ECTS credits ECTS credits: 4.5
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Hours of tutorials: 12 Expository Class: 13 Interactive Classroom: 15 Total: 40
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Applied Physics
Areas: Applied Physics
Center Faculty of Optics and Optometry
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
• Understand what an acoustic wave is and the physical quantities that represent it.
• Understand the concept of sound pressure level and be able to carry out basic operations with sound levels (wave composition and propagation).
• Master the basic concepts of room acoustics (resonance and reverberation).
• Learn how to use basic tools for digital sound analysis (spectrum concept, frequency band spectrum, and acoustic signal filtering).
• Know the articulatory, acoustic, and auditory properties of phonemes.
• Understand the acoustic properties of hearing and the fundamental concepts of psychoacoustics.
The content of this subject is structured in the following topics:
• TOPIC 1: Description of the sound wave. Acoustic quantities.
• TOPIC 2: Reflection and transmission.
• TOPIC 3: Resonance and reverberation.
• TOPIC 4: Sound analysis.
• TOPIC 5: Phonetic acoustics.
• TOPIC 6: Physiological and psychoacoustics.
The practical topics presented to students will address relevant aspects of acoustic applications such as speech intelligibility, signal processing, and room acoustics. Auditory demonstrations related to these applications will also be carried out. A sound modeling software will be used for these practices.
Given the scarcity of textbooks on acoustics in Spanish, some of the titles listed in this bibliography are in English.
Basic bibliography:
• Avilés López, R., & Perera Martín, R. (2017). Manual de acústica ambiental y arquitectónica. Ediciones Paraninfo.
• Recuero López, M. (1999). Ingeniería acústica. Ediciones Paraninfo.
• Recuero López, M. (1999). Acústica arquitectónica aplicada. Ediciones Paraninfo.
Supplementary bibliography:
• Johnson, K. (1997). Acoustics and Auditory Phonetics. Blackwell.
• Martín Castro, A. (2022). La lira desafinada de Pitágoras. HarperCollins Ibérica.
• Olive, J. P., Greenwood, A., & Coleman, J. (1993). Acoustics of American English Speech. Springer-Verlag.
Online resources are also recommended and will be shared throughout the course, such as:
• https://www.ehu.eus/acustica/
• http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/demos.html
The learning outcomes include the following knowledge, skills, and competencies:
Knowledge:
• Con_68: Understand what an acoustic wave is and the physical quantities that represent it.
• Con_69: Understand the concept of sound pressure level and be able to carry out basic operations with sound levels (wave composition and propagation).
• Con_70: Know the articulatory, acoustic, and auditory properties of phonemes.
• Con_71: Understand the acoustic properties of hearing and the fundamental concepts of psychoacoustics.
Skills:
• HyD_1: Think in an integrated way and address problems from different perspectives with critical thinking.
• HyD_2: Organize and plan work.
• HyD_3: Interpret results and identify consistent and inconsistent elements.
• HyD_4: Work in teams.
• HyD_5: Maintain ethical commitment as well as commitment to equality and inclusion.
• HyD_46: Master the basic concepts of room acoustics (resonance and reverberation).
• HyD_47: Learn to use basic digital sound analysis tools (spectrum concept, frequency band spectrum, and acoustic signal filtering).
Competencies:
• Comp_1: Students must be able to gather and interpret relevant data to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific, or ethical issues.
• Comp_3: Students must develop the learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy.
In the lectures, the fundamental concepts of the subject will be presented, including representative examples of practical aspects that students must master. These contents will serve as a foundation for the practical topics.
The practical topics will consist of a series of assignments that students must complete using the concepts explained in the theoretical classes. These tasks will include highly practical aspects allowing students to develop skills in acoustic techniques related to signal processing, speech intelligibility, and room acoustics. There will also be auditory demonstrations where students will be able to hear the effect of the processes studied both theoretically and practically.
The course will have a significant component developed through the use of the university’s Virtual Campus. All information provided in class will be available on this platform, including presentations, problem materials, practices, web resources, and communication. It is important that students regularly check the course page.
The final grade for the subject will be obtained from the sum of the final exam grade (70%) and continuous assessment (30%). The latter will consist of the submission of all practice reports, which must be correctly completed.
The final exam will be graded on a maximum of 7 points, and the practice reports on a maximum of 3 points. To pass the course, it will be necessary to obtain at least 3.5 points in the final exam and at least 1.5 points in the practice evaluation.
Failure to submit any of the reports will result in a failing grade in continuous assessment and, therefore, in the course.
In cases of academic dishonesty in exercises or exams, the "Regulations on the academic performance evaluation of students and grade review" will be applied.
Below are the different activities proposed to achieve the learning outcomes of this subject:
• Exam: Con_68; Con_69; Con_70; Con_71; HyD_46; Comp_3
• Practice reports: Con_68; Con_69; Con_70; Con_71; HyD_1; HyD_2; HyD_3; HyD_5; HyD_46; HyD_47; Comp_1; Comp_3
• Continuous assessment: Con_68; Con_69; Con_70; Con_71; HyD_1; HyD_2; HyD_4; HyD_46; HyD_47; Comp_3
The subject is allocated 4.5 ECTS credits, which implies a total workload of 112.5 hours over the semester, distributed between classroom activities and independent work:
• Total contact hours: 26
• Lecture hours: 13
• Lab practice hours: 13
• Group tutorial hours: 12
• Independent student work hours: 72.5
• Exam hours: 2
To understand the theory correctly, it is recommended to spend at least 13 hours. For the correct completion of the practice reports, students will need at least another 13 hours.
This subject is accessible for students, as all the information on the expected competencies and how to acquire them will be clearly defined as the course progresses. These competencies cover basic content that students must master.
The main idea is that students work with clear and fundamental concepts that provide a solid base to approach acoustic issues they may encounter throughout their academic and professional careers in the fields of audiometry and audiology. It is not about knowing a lot but about mastering the essential knowledge and applying it with confidence.
To achieve this, attendance at face-to-face classes is essential, as it helps identify key content and saves study time. Another important aspect is interaction with instructors, particularly for resolving questions during the course, especially those related to practice reports.
The teaching of this subject will be delivered partly in Spanish and partly in Galician, with the aim of fostering students’ language competence in both official languages.
Maria Encina Calvo Iglesias
- Department
- Applied Physics
- Area
- Applied Physics
- Phone
- 881813961
- encina.calvo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Maria Jesus Garcia Guimarey
Coordinador/a- Department
- Applied Physics
- Area
- Applied Physics
- mariajesus.guimarey [at] usc.es
- Category
- Researcher: Ramón y Cajal
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 13:00-14:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Galician, Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 12.19.2025 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |
| 06.26.2026 16:00-18:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |