Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

Core Courses
MUST 8701Research in Music3
MUST 8704Music in History3
MUST 8741Analytical Techniques3
Lesson Courses in Voice, Keyboards, or Instrumental Music
Select one from the following:2
MUSC 5201
Applied Vocal Graduate Minor
MUSC 5401
Applied Keyboard Graduate Minor
MUSC 5501
Applied Instrumental Graduate Minor
Select one from the following:2
MUSC 5202
Applied Vocal Graduate Minor
MUSC 5402
Applied Keyboard Graduate Minor
MUSC 5502
Applied Instrumental Graduate Minor
Select one from the following:2
MUSC 5203
Applied Vocal Graduate Minor
MUSC 5403
Applied Keyboard Graduate Minor
MUSC 5503
Applied Instrumental Graduate Minor
Ensemble Courses 13
Electives
Select two courses in Music History or Music Theory6
Select two courses in Dance, Music, Music Education, Music Studies, or Musical Theater6
Total Credit Hours30
1

Three 1-credit ensemble courses are taken in Instrumental Music or Voice.

Language Examination: A language examination is not required for the MS in Music.

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:

  1. Dictate a chord progression that modulates and contains chromatic harmony by writing out the bass line and identifying chords with Roman numerals and inversions.
  2. 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:

  1. Harmonic analysis of a diatonic chorale, and basic part-writing exercises using diatonic harmony.
  2. Harmonic analysis of a chromatic chorale, and part-writing exercises using chromatic harmony.
  3. 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.

Culminating Events:
Final Project:
As a culminating event, students choose to complete an advisor-approved paper, make a presentation, or deliver a performance that connects research to practice. The paper or program verifying the presentation or performance is placed on file in the Associate Dean’s office prior to graduation.