Courses in
Acoustic Communication
School of Communication, Simon Fraser University
The "acoustic" stream:
·
CMNS 259-3, Acoustic
Dimensions of Communication I
"A course designed to develop the student's perception and
understanding
of sound and its behaviour in the interpersonal, social, environmental,
media
and creative fields. The acoustic and psychoacoustic bases of sound
will be
introduced with special reference to acoustic design, the
electroacoustic
media, and sonic environments. (lecture/laboratory)"
Note: CMNS 259 is offered both on campus and on-line in a Distance
Education
version
·
CMNS 359-4, Acoustic
Dimensions of Communication II
"A special topics course and small class work group at an intermediate
level in acoustic communication dealing intensively with special
problems in
psychoacoustics, acoustic design, soundscape studies, noise in the
community,
acoustic aspects of social organization, language and interpersonal
communication, electronic sound production, media analysis, theories of
sound
cognition and information processing. (seminar/laboratory)"
·
CMNS 859-5 (graduate),
Acoustic Dimensions of Communication (NOTE: This course is currently
being revised for a Spring 2010 offering; check back later for an
updated outline)
"Special topics in sound and communication studies with emphasis on
specific problems in psychoacoustics, theories of sound cognition and
information processing, soundscape studies, acoustic design, community
noise
surveys, media analysis and related technology. Students will gain
experience
in designing and conducting research projects in one of these areas.
(seminar/laboratory)"
The "electroacoustic" stream:
·
CMNS 258-3, Introduction to
Electroacoustic Communication
"An introduction to the tape medium as a communicational tool and to
electroacoustic aspects of communication in general. Specific
techniques of
field recording, interviewing, editing, tape transformations, sound
object
manipulation, and basic studio techniques will be presented and
students will
use the school's studio facilities. Application of the tape medium to
such
areas as media analysis, aural history, social documentation,
interpersonal
communication, and tape music composition will be discussed.
(lecture/laboratory)"
·
CMNS 358-4, Sound Recording:
Theory and Design
"An intermediate level studio workshop to develop the student's skills
in
sound production with an understanding of the communicational
implications of
sound design. Audio theory and its applications in both the digital and
analog
formats will be presented, along with practical studio techniques for
stereo
and multi-channel sound production. (seminar/laboratory)"
·
CMNS 386-4, Special Topics: Audio Media
Analysis
(designed to become CMNS 357 in future)
This course provides an intensive analysis of the design and function
of audio
in all forms of electroacoustic media, including both historical analog
and
contemporary digital forms of communication. Specific attention will be
given
to sound design in advertising and other types of soundtracks, the
structure of
broadcast media considered as a surrogate listening environment, the
sound
recording as document, patterns and functions of electroacoustic media
usage in
daily life, and alternative uses of audio media.
Note: both streams
of undergraduate and graduate study can
lead to individual Directed Study courses.
