Science

Acoustics

SCI 102*; 3 s.h.

An introduction to the physics of sound: auditory perception, acoustical properties of musical instruments, architectural design, tuning and temperaments, and sound production. The emphasis is on teaching students to understand the acoustics of their own instruments.

Web Design and Visual Culture

SCI 308*; 3 s.h.

Practice for working skills and computer literacy (Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator), paired with a theoretical understanding and brief history of visual culture in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In addition to the creation of personal web spaces in both MySpace and Facebook, the course includes a semester-long project in which each student creates a personal Web page (for self-promotion or blogging) with graphic and animated elements, logo, and copy. The course includes readings by Marshall McLuhan, Walter Benjamin, and Roland Barthes.

Sound Technology for Musicians

SCI 316*; 3 s.h./term

A look at the evolution of sound recording, from before Edison to the present; the impact of microphone selection on sound recording; the role of room acoustics on sound recording; and digital audio editing, among other topics. Each student will select and prepare a project for the term.