Enriching Courses on Taylor Swift Lyrics, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna and other Pop Musicians – Hey guys, wouldn’t it be much more engaging and fascinating, if your favorite pop star was the subject of your class or course or study? Just think about taking notes on Taylor Swift’s lyrics instead of calculus, reviewing flash cards about Kanye West’s impact on pop culture instead of biology, or having a quiz on Miley Cyrus’ fashion choices or investigating about bruce springsteen life journey instead of geography.
For a fortunate group of students across various universities worldwide, this is becoming a reality. As some artists from the past couple of decades have evolved from pop stars to pop icons, more academic institutions are introducing courses dedicated to exploring their songwriting talents, cultural significance, and more.
While it’s not surprising to find classes on already established legends like Bob Dylan or The Beatles in college offerings, it’s interesting to see musicians who are still creating popular hits—such as Harry Styles, Drake, and Lana Del Rey — joining the ranks of artists whose careers are being deeply analyzed in an intellectual context.
Latest in the list is “Taylor Swift“, Who’s popularity among her fans is going beyond limits! Her latest U.S. leg of Eras Tour with a six-show stand in Los Angeles has just ended, and her fans commonly known as Swifties are going crazy.
To take most out of this, Colleges, Universities and Educational institutions are embracing Taylor Swift’s widespread popularity by providing courses that delve into the singer’s world. Although, there is no degree for being a Swiftie, fans and admirers can now take courses inspired by the superstar at schools, colleges, university, institutes across the country. These courses lets you examine and study Taylor Swift lyrics, Taylor Swift Songwriting, impact, and influence on pop culture.
This culture started when Taylor Swift sparked a trend in 2022, inspiring college courses centered around her. The University of Texas even offered a course that compared her songbook to the works of famous poets like Chaucer, Shakespeare, Keats, and Dickinson. Also New York University started offering Swift inspired courses, last year.
Additionally, there was a surge of Beyonce themed classes (Beyonce class) around 2016, with professors from Rutgers University, Arizona State, and others using Queen Bey’s work to contextualize academic literature on Black feminist studies.
We tried our best (phew 😲, 😅), to dig through college curriculum, course catalogs and found classes that can empower students to decode Taylor Swift lyrics, song writing and learn from her albums step by step. This can help in understanding the broader societal influence of her popular tracks.
Along with Taylor Swift, we also compiled list of colleges, universities and educational institution offering courses and study on top Pop Musicians, Pop Stars and Pop Singers such as –
- Miley Cyrus
- Kanye West
- Beyoncé
- Drake & The Weeknd
- Rihanna
- Lady Gaga
- Britney Spears
- Lana Del Rey
- Bruce Springsteen
Let’s start your journey to study your favorite Pop Musicians –
1. Courses on Taylor Swift Lyrics and Taylor Swift Songwriting
Taylor Swift rapidly growing popularity among Swifties around the world, made people like Elly McCausland’s at Ghent University and more curious about studying this pop star. And later introduce that study in a course.
It started back in 2022, during the spring of 2022, Swift fans at New York University were offered a unique opportunity to explore Taylor Swift’s journey as a creative music entrepreneur. This included studying her influences in pop and country songwriting, analyzing how media and the music industry portray youth and girlhood, and delving into contemporary popular music’s racial dynamics. The course was led by Rolling Stone staff writer Brittany Spanos under the Clive Davis Institute.
In the same semester’s culmination, NYU bestowed Taylor Swift with an honorary doctorate in fine arts during the 2022 graduation ceremony. Notably, she was invited to deliver the commencement speech for that year.
Soon after, the University of Texas introduced a course that utilized Swift’s songs to teach literary critical reading and research methods. The course focused on her music and its cultural context, exploring aspects like poetic style, history, and related theoretical concepts. It aimed to enhance students’ ability in close reading, evaluating sources, and building compelling arguments.
Elly McCausland’s an assistant professor at Ghent University, Belgium launched a course on Taylor Swift. She says, students are very excited about this course. I have been receiving continuous mails from students, graduate inquiring about this course.
