Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30
Required Courses:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| MUST 8726 | Computer Synthesis | 3 |
| MUST 8740 | Seminar in Composition (4 terms) | 12 |
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
MUST 8742 | Seminar in Theoretical Analysis | |
MUST 8743 | Seminar in Stylistic Analysis | |
MUST 8744 | Seminar in Stylistic Analysis | |
MUST 8745 | Seminar in Stylistic Analysis | |
MUST 8746 | Seminar in Stylistic Analysis | |
| Electives 1 | 9 | |
| Recommended courses include: | ||
MUST 8701 | Research in Music | |
MUST 8713 | Canon and Fugue | |
MUST 8727 | Electronic Music Composition: Practice, History, Theory | |
MUST 8747 | Aesthetics of Music | |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Select from Music, Music Education, Music Studies, or other graduate departments. Advisor approval required.
Language Examination: Reading knowledge of a foreign language is expected. If a deficiency exists, students may be required to take up to two terms of a foreign language.
Additional Requirements:
Diagnostic Examinations:
Diagnostic examinations in Aural Theory, Written Theory, and Music History are required for all entering master's students, except students in the Jazz Studies, Music Education, Music Technology, and Music Therapy programs, who arrange their examinations within their respective departments. In addition, Keyboard students take an additional two-hour examination in Keyboard Literature. As stated in the Boyer College Graduate Handbook, "students may not take final qualifying examinations nor perform graduation recitals until all diagnostic examinations have been successfully completed."
Entering master’s students who require the diagnostic examinations in Aural Theory, Written Theory, and Music History will be contacted by the Music Studies department to schedule the testing date and time.
A. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Aural Theory
The examination lasts approximately 40 minutes and asks students to:
- Dictate a chord progression that modulates and contains chromatic harmony by writing out the bass line and identifying chords with Roman numerals and inversions.
- Complete a two-part melodic dictation that modulates and contains chromatic pitches.
B. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Written Theory
The examination lasts one and one-half hours and is in three parts:
- Harmonic analysis of a diatonic chorale, and basic part-writing exercises using diatonic harmony.
- Harmonic analysis of a chromatic chorale, and part-writing exercises using chromatic harmony.
- Analysis of the form, motives and phrase structures of the first movement of a Classical-era piano sonata.
C. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Music History
The examination consists of objective questions (multiple choice, matching, and/or true/false) covering musical works, composers, forms, styles, terms, and instruments. It is divided into five sections: Medieval/Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century.
D. Conditions for Exemption from Diagnostic Examinations
The requirement to take the Diagnostic Examination in any area is waived only for graduates of the Boyer College of Music and Dance who:
- matriculate and enroll in the term immediately following completion of all undergraduate degree requirements; and
- received grades of "B-" or better in every undergraduate course taken in each individual examination area to be waived.
Piano Examination:
Composition majors must pass a functional piano examination encompassing the following points:
- Score Reading: Prepared in advance of the examination, the scores are to be brought to the examination. The exposition of the first movement of a symphony by Haydn or Mozart is recommended. Suggested scores are the 12 "London" symphonies by Haydn or one of the last six symphonies by Mozart. Students may elect to play a more difficult score by a later composer.
- Sight-reading a Bach chorale.
- Realization of a figured bass.
Professional Development Policy:
In addition to taking the required subjects for their degrees, all students in the Boyer College of Music and Dance are obligated to serve in a number of capacities in order to enrich their academic and musical expertise. Boyer College of Music and Dance believes that such experiences give impetus to successful professional careers. Among the duties that may be required are conducting laboratory classes; tutoring; teaching private lessons; coaching; participating in the distribution and inventory control of Temple University-owned musical instruments and instructional materials; participating in ensembles; accompanying; performing at admissions and open house events; supervising performance classes; and engaging in other academic activities.
Independent Study Courses:
Independent study courses provide a special opportunity for graduate students to work in a highly individualized setting with one or more faculty members. All such study must receive the approval of the faculty member providing the instruction, the students' major advisor, and the Associate Dean. Approval is granted only after the student has presented a detailed description of the intended independent study project. Approval of independent study projects is granted only for students whose academic and musical record provides substantial support for the benefits of this type of study. In no case may more than 20% of a graduate student's curriculum be taken as independent study. Private lessons beyond those required in the curriculum are not an appropriate form of independent study.
Acceptable English:
All students, including those for whom English is not the native language, are expected to present all written work in acceptable English. No double standard exists to differentiate students on the basis of proficiency in the use of the English language. Students are also responsible for becoming familiar with the College's statement on plagiarism and academic honesty.
Participation in Ensembles:
With special permission, graduate students for whom there is no ensemble requirement, or where previous ensemble credits exceed the graduation requirement, may participate in choral and instrumental ensembles without cost, with prior permission from the ensemble director, the department chair, and the Associate Dean.
Incompletes:
All incomplete grades and keyboard proficiencies must be fulfilled by the first day of the month in which the student expects to graduate.
Culminating Events:
Comprehensive Examination:
Upon completion of a minimum of 30 credits of graduate study and with the approval of the major advisor, the student may request permission from the Associate Dean of the Boyer College of Music and Dance to take the written qualifying examination. This request must be made in writing at least one month before the scheduled date of the examination. If desired, the student may take this examination during the final term of graduate study. The master's qualifying examination is offered once each term.
The Music Composition Division requires a five-hour written examination that includes the composition of a fugal exposition on a subject provided; the composition of a figured bass; the reduction, analysis and identification of a passage from a provided orchestral work; and two essays about the history and practice of composition. In addition, the division administers a one-hour oral examination consisting of discussion and identification of various orchestral scores. Scheduled by Assistant Dean David Brown, the exam is graded by two members of the department’s graduate faculty.
Portfolio:
Students are required to submit a portfolio of their work completed during the time they participated in the Master of Music program.