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Music, M.M.

Minimum Totals for Graduation: 30 hours

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Admission Requirement Snapshot

GPA: 3 .0

Entrance Exam: N/A

Internat'l Application Deadline: July 1 (Fall), Oct.1 (Spring)

See Admission Requirement Details Below

Admission

In addition to university requirements for graduate admission, applicants for the Master of Music degree must meet the following requirements in the School of Music:

  1. Possess a completed undergraduate music degree or other degree with at least 40 semester hours with a grade point average of 3.0 or better in music studies.
  2. Statement of Purpose. Submit a brief, one-page statement describing your purpose and general plan for graduate study at Central Michigan University. The statement should include information about your future career plans, or any past or current activities or achievements which are related to your proposed field of specialization including any research or teaching experience you may have had.
  3. Submit three letters of recommendation and a writing example (e.g., term paper from undergraduate studies) to the School of Music.
  4. Complete audition requirements according to degree concentration, as follows, arranged through the School of Music:
    • Composition applicants must submit a portfolio of their compositions accompanied by a CD or online recording of submitted compositions.
    • Conducting applicants must submit a DVD or online recording of their conducting.
    • Music Education applicants must complete an interview with the School of Music Graduate Coordinator.
    • Performance applicants must audition with the appropriate faculty member or performance area.
  5. Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the School of Music Graduate Committee.

Program Requirements

  1. Each candidate will develop a program of studies in consultation with the School of Music Graduate Coordinator.
  2. Candidates for the Master of Music degree must take diagnostic tests and pass an end-of-program comprehensive examination. Diagnostic tests must be taken the week before or first week of the semester of entry into the program as scheduled by the School of Music Graduate Coordinator. The Recital requirement on the Conducting and Performance concentrations and Thesis on the Composition concentration include submission of a Plan B Paper. Music Education students elect 6 hours of thesis in lieu of elective courses or submit two Plan B Papers.
  3. Credit earned in courses taken to remove deficiencies will not apply toward the graduate degree.
  4. Candidates for the Master of Music degree must complete the Music Core and the requirements of one of the concentrations.
  5. Candidates for the Master of Music: Music Education concentration must have completed teaching certification requirements before graduation; international students returning to their country of origin are omitted from this requirement.

Program Requirements

Core Courses I (6 hours)

MUS 708Analytical Styles II: 19-21st Century

3(3-0)

MUS 791Introduction to Music Research

3(3-0)

Core Courses II (3 hours)

Select one of the following:
MUS 717Historical Topics I: Medieval - Classical

3(3-0)

MUS 718Historical Topics II: 19-20th Century

3(3-0)

Core Electives (3 hours)

Music Theory, History, or Literature

Select one of the following:

MUS 504Seminar in Compositional Techniques

3-9(Spec)

MUS 507Music Theory Pedagogy

3(3-0)

MUS 512Choral Literature II (Since 1750)

2(2-0)

MUS 514Survey of Piano Literature

3(3-0)

MUS 515History of Opera

3(3-0)

MUS 518Song Repertoire

2(1-2)

MUS 711Choral Masterworks

3(3-0)

MUS 714Wind Band Literature

3(3-0)

MUS 715Rock 'n 'Roll Seminar

3(3-0)

MUS 719Seminar in World Music

3(3-0)

MUS 720Seminar in the Music of a Selected Composer

3-9(Spec)

Notes:

  • Keyboard Performance must choose MUS 514; Composition cannot choose MUS 507.
  • If a student chooses a 2-hour course, they may select a 1-hour MUS 500 to 700 level elective in consultation with an advisor.

Concentrations

Select one of the following options:

Music: Composition

Required Courses I (10 hours)
MUS 701Composition

2-8(Spec)

MUS 798Thesis

1-6(Spec)

Note: 6 hours of MUS 701; 4 hours of MUS 798.

Required Courses II (6 hours)
MUS 506Advanced Scoring

3(3-0)

MUS 507Music Theory Pedagogy

3(3-0)

Electives (2 hours)
Total: 30 semester hours

Music: Conducting

Required Courses I (6 hours)

Select one of the following:

MUS 781Advanced Choral Conducting

3-6(Spec)

MUS 782Advanced Instrumental Conducting

3-6(Spec)

Required Courses II (2-3 hours)

Select one of the following:

MUS 512Choral Literature II (Since 1750)

2(2-0)

MUS 784Instrumental Rehearsal Techniques

3(3-0)

Required Course III (4 hours)
MUS 799Recital

4(Spec)

Electives (5-6 hours)
Total: 30 semester hours

Music: Music Education

Required Courses (6 hours)
MUS 731Curriculum Design in Music Education

3(3-0)

MUS 732History and Philosophy of Music Education

3(3-0)

Electives (12 hours)
  • 6 hours of Pedagogy Electives selected in consultation with an advisor.
  • 6 hours of 500 to 700 level MUS courses.
  • Participation in conducted or coached ensembles is recommended.
Total: 30 semester hours

Music: Performance

Required Courses (13 hours)

An Applied Major Area (8 hours selected from MUS 750 to MUS 779) plus:

MUS 780Performance Ensembles

1-8(Spec)

MUS 799Recital

4(Spec)

Notes:

  • 8 hours of Applied must be from the same course number.
  • 1 hour of MUS 780.
Electives (5 hours)

Select from 500 to 700 level MUS courses.

Total: 30 semester hours