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Office of Institutional Research and Assessment

Undergraduate Computer Skills Requirements
School of Music


Undergraduate degree programs Computer skills required of graduates Where in curriculum students are taught computer skills Procedures to ensure program graduates possess computer skills required
BA Music

BM Music

 All music graduates are expected to have skills with word-processing, music composition/notation, e-mail, and internet access. Students who enter USC without significant computer experience are advised to take CSCI 101/102 to satisfy the "Numerical and Analytical Reasoning" portion of the General Education requirements. All music students use the Music Technology Center (room 209) as part of the freshman music theory and sightsinging/ear training courses (MUSC 115-118). The 18 workstations in the MTC include the following software: Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, MacGamut, CSound (Computer Sound Generation), Max (MIDI Programming Language), Drill Quest, Finale 97, Galaxy, Overture, Vision, Audioshop, BBEdit, Netscape, Hypercard. Tutorials exist for all software, orientation/training sessions in the MTC are scheduled at the beginning of each semester, and a full time information resources coordinator and two graduate assistants are available to assist students. MUSC 536 - Introduction to Computer Music - may be used as an elective in all programs. Students enrolled in MUED 367 - Marching Band Techniques - use Drill Quest for assignments, and MUED 462 - Technology for Music Teachers (Recently approved by the USC Faculty Senate)- will provide opportunities for music education students to gain expanded computer skills. Students in MUSC 115-118 (taken by all music majors) must complete selected assignments using music composition/notation software. Students in MUSC 353-354 (taken by all music majors) and MUED 468 must prepare assignments using word processing software. Faculty regularly use e-mail to communicate course information to students. The tutorials for software in the Music Technology center are Web-based. As important as the requirements listed , we believe that easy access to technology resources within the building coupled with encouragement from faculty and staff have created an atmosphere in which students quickly develop adequate computer skills.

BM Music Education

 Students in music education are required to be able to: Identify major figures in music technology.
Define types of computer procedures and applications used in music technology.
Compare and contrast common computer operating systems (Windows and Mac).
Demonstrate file management strategies when using computers.
Demonstrate knowledge of computer hardware components.
Explain the concepts of MIDI, MIDI devices, and a basic MIDI computer system.
Setup a computer system.
Set up a computer lab for music instruction.
Describe categories of Computer-Assisted-Instruction (CAI) software: drill-and-practice, flexible practice, simulation, and multimedia.
Use commercial CAI software for instructional applications in music.
Evaluate CAI software for usability and usefulness.
Give examples of commercial CAI software available in music.
Describe hardware used in Music CAI.
Use music notation software to write, arrange, and play music.
Use music sequencing software to record and to play music.
Use multimedia programs that are available in music.
Explain how notation and sequencing programs can be used in music instruction.
Use word processing, graphic, and spreadsheet software.
Use electronic mail, listservs, newsgroups, FTP, Gopher, and the World Wide Web to find and exchange information.
Create a personal or instructional World Wide Web homepage.
Identify sources of help for using music technology.
 Students learn about and use CAI in their music theory course sequence. Almost all clases are using both email and listserv lists as part of instruction. A unit in EDUC 402 (music education section) includes instruction in music education specific computer skills. There are theory electives which teach sequencing and compositional software. A new course, MUED 462, will be used to teach the remainder of the skills. These skills will be acquired as a result of required and elective music theory and music education coursework.