This report contains discussion of some of the challenges faced while developing a postgraduate curriculum in a relatively undeveloped field of academic study. In his role as a Senior Lecturer in Commercial Music at Bath Spa University Andy West developed a Songwriting Master's Degree that was introduced in October 2007. The curricular design of the MA draws upon his experience over the past fifteen years both as a teacher of songwriting in Higher Education and also as a professional songwriter in the U.K and the U.S.A. Whilst a number of the challenges faced in developing the curriculum concerned pedagogical relevance and balance there was also a need to the frame the provision as part of a meaningful academic progression.
The Student Handbook that resulted from this project can be found here: http://hea.k-int.com/islandora/object/islandora%3A4936
