PHGN198A will address the science of sound and the art of music to enhance students’ technical communication skills.

PHGN198A: THE SCIENCE OF SOUND – USING MUSIC TO ENHANCE YOUR TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS

STEM employers, graduate schools, research groups, and start-up companies recognize that one of the top talents Mines students possess is their technical communication skills, particularly the ability to explain complex ideas to others in simple terms. Capstone projects, class discussions, end-of-semester presentations, lab reports, poster sessions, and term papers are some of the many mechanisms Mines uses to nurture these skills beginning with students' first-semester classes to senior design projects.

During Summer Session 2, Mines is offering PHGN198A as a 3-credit hour Special Topics course to further enhance students’ communication skills using the science of sound and the art of music as the two main learning platforms. Everyone enjoys music, but most people simply “hear” songs rather than attentively “listening” to what music artists have created. PHGN198A is designed to help students improve their musical “listening” abilities and in the process, enhance their technical communication skills. The course does not require any formal musical experience or have any prerequisites. Any math, science, engineering, or music concepts one needs to know will be introduced at a level one can easily understand. Students will learn in a highly collaborative, non-competitive environment.

For more information about the course, contact Professor Chuck Stone at cstone@mines.edu