An Investigation of the Impact of Music Industry Cooperative Education on Student Academic Performance as Measured by Grade Point Average

Richard Strasser
Northeastern University

Kate McLaughlin
Northeastern University

Abstract

This research examines the effects of cooperative education on subsequent academic performance of Music Industry students. Post-co-op and pre-co-op course performance of students with music industry experience was compared to that of non-co-op students matched on the basis of grade point averages and credit hours completed. This study endeavors to examine if learning outcomes of students who participated in co-ops, as expressed by GPA, improved after participating in experiential education relative to those who did not participate in experiential education. The research will also examine if there is a correlation between gender, age, and educational status and an improvement in GPA after experiential education. The central discussion of this research centers on the role of experiential education in academic performance and recommendations for improving music industry co-ops and internships.

Keywords: music industry curriculum, experiential education, experiential learning, cooperative education, internships, music business, music degrees, music pedagogy

Strasser, Richard, and Kate McLaughlin. “An Investigation of the Impact of Music Industry Cooperative Education on Student Academic Performance as Measured by Grade Point Average.” Journal of the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association 7, no. 1 (2007): 119-135. https://doi.org/10.25101/7.8

Click here to download pdf of the full article