Program Mission: The Master of Arts in Music provides advanced preparation for teaching, performing, and/or further graduate study.  A core of music courses required for the degree provides essential background in history, literature, research and analysis.  Other specialized courses, seminars and individual studies in performance, conducting, composition, theory, history and literature aid the student in achieving his or her career goals.

Admission Requirements: To be eligible for degree candidacy, applicants must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School (see “Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs”).  Additional requirements include:

• proof of a Bachelor’s Degree in Music or proof of a bachelor’s degree in another discipline with sufficient musical experience to warrant admission;
• a letter of application and résumé;
• for singers and instrumentalists, an audition; for conductors, a video recording of a recent performance or rehearsal and an audition; for composers, scores and recordings of original compositions; and
• a personal interview.  Audition guidelines and repertory lists are available from the graduate coordinator.

Music Placement Examinations: Once admitted to graduate study, all graduate students are required to take examinations in music history and literature, theory and aural skills.  Examinations are given in the first week of each semester.  The examinations are used to identify possible deficiencies in undergraduate work; remedial work is prescribed when necessary.

Study Plan Approval: The study plan shall be approved by the student’s graduate examination committee and the graduate coordinator, and filed with the graduate coordinator prior to the completion of 12 semester hours of graduate credit which count toward the graduate degree.