Fwd: [UCSBADVS] MUS 175P: Eco-acoustic Arts

[Undergrad Advising Global Studies]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Meghan Zero <megha...@ucsb.edu>
Date: Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Subject: Fwd: [UCSBADVS] MUS 175P: Eco-acoustic Arts
To: Undergrad Advising Global Studies <global-...@ucsb.edu>

MUS 175P: Eco-acoustic arts

Spring 2026, Mondays 5–7.30pm ILP 3101
Instructor: Dr. Hellier, hel...@music.ucsb.edu
University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Music

Open to all students of upper division standing.
Enrollment via an approval code after contacting the instructor.
No prerequisites.
No experience in musical practices or theories needed, but you do need to be open to new ideas and to working creatively, experimentally and collaboratively.

Eco-acoustic arts focuses on responses to, and uses of environmental sounds in the broadest framework of soundscapes. 

We encompass a wide range of sound sources, specifically whales, birds, ice, oceans, rivers and trees, and we focus on processes of listening as active practice and creating new environmental sound art. 

How can you develop creative sound art works and listening practices as forms of advocacy to communicate crucial aspects of ecological crisis?

Engaging with practices and philosophies of environmental sound and ecologies, and bringing together arts, humanities and sciences, you develop your analytical, intellectual and creative skills through listening fieldwork, analysis, reading/writing (public-facing and academic) and collaborative and individual creative arts/sounds projects.

This course combines:
- analysis of existing environmental sound art works
- conception and creation of new student environmental sound art works
- discussion of intellectual, theoretical and public facing readings
- preparation and presentation of public facing materials for environmental advocacy work.
Grading is based on: weekly notes and creative practice; class discussions and presentations; and creative projects.

Best,

Olivia Mendoza
Undergraduate Advisor
Department of Music
Email: oli...@music.ucsb.edu

University of California, Santa Barbara