Subdepartment of General Studies

The General Studies of the Conservatory will provide a broad base of knowledge for the comprehensive training of the student at a humanistic, aesthetic, social and critical level.

About the General Studies Subdepartment

As part of the development of an artist, it is essential that the student deepen, as part of their comprehensive training, the humanistic, ethical, social, critical and aesthetic components to achieve professional excellence. The Conservatory's General Studies provide a broad base of knowledge for artistic growth, which will allow them to excel as performers of classical music, jazz and Caribbean music, as composers and educators.

The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music offers all its students courses in languages, literature, philosophy, history, aesthetics, technology and entrepreneurship. Through these courses the student develops a deeper understanding of his or her being and the complex world in which he or she lives. Through the work carried out in the General Studies courses, their reading, writing, oral expression, critical thinking, and research skills are strengthened, while they develop the necessary skills to communicate.

Learning outcomes

Communication Skills – Students will be able to demonstrate effective use of the spoken and written language: Spanish and English. They will be able to organize and present the message according to the context and its codes.
Research Skills - Students will demonstrate an adequate level of proficiency in research skills. To this end, they will be able to: formulate a relevant research question; search for information applying research methods and instruments and appropriate sources; analyze and evaluate the information collected and present their conclusions in a work, whether oral or written, in which they apply an academically recognized documentation style.
Practical Information Use Skills - Students will demonstrate skills and abilities in the search, critical evaluation, organization and ethical use of information.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning - Students will demonstrate the steps to solve a problem through critical thinking and evaluating sources and perspectives. They will demonstrate, as applicable, the use of scientific and quantitative reasoning.
Technological skills - students will demonstrate proficiency in the use of appropriate and innovative computer applications throughout their studies and in their professional lives. Also, they will demonstrate the ability to evaluate sources of information on the web.

About General Studies Program

As part of the development of an artist, it is essential to deepen the comprehensive training of the student in the humanistic, ethical, social, critical, and aesthetic components to achieve professional excellence. The Conservatory's General Studies will provide a broad foundation of knowledge for artistic growth, enabling them to excel as performers of classical, jazz, and Caribbean music, as composers, and as educators.

The Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music offers courses in languages, literature, philosophy, history, aesthetics, technology, and entrepreneurship. These courses will help the students develop a deeper understanding of their being and the complex world they live in. Through the work done in General Studies courses, reading, writing, speaking, critical thinking and research skills will be strengthened and developed while learning to communicate more clearly and effectively.

Learning Outcomes

Communication Skills - students will be able to demonstrate effective use of spoken and/or written language, Spanish and English. They will organize and present the message in accordance with context and codes.
Research Skills - Students will demonstrate adequate proficiency in research skills. They will be able to: formulate a relevant research question; search for information applying research methods and instruments and appropriate sources; analyze and evaluate the data collected and present their conclusions in a paper, either oral or written, in which they apply an academically recognized documentation style.
Information Literacy - students will display abilities and skills in locating information, critical evaluation of information, organization of information with a purpose, and ethical use of the information.
Critical Analysis and Reasoning - students will display the steps of solving a problem through critical thinking, evaluation of sources and perspectives. They will demonstrate, when applicable, the use of scientific and quantitative reasoning.
Technological Competency - students will display the ability to use appropriate and innovative computer applications through their studies and into their professional lives. Students will also display the ability to evaluate web-based information sources.

Course description