Master of Music in Composition Degree Requirements
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Music in Composition degree is granted to students who meet the requirements of both the Graduate School and the Department of Music and Dance. Application for admission to the Graduate School should be made to the Graduate Admissions office, where undergraduate transcripts are evaluated. Transcripts should be forwarded to the office of Graduate Admissions at the time of application.
Application for admission to the Department of Music and Dance must be made to the Department of Music and Dance office. Admission requirements are as follows:
- Undergraduate degree in music, or its equivalent;
- At least two original compositions;
- Interview with composition faculty;
- Two letters of recommendation;
- Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam.
Students must achieve an acceptable score on the Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam prior to enrolling in MUSC 511, MUSC 513, or MUSC 516. Students who fail to achieve an acceptable score must take MUSC 509 Graduate Theory Review (2 hrs), and receive a B or better in the course, prior to enrolling in MUSC 511, MUSC 513, or MUSC 516. MUSC 509 Graduate Theory Review does not count towards degree requirements.
Conditional Admission
Students deficient in a requirement for degree admission may be granted conditional admission, subject to removal of the deficiency, while beginning graduate study. Hours earned in making up deficiencies are in addition to those normally required for the degree.
Graduate Advising
Upon admission to the Department of Music and Dance, each student will meet with the graduate adviser for assistance in planning their curriculum.
Course Requirements
The M.M. in Composition requires the completion of 30 hours of course work to be distributed among Supportive Studies, Major Field, and Electives. Students are required to achieve a B or higher all Supportive Studies and Major Field courses. If a student earns a grade lower than a B in any course, he/she must retake the course, and receive a B or higher, before the credits for that course can be counted toward their degree.
Supportive Studies in Music (10 hrs)
MUSC 500 Introduction to Graduate Studies (2 hrs)
MUSC 500 is a pre- or corequisite for all music history courses.
Four hours of music theory courses from the following:
See note above concerning Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam.
MUSC 511 Survey of Harmonic Techniques (2 hrs)
MUSC 513 Form and Analysis (2 hrs)
MUSC 516 Schenkerian Analysis (2 hrs)
Four hours of music history courses from the following:
MUSC 504 America’s Music (2 hrs)
MUSC 505 World Music (2 hrs)
MUSC 631 Renaissance Music (2 hrs)
MUSC 632 Baroque Music (2 hrs)
MUSC 633 Music in the Classical Era (2 hrs)
MUSC 634 Music in the Romantic Era (2 hrs)
MUSC 635 Music Since 1900 (2 hrs)
MUSC 694 Seminar (music history) (2 hrs)
Courses in the Major Field (16 hrs)
MUSC 518 Music Composition I (3 hrs)*
MUSC 617 Music Composition II (3 hrs)
MUSC 618 Music Composition III (3 hrs)
MUSC 693 Thesis (3 hrs)
MUSC 694 Seminar (composition) (2 hrs)
MUSC 512 Counterpoint (2 hrs)
*Students will be admitted to 600-level Music Composition if the quality and quantity of their work in MUSC 518 indicates that they can do advanced work in composition. MUSC 518 may be taken up to four times, but will only count once towards the degree requirements. Repeating MUSC 518 beyond the four-time limit requires permission from the Department.
Electives (4 hrs)
Music or non-music courses selected in consultation with the graduate adviser.
Exit Requirements
In addition to Graduate School requirements, Department of Music and Dance requirements are as follows:
- Comprehensive Review in Composition.
All graduate students must pass an examination covering their major field of study. The examination may be written and/or oral in format, as determined by the student’s faculty committee. Written examinations will consist of three to five essay questions and must be completed in three hours or less. Oral examinations will last approximately one hour.
The examination will occur when the student’s prescribed course work is substantially completed, in the anticipated semester of graduation. In addition, the student must complete his/her thesis, recital, or other culminating experience prior to taking the examination. Exceptions to this policy may occur only with the approval of the student’s faculty committee and the Department Head.The examination will be graded Pass/Fail and can be taken no more than three times.
The examination will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the student’s faculty adviser, an additional faculty member from music theory, and a faculty member from outside the major field. The specific makeup of the faculty committee will be determined by the student in consultation with his/her faculty adviser, and must be approved by the Department Head. If a student is unable to form a faculty committee, it will be formed by the Department Head in consultation with the student’s faculty adviser,
- Thesis (original composition for large ensemble with the intent of performance).
