Advisory Examinations

Entering Master of Arts students must take two School of Music advisory examinations prior to registering for music history and music theory classes. These examinations are given on the Friday and Saturday preceding the opening of classes in the fall semester.

M.A. students in music therapy are not required to take the advisory examinations.

Preliminary Procedures for Music Therapy Graduate Students

Since music therapists work with vulnerable populations, the School of Music is required to run a criminal background check on all students when they begin their clinical experiences. Criminal convictions could negatively impact a student's ability to continue in the music therapy program and/or gain placement at an internship site. For more information, contact the director of the music therapy program.

Ensemble Participation

Graduate students in the performance and pedagogy tracks of all graduate programs are required to complete four semesters of major ensemble participation. Students enroll in major ensemble participation during consecutive semesters beginning early in their degree work, to ensure completion of the major ensemble requirements in a timely manner. Ensemble assignments are made at the discretion of the major teacher and ensemble director.

Major ensembles are as follows.

MUS:3160Symphony Band/Concert Band1
MUS:3170Kantorei1
MUS:3172Camerata Singers1
MUS:3174University Choir1
MUS:3180Orchestra1

The Master of Arts program in music requires a minimum of 30-39 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00 to earn the degree.

The M.A. concentrations in performance, conducting, jazz studies, composition, music theory, musicology, music therapy, and music education require a recital, capstone project, or thesis. Performance majors present a public recital in place of a written thesis. Music therapy majors complete a capstone research project. Jazz studies majors present a public recital and a separate performance project. The Master of Arts in music education is offered with thesis and nonthesis options.

All M.A. programs—except music therapy and music education—require the following coursework.

Introductory Course

This course:
MUS:5300Introduction to Graduate Study in Music2

Music Theory

Students earn 6 s.h. from the following.

This course:
MUS:5200Review of Undergraduate Theory (unless exempt by advisory exam)3
Students exempted from MUS:5200 through the advisory examination in music theory must substitute an additional theory elective chosen from these:
MUS:4200Counterpoint Before 16003
MUS:4201Counterpoint After 16003
MUS:5235Tonal Analysis3
MUS:5236Non-Tonal Analysis3
MUS:5240Special Topics in Theory and Analysis3
Students also must choose one elective from these:
MUS:4200Counterpoint Before 16003
MUS:4201Counterpoint After 16003
MUS:5235Tonal Analysis3
MUS:5236Non-Tonal Analysis3
MUS:5237Analysis of Popular Music3
MUS:5240Special Topics in Theory and Analysis3
MUS:6210History of Ideas of Music3
MUS:6211Theoretical Approaches to Music3
MUS:6250Advanced Tonal Theory and Analysis3
MUS:6251Advanced Non-Tonal Theory and Analysis3
MUS:6252Advanced Theory and Analysis of Popular Music3

Musicology

Students earn 6 s.h. from the following; at least one 6000-level course must be taken. 

MUS:4320Music and Gender3
MUS:4325Medieval and Renaissance Music3
MUS:4330Baroque Music3
MUS:4335Eighteenth-Century Music3
MUS:4340Nineteenth-Century Music3
MUS:4345Twentieth-Century Music3
MUS:4350Advanced Jazz History3
MUS:4355American Music3
MUS:4360Jazz Matters3
MUS:6305Teaching Music History and Culture3
MUS:6310Topics in Musicology3
MUS:6312Historical Approaches to Music3
MUS:6314Topics in Ethnomusicology3
MUS:6315Foundations of Ethnomusicology3
MUS:6326Renaissance Music Notations3
MUS:6375Music Editing3

Individuals applying to graduate programs in music must audition and/or submit supporting materials in their area of concentration in order to be considered for admission. Information about Graduate College admission and curriculum requirements for each area is available on the School of Music website.

For detailed information about Graduate College admission and policies, see the Manual of Rules and Regulations on the Graduate College website.

Qualified graduate students may be nominated for teaching and research assistantships. Inquiries should be directed to the head faculty member in the applicant's area of interest.

The Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.