Open to all NYU Undergraduates
Through the Minor in Music in Global Communities (MGC), students explore contemporary global social, cultural, and technological trends relating to long-standing non-Western traditions and cultural practices, while developing their listening and analytical skills. All MGC minors take courses in music theory and practice, as well as additional global music electives. Musical experience is not required.
Degree Details
Official Degree Title
Minor in Music in Global Communities
Format
Full-time or Part-time
Credits
15-19
Through the Minor in Music in Global Communities (MGC), students explore contemporary global social, cultural, and technological trends relating to long-standing non-Western traditions and cultural practices, while developing their personal listening practices and analytical skills.
All MGC minors take coursework in music theory and practice, as well as additional global music electives at the Washington Square campus. The minor provides the opportunity to explore trends in popular music, electronic music, and non-Western genres, while developing a vocabulary and skill set to thoughtfully engage with the Western concert music repertoire.
The minor has two tracks available. One track offers students an opportunity to complete their requirements during a semester away at NYU Accra, Shanghai, or Abu Dhabi. The other track allows them to complete their requirements through additional global music courses at Washington Square.
MGC Track 1 requires one semester of Study Abroad at NYU Accra, NYU Shanghai, or NYU Abu Dhabi. At our global sites, students complete 4-8 units, researching and exploring the musical traditions and practices of the region.
MGC Track 2 offers an option to fulfill all requirements of the minor at Washington Square, completing at least 8 units in global music electives.
The Music in Global Communities minor is open to all NYU undergraduate students outside of the Music and Performing Arts Professions Department. No prior musical background is required.
Required Courses: Theory and Aural Comprehension taken at NYU Washington Square - 7 Credits taken sequentially over three semesters.
You must pass or test out of MPATC-UE 1300 Music Fundamentals prior to enrolling in any theory and practice or aural skills course.
If you enroll in MPATC-UE 1300 Music Fundamentals, you’ll take the following:
MPATC-UE 1300 Music Fundamentals (2 credits)
MPATC-UE 1301 Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music (2 credits)
MPATC-UE 1302 Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music (1 credit)
Take one of the following three courses:
MPATC-UE 1333 Advanced Theory and Practice: Non-Western Music (2 credits)
MPATC-UE 1312 Theory and Practice II: Popular Music (2 credits)
MPATC-UE 1334 Advanced Theory and Practice: Counterpoint in the Digital Age (2 credits)
If you test out of MPATC-UE 1300 Music Fundamentals, you’ll take the following:
MPATC-UE 1301 Theory & Practice I: Global Approaches to Music (2 credits)
MPATC-UE 1302 Aural Skills I: Global Approaches to Music (1 credit)
Take two of the following three courses:
MPATC-UE 1333 Advanced Theory and Practice: Non-Western Music (2 credits)
MPATC-UE 1312 Theory and Practice II: Popular Music (2 credits)
MPATC-UE 1334 Advanced Theory and Practice: Counterpoint in the Digital Age (2 credits)
Study Away Restricted Elective Courses - 4 Credits
Choose a minimum of 4 credits from the following study away courses:
NYU Accra
CORE-UE 9534 Cultures and Contexts: The Black Atlantic (4 Credits)
SCA-UA 9120 Grammy’s Afrobeats & Hiplife: African Contemporary Music (4 Credits)
SCA-UA 9124 Documenting the African City (4 Credits)
SCA-UA 9120 African Popular Music (4 Credits)
NYU Abu Dhabi
ACS-UH 1412x Race and Ethnicities in the Histories of the Middle East & Africa (4 Credits)
MUSIC UH 1611x Arab Music Cultures (4 Credits)
MUSIC-UH 2668 Popular Music and Politics in Africa (4 Credits)
CCEA-UH 1097 Music: Conflict, Protest, & Peace (4 Credits)
NYU Shanghai
SOCS-SHU 133 Urbanization in China (4 Credits)
MUS-SHU 150 Group Erhu: All Levels (4 Credits)
MUS-SHU 151 Group Bamboo Flute: All Levels (4 Credits)
MUS-SHU 152 Group Guqin: All Levels (4 Credits)
MUS-SHU 219 The Music of Shanghai (4 Credits)
Washington Square Restricted Elective Courses - 4 Credits
Choose a minimum of 4 Credits from the following courses:
MPATE-UE 1038 Global Electronic Music I (3 Credits)
MPAJZ-UE 1603 Balkan Music (1 Credit)
MPAJZ-UE 1604 Afro-Cuban Music (1 Credit)
MPAJZ-UE 1609 Music from Arab World (1 Credit)
MPAJZ-UE 1610 Brazilian Music (1 Credit)
MPATC-UE 1335 Advanced Theory & Practice: Popular Music* (2 Credits)
MPATC-UE 1322 Aural Skills II: Popular Music* (1 Credit)
MPATC-UE 1086 Music of East and Southeast Asia, Past and Present (2 Credits)
MPATC-UE 1123 Global Soundscapes: A Survey of Musical Traditions (2 Credits)
MPAVP-UE 1181.005 World Voices Collective** (1 Credit)
MPAVP-UE 1181.006 Black Music Ensemble** (1 Credit)
MPADE-UE 1701 West African Dance (2 Credits)
MPADE-UE 1702 Afro-Caribbean Dance (2 Credits)
MPAPS-UE 1131.004 African Gyil and Percussion Ensemble** (1 Credit)
MPAPS-UE 1131.003 NYU Steel** (1 Credit)
Note:
* Theory and Aural Comprehension requirements are prerequisites for some music electives as indicated.
**Enrollment in these courses is reserved for students who have a background in music, and is by audition.
Washington Square Restricted Elective Courses - 8 Credits
Choose a minimum of 8 credits from the following courses:
MPATE-UE 1038 Global Electronic Music I (3 Credits)
MPAJZ-UE 1603 Balkan Music (1 Credit)
MPAJZ-UE 1604 Afro-Cuban Music (1 Credit)
MPAJZ-UE 1609 Music from Arab World (1 Credit)
MPAJZ-UE 1610 Brazilian Music (1 Credit)
MPATC-UE 1335 Advanced Theory & Practice: Popular Music* (2 Credits)
MPATC-UE 1322 Aural Skills II: Popular Music* (1 Credit)
MPATC-UE 1086 Music of East and Southeast Asia, Past and Present (2 Credits)
MPATC-UE 1123 Global Soundscapes: A Survey of Musical Traditions (2 Credits)
MPAVP-UE 1181.005 World Voices Collective** (1 Credit)
MPAVP-UE 1181.006 Black Music Ensemble** (1 Credit)
MPADE-UE 1701 West African Dance (2 Credits)
MPADE-UE 1702 Afro-Caribbean Dance (2 Credits)
MPAPS-UE 1131.004 African Gyil and Percussion Ensemble** (1 Credit)
MPAPS-UE 1131.003 NYU Steel** (1 Credit)
Note:
* Theory and Aural Comprehension requirements are prerequisites for some music electives as indicated.
**Enrollment in these courses is reserved for students who have a background in music, and is by audition.
Authoritative curriculum information for the current academic year can be found exclusively in the University Bulletin, or for prior years, in the Bulletin Archive. All other content, including this web-page, is for informational purposes only. You can find the curriculum for this program on the Music in Global Communities minor page of the Bulletin.