Fairfield University

Academic credit for the Music History course is awarded by Fairfield University. Fairfield University is a private Jesuit university founded in 1942 in Fairfield, Connecticut, well known for their commitment to international education. Fairfield is a fully accredited university and member of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

In 2020 Fairfield and AIFS partnered to develop a school of record relationship that will allow academic credit to be available for both Fairfield and non-Fairfield students. This traveling program’s faculty credentials are reviewed and approved by Fairfield University.

Academic Overview

Attendance at all lectures and site visits is mandatory.

Prerequisites A basic understanding of music theory would be advantageous but is not required.

Grades No AIFS participant is permitted to take a course without receiving a grade. Pass/Fail grade options are not available.

Transcripts are issued by Fairfield University. An official transcript will be sent directly to the student’s home university on completion of the program.

Course Description

MUS 275 (3 credits)
Music History: Late Baroque to the Romantic Period

This course will focus on Western Music History from roughly 1700-1950, following the lives and contributions of some of the most iconic composers of that era. In particular, students will learn about, critically examine, contextualize and compare the works of German and Austrian composers (or those studying, living and/or working in Germany or Austria) who shaped and defined their respective musical genres such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn and Richard Strauss. Exploration of the political and economic context of the periods and locations in which these composers lived and worked will provide students with a comprehensive framework for their understanding and enable them to draw a nuanced historical picture of the music.