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:
- 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.
- 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.
- Submit three letters of recommendation and a writing example (e.g., term paper from undergraduate studies) to the School of Music.
- 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.
- Any exceptions to the above requirements must be approved by the School of Music Graduate Committee.
Program Requirements
- Each candidate will develop a program of studies in consultation with the School of Music Graduate Coordinator.
- 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.
- Credit earned in courses taken to remove deficiencies will not apply toward the graduate degree.
- Candidates for the Master of Music degree must complete the Music Core and the requirements of one of the concentrations.
- 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 708 | Analytical Styles II: 19-21st Century | 3(3-0) |
MUS 791 | Introduction to Music Research | 3(3-0) |
Core Courses II (3 hours)
Select one of the following:
MUS 717 | Historical Topics I: Medieval - Classical | 3(3-0) |
MUS 718 | Historical Topics II: 19-20th Century | 3(3-0) |
Core Electives (3 hours)
Music Theory, History, or Literature
Select one of the following:
MUS 504 | Seminar in Compositional Techniques | 3-9(Spec) |
MUS 507 | Music Theory Pedagogy | 3(3-0) |
MUS 512 | Choral Literature II (Since 1750) | 2(2-0) |
MUS 514 | Survey of Piano Literature | 3(3-0) |
MUS 515 | History of Opera | 3(3-0) |
MUS 518 | Song Repertoire | 2(1-2) |
MUS 711 | Choral Masterworks | 3(3-0) |
MUS 714 | Wind Band Literature | 3(3-0) |
MUS 715 | Rock 'n 'Roll Seminar | 3(3-0) |
MUS 719 | Seminar in World Music | 3(3-0) |
MUS 720 | Seminar 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)
Required Courses II (6 hours)
Electives (2 hours)
Total: 30 semester hours
Music: Conducting
Required Courses I (6 hours)
Select one of the following:
MUS 781 | Advanced Choral Conducting | 3-6(Spec) |
MUS 782 | Advanced Instrumental Conducting | 3-6(Spec) |
Required Courses II (2-3 hours)
Select one of the following:
MUS 512 | Choral Literature II (Since 1750) | 2(2-0) |
MUS 784 | Instrumental Rehearsal Techniques | 3(3-0) |
Required Course III (4 hours)
Electives (5-6 hours)
Total: 30 semester hours
Music: Music Education
Required Courses (6 hours)
MUS 731 | Curriculum Design in Music Education | 3(3-0) |
MUS 732 | History 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:
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