Music and Psychology

A total of 16 courses (64 credits) as follows:

Music Courses (6 courses, 8 performance credits) 

a. Theory & Musicianship:

  • MUSC 204: Understanding Musicianship [F5]* – offered in Fall semesters
  • Two (2) 300-level music theory courses (306-313)  
    *If placement test determines this course is redundant, choose three 300-level music theory courses

b. History & Literature: 

  • One (1) 200-level Music History & Literature Course (4 credits)
    Select from MUSC 227-229 [F3] or MUSC 267 [F9]

c. Performance:

  • 4 semesters of applied music lessons (MUSC 160-180 = 1 credit each)
  • 4 semesters of ensemble performance (1 credit each) 
              • MUSC 181: Rhodes Orchestra
              • MUSC 184: Rhodes Jazz Ensemble
              • MUSC 185: Rhodes Pep Band
              • MUSC 187: Archipelago Ensemble
              • MUSC 190: Rhodes Singers
              • MUSC 390: Rhodes Choral Collaborative
              • Other ensembles may count with departmental approval.

d. Electives: Two (2) 4-credit courses

  • One (1) music cognition/therapy topic course (MUSC 140-149 or MUSC 340-349)
  • Other courses should be selected from the following recommended list: 
    MUSC 103, 117-119, 130, 222, 227-228, 306, 310, 414

Once declared, Music & Psychology majors will have the Applied Music fees waived for up to eight (8) credits of their principal applied instrument. Music majors taking more than eight (8) credits of Applied Music and lessons taken prior to declaration of the major will be charged the applied fee for those credits. Fine Arts Scholarship waivers for Applied Music fees are outlined in the award letter which supersedes music major and minor fee waivers outlined here.

Psychology Courses (7 courses)

a. Foundational Psychology Courses:  

  • PSYC 150: Foundational Issues in Psychology [F8] 
  • PSYC 200: Research Methods and Statistics (Sophomore year) 
  • PSYC 211: Statistical Methods [F6] (Sophomore year)  

b. Perception: PSYC 216  

c. Advanced Research Methods (Junior year):
    One advanced methods and statistics course from among Psychology 350-353 or content courses that include
     substantial integration of statistical analysis and work with datasets (i.e., 306, 338). This course should be taken
     junior year. Before taking a particular advanced methods course, students should complete PSYC 200 and 211,                
    as well as the core course that relates to it. 

d. Two other courses chosen from one concentration:

               Cognition:  
                         PYSC 232: Psychology of Gender and Language  
                         PSYC 306: Psycholinguistics  
                         PSYC 327: Cognitive Processes  
                         PSYC 345: Cognitive Neuroscience  
                         PSYC 451-452: Research Practicum (4 credits)  
                         NEURO 270: Neuroscience  
                         NEURO 318: Neuroscience of Brain Disorders  

               Applied:  
                         PSYC 218: Psychology of Addiction  
                         PSYC 220: Psychology of Health  
                         PSYC 222: Educational Psychology  
                         PSYC 224: Psychological Disorders  
                         PSYC 229: Developmental Psychology: Infant and Childhood [F11]  
                         PSYC 230: Adolescent and Early Adult Development  
                         PSYC 231: Psychology of Aging  
                         PSYC 280: Psychology of Gender and Sexuality
                         PSYC 311: Counseling Psychology  
                         PSYC 326: Learning and Motivation

Senior Experience (4 credits)

Either MUSC 485-486 or PSYC 485 as recommended by advisor and topic availability. The culminating Senior Seminar research project is required to integrate the fields of Music and Psychology.