Below is the list of courses launched on Taylor Swift Lyrics, Songwriting, Literature, Psychology and more –
| Course Name | Institute, College, University | Date Launched | Price | Tutor, Teacher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Literature: Taylor’s Version | Ghent University, Belgium | Fall 2023 | NA | British Professor Elly McCausland |
| The Last Great American Songwriter: Storytelling with Taylor Swift Through the Eras, 2023 | Stanford University, California | Winter 2023 | NA | Designed by rising Stanford sophomore – Ava Jeffs |
| Taylor Swift: Business of Music | New York University, New York | Fall 2022 | NA | Rolling Stone’s Brittany Spanos |
| Psychology of Taylor Swift — Advanced Topics of Social Psychology | Arizona State University, Arizona | Fall 2023 | $1,500 | Alexandra Wormley (PhD Student) |
| The Taylor Swift Songbook | University of Texas at Austin, Texas | Fall 2022 | $1,200 | English Professor Elizabeth Scala |
| Taylor Swift Songwriting, Musical Hooks, Storytelling | Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts | Fall 2023 | NA | Professor Scarlet Keys |
| Miss Americana: Lyrics and Evolution of Taylor Swift | Rice University, Texas | Fall 2023 | $1,500 | Katherine Jeng, she is a junior and currently taking English and social policy |
Note: Prices are indicative only and may not reflect actual price. Please refer corresponding Institute, College or University for actual pricing!
- Ghent University, Belgium – Literature course on Taylor Swift Music.
- Stanford University, California – All Too Well course (Ten week version) and
The Last Great American Songwriter. - Clive Davis Institute, New York University, New York – Clive Davis Institute (Recorded Music) in fall 2022, launched course on Taylor Swift. This course takes you through Taylor Swift career as a star musician. Also it teaches you about her entrepreneurial skills.
- Arizona State University, Arizona – It offers course on “Psychology of Taylor Swift”.
- University of Texas at Austin, Texas – In 2022, Texas university ‘The Liberal Arts Honours Program’ offered a course called “The Taylor Swift Songbook”.
- Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts – Berkley School of Music is offering a course in the upcoming fall 2023, centered around Taylor Swift’s lyrical prowess and her evolution over time.
The course syllabus highlights its focus on delving into the heart of Swift’s songwriting, thoroughly exploring and dissecting her choices in composition and lyrics. Students will delve into topics such as creating musical hooks, crafting memorable choruses, constructing bridges, and employing elements like rhythm, harmony, melody, metaphor, and storytelling to create impact and universally beloved songs.
Professor Scarlet Keys, the instructor for the class, explains that students will have the opportunity to compose their own material, incorporating Swift’s techniques and tools to enhance their own songwriting endeavors. - Rice University, Texas – Latest of all is Rice University, Texas. It will offer an undergraduate course, titled ‘Miss Americana: Lyrics and Evolution of Taylor Swift.‘
These Taylor Swift Courses would offer a blend that remains firmly rooted in academics while catering to a diverse range of students and participants depending on their interests. These unique courses will appeal to both Taylor Swift enthusiasts (Swifties) and those who may not favor her work.
While some people might view it as frivolous or trivial, but the primary emphasis is on literary analysis of her work, and aim to approach and analyze Swift’s work with a critical perspective and point of view. It is important to note that this isn’t about assembling or favoring Swift’s fans exclusively for enthusiastic discussions; actual intent of these courses is the learning to go beyond that.
2. Miley Cyrus
In 2014, New York – Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, introduced a sociology course on Miley Cyrus. Course is called – “The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender and Media.”
Taking into consideration the discussions concerning female pop stars and their bodies, the course delves into aspects such as social class, gender, sexuality, and even sexual performance. Importantly, race also holds considerable significance, and the manner in which this course discuss white pop stars differs markedly from general conversations about women of color.
Professor Carolyn Chernoff, who leads the course, remarked, “Miley Cyrus introduces complexities to how the female body is portrayed in pop culture—some that are positive, negative, and even challenging.
