61
• US College Board Advanced Placements: 7
• US College Board SAT: 1130
• Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP): 56
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards: 75

English competency

• Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

How to apply

The application process to this course is different for the assured and graduate entry pathways, and for international and domestic applicants.

Domestic Pathways

• Domestic Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via TISC.
• Domestic Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via GEMSAS.

International Pathways

• International Assured Pathway/School Leaver Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.
• International Graduate Entry: Applications are lodged via UWA's online application system or via an authorised international education agent.