Syllabus for Fundamentals of Music Theory (MUSC 101)

Nelson, Robert and Carl J. Christensen. 2000. Foundations of Music: A Computer Assisted Introduction. Fourth Edition. Free CD-ROM inside. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth / Thomson Learning. ISBN: 0-534-56764-9

Available in UMBC Bookstore

Additional

A booklet of staff paper

Available in UMBC Bookstore

Internet Access

You must have a valid internet access, preferably at UMBC

All students at UMBC have electronic accounts automatically reserved for them at the time of their enrollment, so be sure to validate your account and activate it if it has not yet been used

WebCT Accounts

You must create an electronic account for this course in UMBC's World Wide Web Course Tools (WebCT) site.

To create you account in WebCT:

Click on this link -- WebCT --
Then scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on "Create Account" button
Fill in all required textboxes
Login

For easier and safest use of WebCT, I strongly suggest that you use your UMBC Login ID and Password

Student information, such as grades and activity, contained in this site is confidential

Class Attendance and Grading Policy

Your presence in each class is crucial, and your class attendance and activity may affect your Final Grade

If you miss more than one class, your final grade may be lowered by one grade letter

If you miss more than two classes, I will lower your grade by one grade letter, and in this case I suggest that you drop the class

If you miss more than three classes, you will not pass this course and you final grade will be an F

It is your responsibility to be punctual and come to class on time

I insist on punctuality and do not tolerate late arrivals!

If you come to class after I take the roll, you will be marked as being absent

Exams and Their Dates
There will be two written tests, one of which may include music dictation

Test One: Monday, July 30
Test Two: Wednesday, August 15

All test dates are tentative and might move to the week before or after the stated date. However, each test date will be confirmed in class and in this Coursepage at least a week prior to taking the test

Material included in Test One will not be a part of Test Two. However, the nature of the course is such that every new information you learn builds on previously learned information and cannot be ignored

Final Grade

An average of your tests, except in cases where:

You failed, i.e. got an "F," on the last test (Test Two), regardless of your grade on the first test. In this case you fail the class, and your Final Grade is F.
You failed on both tests

Grading Scale

Your Final Grade will be averaged according to the following grading scale:

Test Grades	Points
A+++	14
A++	13
A+	12
A	11
A-	10
B+	9
B	8
B-	7
C+	6
C	5
C-	4
D+	3
D	2
D-	1
D--	0
F	-1

For example, if on your four tests you got: D-, B+, C-, A++, your points are: 1+9+4+13=27. When divided by 4, your average comes to 6.75; if you match this number with its corresponding grade in the table above, your Final Grade is C+.

The No Make-up and No-Incomplete Policy

It is your responsibility to take all tests at their scheduled times

The only exceptions to this rule that might be taken into consideration are cases of serious illness or other serious situations beyond your control that may have prevented you from taking the test at its scheduled time

All such matters must be officially proved and supported by official evidence presented to me. Prior to taking a makeup test you will also need to present written approval concerning your case signed by the Music Department Chairperson

It is your responsibility to arrange the time and place of all make-up tests with the secretary of Music Department and inform me about that at least a week earlier

For further information on UMBC Policies see the UMBC Spring 2000 Schedule of Classes, p. 83 ff.

It is your responsibility to complete this course within the set time. I do not give an Incomplete, "I," grade to any students.

In cases where you do not complete all requirements in this course you will be given an F as your Final Grade

Student Academic Conduct Policy

Issues related to undergraduate academic integrity - cheating, plagiarism, and other such practices - are stated in the university Student Academic Conduct Policy. A written version of it appears in the Fall 2000 Schedule of Classes (page 92 in the second edition).