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Home/Riverhawk News/Taylor Swift takes center stage in NSU course

Taylor Swift takes center stage in NSU course

Taylor Swift takes center stage in Northeastern State University course

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Cultural phenom and singer-songwriter, Taylor Swift, will be the subject of a course offered at Northeastern State University. Titled Taylor Swift, The Woman, the Music, the Industry, the course will be delivered in a standard 16-week, full semester format for the spring 2025 semester, which begins on Jan. 13. Classes will be held on the Tahlequah campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Dr. Audell Shelburne, dean of the NSU College of Liberal Arts, said students can use the course to satisfy the humanities credit listed in the General Education requirements as a substitute for MUS 2523 American Popular Music Appreciation, specifically. The course will also be cross-listed as a women and gender studies course.

“We are planning to split the course between the first half and second half of the semester, so I’ll teach for the first eight weeks, then Dr. Eversole will teach the remainder of the semester,” Dr. Alexandra Doyle, assistant professor of music (clarinet), said. “I’m planning to use a musicological perspective to consider how Western music history has impacted Taylor Swift’s output.”

Doyle said that Swift’s experience as a musician will be discussed within a historical context alongside women throughout various periods of Western music history, beginning with the Medieval era. She added that she will visit Swift’s own ‘Eras’, exploring the trends and changes within the music industry.

In addition to looking at Swift’s influence as a singer-songwriter and her influences, the course will examine her meteoric rise to stardom and how she uses her platform.

According to Dr. Dana Eversole, professor and department chair of communication and media studies, her portion of the course will cover Swift’s social media presence, branding and image. She added that the class will study her rise to become one of or possibly the most, celebrated artists and examine her emergence as an influencer in several areas, including politics and philanthropy.

“We are excited to offer this timely course about the impact and cultural influence of a trailblazing public figure to our students,” NSU President Rodney Hanley, said. “The dynamic and interactive structure of the course, taught by our qualified faculty members, aims to keep students engaged. This addition to Northeastern’s course catalog further aligns us with our commitment to equip the next generation of thought leaders and media professionals with knowledge that will prepare them to exceed the demands of the modern workforce.”

For more information about courses and degree programs offered by NSU, visit Go2NSU.com

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