Music, Theory-Composition Track: Theory Emphasis, M.M.

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The theory-composition track within the Master of Music is designed to further develop the creative and analytical skills of students who wish to pursue careers in academia and the professional world. Students may choose to emphasize theory, composition or both. Students entering this degree should have an undergraduate degree in music. All three concentrations within this degree track are available both on campus and online.

Requirements (11 hours)

In addition to meeting general degree requirements shown elsewhere in this bulletin, a music major must complete the following school requirements:

Theory

All graduate students must take the graduate placement exam in music theory before registering for their first term of classes. Students who pass are eligible to register for graduate-level theory coursework. Students who do not pass the placement exam must enroll in MTC 401 - Theory Review and successfully complete the course with at least a B before registering in graduate-level theory courses.

Students are encouraged to enroll in MTC 561 - Introduction to Graduate Music Theory as early as possible in their course of study, preferably as their first theory course. MTC 561 is a prerequisite to MTC 565 - Schenkerian Theory .

All students take:

MTC 561 - Introduction to Graduate Music Theory Credit(s): 2

and 2 hours from the following:

MTC 562 - Theory Pedagogy Credit(s): 2
MTC 563 - Scoring and Arranging Credit(s): 2 (if not taken as an undergraduate)
MTC 564 - Post-Tonal Analysis Credit(s): 2
MTC 565 - Schenkerian Theory Credit(s): 2

Music History/Literature

All graduate students must take the graduate placement exam in music history before registering for their first term of classes. Students who pass are eligible to register for graduate-level history coursework. Students who do not pass the placement exam must complete prescribed remediation assignments before registering for graduate-level history courses, with the exception of MHL 531 - Music Bibliography .

Students are encouraged to enroll in MHL 531 as early as possible in their course of study. MHL 531 must be taken prior to or concurrently with a student’s enrollment in other music history courses.

All students take:

MHL 531 - Music Bibliography Credit(s): 3

and 4 hours from the following:

MHL 521 - Music of the Baroque Era Credit(s): 2
MHL 522 - Music of the Classic Era Credit(s): 2
MHL 523 - Music of the Romantic Era Credit(s): 2
MHL 524 - Music of the Twentieth Century Credit(s): 2
MHL 525 - Music in America Credit(s): 2

Concentration Requirements

(30-hour program)

MTC 527 - Composition Credit(s): 3
MUS 589 - Thesis Research Credit(s): 3
or
MUS 590 - Thesis Writing Credit(s): 3-9 (3)
Music electives Credit(s): 2

Theory Component (6) from:

MTC 562 - Theory Pedagogy Credit(s): 2
MTC 564 - Post-Tonal Analysis Credit(s): 2
MTC 565 - Schenkerian Theory Credit(s): 2
or
MUS 575 - Advanced Graduate Studies Credit(s): 1-3
and
MUS 578 - Seminar Credit(s): 1-3

Ensemble or applied (2) from:

MUP 533 - A Cappella Choir Credit(s): 1
MUP 534 - Orchestra Credit(s): 1
MUP 535 - Symphonic Band Credit(s): 1
MUP 509 - Applied Instruction Credit(s): 1
MUP 519 - Applied Instruction Credit(s): 2