3. Kanye West
Courses available on Kanye West are –
| Course Name | Institute/College/University | Date Launched | Price | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanye West Course | Georgia State University | 2015 | NA | Course focused on Kanye West |
| Kanye West Course | Washington University in St. Louis | 2017 | NA | In-depth study of Kanye West’s impact |
| Kanye vs Ye: Genius by Design | Concordia University, Montreal | 5 years later | NA | Explores various aspects of Kanye’s persona |
These courses have provided platforms for insightful discussions about the influential artist Kanye West. They go beyond his music, encompassing themes like community, creativity, accountability, fame, mental health, and self-actualization. Rapper and professor Yassin “Narcy” Alsalman, who taught one of these courses, emphasized the broader perspective they bring, allowing students to explore a multitude of topics through the lens of West’s influence on our generation.
4. Beyonce
There are several universities that offer courses and classes on Beyoncé and her impact on pop culture, feminism, and race. Courses available on Beyonce are:
| Course Name | Institute, College, University | Date Launched | Price | Course Description, Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Politicizing Beyoncé | Rutgers University | 2010 | Free elective course, if you are already a student at Rutgers University | This course examines contemporary U.S. society and its point of view towards current gender, race, class, and sexual politics by analyzing the music and career of Beyoncé Giselle Knowles Carter. It gives insights on how Beyoncé challenges the dominant American culture and creates spaces and acceptance for black female, which would eventually helps in their empowerment and expression. |
| Beyoncé, Gender, and Race | University of Copenhagen | 2016 | $1,000 | This course examines Beyonce work, social impact, and philosophy. This course analyzes and dig deeper into Beyonce music, videos, albums and performances to understand current society issues. Purpose is to understand issues of gender, race, sexuality, and identity. You get to know about, how Beyoncé engages with various groups, perspectives and cultural movements in the society, to make Black Lives Matter and Better. |
| Beyoncé Lemonade | University of Texas at San Antonio and Cal Poly | 2016 | $2,000 | These courses main focus is on her latest album, Lemonade and helps you in examine Beyoncé influence over politics, feminism, and race. In addition, it explores how Beyoncé uses her personal narrative and artistic expression to comment and make people aware on the historical and contemporary experiences of black women in America. The courses also consider how Beyoncé draws from various musical genres, visual arts, literature, and folklore to create a complex and multidimensional work of art. |
The release of Beyonce acclaimed album “Lemonade” in 2016 marked a significant shift in how scholars viewed the 28-time Grammy winner. During the following fall semester, Dr. Rachel Fedock conducted a course at Arizona State University. This course involved comparing Beyoncé’s body of work with the writings of scholars like Gloria Jean Watkins, known as bell hooks. In the subsequent year, Erik Steinskog led a course titled “Beyoncé, Gender and Race” at the University of Copenhagen.
Various other classes dedicated to Queen Bey’s insights have been offered at the University of Texas at San Antonio and California Polytechnic State University. Kinitra Brooks, who headed a seminar on “Lemonade” at UT, later secured a grant from the University of Michigan to create a comprehensive reader/syllabus for her teachings.
By intertwining folklore with elements of horror and conjuring, Beyoncé stepped into an ongoing conversation that has resonated within Black women’s networks and also in single ladies for 150 years.
Beyonce other hits include – “Beyonce break my soul”, “Beyoncé dangerously in love”, “Beyonce dance for you”, “Beyoncé crazy in love”, “Beyonce super bowl” etc.
5. Drake & The Weeknd
Two of the prominent artists hailing from Toronto is the focus of this college course — right in their hometown. In fall 2021, Canada’s X University, also known as Ryerson University, introduced a class titled “Deconstructing Drake and The Weeknd.” This course aimed to dissect the representation and structural challenges within the Canadian music scene that led both artists to establish their careers in the U.S. rather than their home country.
According to the Course Instructor “Dalton Higgins” – For the past decade, I’ve been lecturing on hip-hop music and popular culture at universities across North America, including local ones like the University of Toronto and York University. During the same period, I actively promoted Hip Hop Pedagogy in high schools and contributed chapters and lesson plans to various hip-hop textbooks.
