SlugAtlasUC Santa Cruz

MUSC 25First-Year Seminar in Music Studies

5 creditsUndergraduateStudent Option

Introduces music students to various approaches to music studies including ethno/musicology, music theory and analysis, composition, performance, improvisation, popular music studies, field work, and archival work. UCSC music faculty share their scholarly and creative work, exposing students to the many ways they might pursue a career in music.

Find a section and add it to your scheduleLive seat counts, time-conflict checks and the walk from your previous class.

When it runs

Fall 2026Open Fall 2026

SectionTypeWhenWhereInstructorSeats
01Seminar
Tue Thu 9:50am–11:25am
Music Center 130B. L. CarsonOpen 6/15

Fall 2025Open Fall 2025

SectionTypeWhenWhereInstructorSeats
01Seminar
Tue Thu 11:40am–1:15pm
Music Center 130A. C. BealClosed 12/10

Who teaches it

InstructorRatingDifficultyWould take againReviews
Ben Carson4.5 / 52.3 / 555%48
Amy Beal3.9 / 52.8 / 5100%9

From RateMyProfessors, which is student-submitted and not a survey. Small review counts move a long way on one bad quarter.

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