MU250 TOPICS IN MUSIC Course Syllabus - Evan Hatter

Term
Fall 2026
Section
M1
Course Delivery
ln person­[FTF]
Class Program
Credits 4.00
This course explores a different musical topic each semester. Students will gain understanding of various musical fundamentals, as well as the ways in which music has influenced popular culture, global events, diversity, and other artforms. Previous 'Topics in Music' courses include the influence of jazz in "Pop" music, the Music of Film, and Heavy Metal. Course may be repeated as topic varies.

Meeting Times, Location, & Course Delivery Details

Meeting Days:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Meeting Times:
11:30am - 12:30pm

Contact Information

Instructor:
Evan Hatter
Instructor Email:
evan.hatter@wilmington.edu
Office Location:
215 Boyd Cultural Arts Center
Office Hours:
By Appointment
Instructor's Course Objectives

The objective of this course is to gain a broader understanding and appreciation for the roll that women have played throughout the history of music. This will be categorized into early women composers, modern women composers, and modern women musicians. Students will be able to not only explain the roll women have made in musics historical and cultural impacts, but also be able to identify key musical selections from a wide range of artists of the many different genres. A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class work is expected for each hour of in-class time. This can range from listening and studying music assigned in class, to studying the lives of the many women we will learn about in the course.

Course Schedule

 

 

Current Week

Main Topic

Assignment

Week 1

Intro & Musical Terms

Quiz on Musical Terms

Week 2

Hildegard of Bingen

 

Week 3

Fanny Mendelssohn 

 

Week 4

Clara Schumann

Discussion Question #1

Week 5

Amy Beach

Test on Early Women Composers

Week 6

Julie Giroux

 

Week 7

Jennifer Higdon 

 

Week 8

Elizabeth Raum

Discussion Question #2

Week 9

Review on Modern Women Composers

Test on Modern Women Composers

Week 10

Abby Connant

 

Week 11

Rosetta Tharp 

 

Week 12

Dolly Parton

 

Week 13

Taylor Swift

 

Week 14

Sabrina Carpenter

Discussion Question #3

Week 15

Review on Modern Women Musicians 

 

Finals Week

FINAL EXAM

December 11th

10:15am - 12:15am

Exam on Modern Women Musicians

Course Assignments

All assignments are due Sunday 11:59pm the week of the unit.

Course Final Exam
Friday December 11th: 10:15am - 12:15pm
Evaluation of Work

The grading scale will be as follows:

Grades for this course will be determined based on attendance, class participation/discussion, assignments, and exams.  The breakdown of the overall grade is as follows.

Grading will us a +/- scale:

  • 20% - Attendance
  • 20% - Class Participation/Discussion
  • 25% - Assignments
  • 35% - Exams/Presentations

Instructor Course Policies

Instructor's Course Attendance Policy

Attendance for each class is highly encouraged, however there are events in life that happen and can not be avoided. Each student will be given 3 unexcused absences before they begin to affect their grade. There will be a sign in sheet by the door for the duration of class. In the case of planned absences, please email me 24 hours prior to class. If there is an emergency, please do what you must. I just ask you communicate it at your earliest convenience.

Instructor's Academic Integrity Policy

See the current Student Handbook for the college’s Academic Integrity policies as they pertain to examinations, plagiarism, classroom behavior, and the process for handling academic misconduct charges.

Institutional and Program-Level Policies

Final Exam Schedule
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.

Undergraduate:  FA26 Final Exam Schedule    

 

Out-of-class Work Expectation

A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week.

Instructional Course Delivery                                                                                                            

Definition of Courses

Academic Integrity Policy

The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions.

Academic Integrity Policy

Class Attendance Policy                              

Institutional Class Attendance Policy