He said, while courses about renowned rock, folk, and pop stars, pop musicians such as Miley Cyrus, Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga, Jay Z, and Outkast are widely available, why not extend this recognition to The Weeknd and Drake? This movement is still in its infancy, as I’m set to teach a course about two Toronto-born music giants, Drake & The Weeknd, in early 2022.
The course’s professor, Dalton Higgins, expressed the need to academically recognize and celebrate Canadian rap and R&B icons, emphasizing the importance of scholars and historians examining the Toronto music scene that gave rise to Drake and The Weeknd, playing a crucial role in their incredible success.
6. Rihanna
Rihanna is a significant aspect of a course offered at the University of Texas Austin, titled “Beyoncé Feminism, Rihanna Womanism.” Led by associate professor Dr. Omise’eke Tinsley, this university course delved into the ways both these icons align with Black feminist principles.
Beyoncé and Rihanna both evoke strong emotions, ranging from positive to negative, among people. This course naturally prompts students to form robust opinions. Facilitating a space for them to express these viewpoints within a large classroom setting requires a touch of creativity. This might involve activities like incorporating dance moves, creating a platform for open expression.
7. Lady Gaga
In the spring of 2011, the University of South Carolina launched a sociology course titled “Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame.“ The course focus is on the life, work, struggles, challenges and what she has given to rise to fame of pop star Lady Gaga.
This course is taught by professor and self-proclaimed “Little Monster” Mathieu Deflem. He is a big fan of Lady Gaga and also authored a book with the same name. The focus of this course is exploring her impact as a social phenomenon on the society and what was her challenges? it is not centered on digging into Gaga’s personal life and something like that. It goes to analyze and study the sociologically significant facets of her music, music videos, fashion choices, and more.
In addition to this, there is a website “gagapeople.com“ which is very popular among gaga fans. This Gaga Online website provides live-streamed classes, courses and workshops on Lady Gaga. These classes and course can help you connect to your passion to move from the comfort of your home.
These classes and gaga courses provide a structured platform for individuals to establish a connection with their bodies and unleash their creativity. Participants can delve into physical sensations, enhance their flexibility and endurance, boost agility and explosive strength, and relish the joy of movement within an inclusive and embracing environment.
Anyone can take these classes daily (7 days a week) at the Suzanne Dellal Center in Tel Aviv, Israel and also from other locations in Israel and other international locations.
8. Britney Spears
The Online Course on Britney Spears is #FreeBritney at William Paterson University, New Jersey. This online course was introduced in light of Britney Spears’ high-profile legal conservatorship case in 2021. The course uses the #FreeBritney movement to explore the intersections of disability, gender, race, and class.
9. Lana Del Rey
In the fall semester of 2022, the Clive Davis Institute at New York University introduced a course centered around Lana Del Rey. The course aimed to explore the alt-pop star’s connection to feminism and her involvement in social justice movements.
The course description highlighted that Lana Del Rey, a six-time Grammy nominated artist known for eight critically acclaimed albums, introduced a unique blend of sad core, melancholic, and baroque elements to dream pop. This artistic innovation played a pivotal role in reshaping the sound and emotional landscape of mainstream music beyond the 2010s.
Through her compelling visuals and thematic focus on mental health and narratives of tumultuous relationships, Del Rey provided a fresh platform for artists of all genders to create works that defied the conventions of traditional pop. These works held depth and substance, flourishing in a mainstream environment that was once confined to bubblegum pop categorizations. The course was officially titled “Topics in Recorded Music: Lana Del Rey.“
10. Bruce Springsteen
Full name – Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen, he is commonly known as “Bruce Springsteen,” an American rock singer, songwriter, guitarist and a great musician. He was born on September 23, 1949. His some other commonly known names are “The Boss”, “Bruce Spree” or “Bruce Spre”.
During his lifetime career, he has released total of 21 music albums in six decades. Main focus and feature was his backing band, the E Street Band. Bruce Springsteen has originated the heartland rock. His focus on this genre was mainly to combine mainstream rock music with poetic and socially conscious lyrics that tell a narrative and connects with working-class life of American people. Springsteen has had a profound impact on music, culture, and society and has been an influential figure in the music industry.
