MUSCLG 65Blues in American Music

Musicology · 5 units · Undergraduate lower division (0-99)

History of blues, both as specific genre and as range of techniques and approaches that have been at center of American music and culture, from 19th-century roots to present. Exploration of commonly accepted blues mainstream exemplified by figures like Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, and B.B. King, but also central role blues has played in jazz, folk, country, gospel, rock, soul, and rap. While following evolution of music through 20th century, examination of how blues has served as metaphor for African American culture as it permeates American traditions. Credit for both courses 65 and 165 not allowed.

P/NP or letter grading.

When it runs

Not on the schedule for any of Fall 2025 through Spring 2027. UCLA publishes only that window, so this does not mean the course is gone — check the official listing.

Requisites

UCLA lists no requisites for this course.

Requires

Everything that has to come before this course, not just the courses named in the requisite above.

Nothing — this is an entry point.

Unlocks

What this course is a requisite for, and what those courses lead to in turn.

No course in the catalog lists this as a requisite.