There are several courses and classes available on Bruce Springsteen and his impact on music, culture, and society. Some of these courses include:
- Bruce Springsteen: America’s Poet Laureate at UC Berkeley: This is an eight-week course that explores the life and career of Bruce Springsteen from his birth in 1949 to the present. The course includes background lectures, music videos, live videos, film clips, and a live music component.
- Bruce Springsteen: An In-depth Appreciation of America’s Poet Laureate at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC Berkeley: This online course offers an in-depth appreciation of Bruce Springsteen’s work and impact.
- Bruce Springsteen Peloton Classes & Workouts – Featured Artist Series: Peloton offers a series of classes featuring Bruce Springsteen’s music, including rides, runs, rows, yoga, strength, and more.
These courses often analyze his music, performances, and public persona to explore broader themes such as music history, cultural influence, and social commentary.
Conclusion
In this article, we have dived into a captivating world where the melodies of Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kanye West and other pop stars, pop musicians. Who come to life through engaging courses. For passionate music lovers, music enthusiasts, or a student you now have the opportunity to explore the intricacies of their lyrics. With these music courses, music classes and music workshops you can now delve into their artistic journeys, their life, challenges and gain a deeper understanding of their impact on culture.
So, whether you are looking to decipher or crack the hidden meanings in Taylor Swift lyrics, analyze the cultural significance of Lady Gaga’s artistry on the society, or understand the empowering messages in Beyoncé music, regarding what positive change these are bringing to the society and to the life of people!
These music courses, music classes can surely provide you a gateway to a world of musical discovery which helps you in building your music career and understand your society better. These music classes and courses will equip with a newfound perspective on the power of pop music and its ability to shape our understanding of the world around us.
FAQ
- What did Taylor Swift go to school?
During her childhood days and teenage years, Taylor Swift attended several preschools and schools. In her early childhood years, she attended preschool and kindergarten at the Alvernia Montessori School, run by the Bernadine Franciscan sisters. Later on she got transferred to The Wyndcroft School.
For high school, she started attending Hendersonville High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and than transferred to Aaron Academy after her sophomore year. Aaron Academy is a private Christian school, which she joined because that allowed her to be homeschooled, which allowed her to juggle between her school and her passion to craft a blooming music career.
Taylor Swift graduated from Aaron Academy with a high school diploma in 2008 at the age of 18.
- What is Taylor Swift education qualification?
Taylor Swift Education, Taylor Swift Degree – Taylor Swift has not had the experience of attending a college or university, making the conferment of an honorary degree a significant milestone for the renowned singer. Despite her absence from traditional higher education, Swift’s academic journey has been notable.
She was homeschooled during her junior and senior years to accommodate her busy schedule as a budding musician. Taylor Swift graduated from Aaron Academy with a high school diploma in 2008 at the age of 18. She achieved a remarkable 4.0 GPA during her high school years and compressed her final two years into a single year through homeschooling, a decision driven by her aspiration to launch her music career.
The year 2022, witnessed a remarkable moment for Taylor Swift. In May 2022, she joined the graduates, and proudly received an honorary “Doctorate of Fine Arts” degree. This is the first time, a cap and gown adorning her for the first time after receiving honorary doctorate. Adding to this momentous occasion, the Folklore singer graced New York University’s graduation ceremony on May 18, 2022, with an inspiring commencement address that left a lasting impact on all in attendance.
- Why is 13 special to Taylor Swift?
Taylor Swift has a long-standing fascination with the number 13. She considers 13 as her lucky number. According to Taylor Swift, she was born on December 13th and turned 13 on Friday the 13th. Her first album went high in 13 weeks. Also Taylor Swift first No 1 song had a 13-second intro.
She has also mentioned that the number has been strongly linked to many of her career milestones. Swift has found many ways to incorporate the number into her music, music videos, and live performances. For example, she used to write the number 13 on her hand before shows. It’s clear that the number holds a special place in her heart and career.
Who knows 13 also become your special number for your career 👍!
