MA Curricula
This section provides in-depth information on each major. It is meant to be used in conjunction with the application form.
Composition
Ethnomusicology
Music Education
Theory (a combined MA/PhD program)
Musicology (a combined MA/PhD program)
Music Theory Pedagogy
Master of Arts with a Major in Composition
Prerequisites:
- Composition: A minimum of 18 semester hours or its equivalent in undergraduate courses
- Theory: 12 semester hours in lower-division courses
- Counterpoint and orchestration: 12 semester hours in upperdivision courses
- Completion of at least one work in one of the larger forms
The application process:
- Prescreening requirement: Applicants must submit copies of a minimum of three or a maximum of four scores of original compositions with their applications by the application deadline. Scores should be reduced to 11"x17" or smaller. Recordings of composed works are encouraged, but not required. Due to the large number of scores and recordings submitted, materials will not be returned; do not submit originals.
- Test scores, papers, and personal statement must be submitted with the application, as stated above.
- Interview requirement: Following faculty review, a limited number of applicants will be invited to interview in Rochester with a member of the composition faculty. (Interviews are not conducted at regional audition centers.)
Curriculum:
- CMP 401 and 402 – Advanced Composition I and II
- CMP 491 and 492 – Composition Symposium
- CMP 421 and 422 – Advanced Computer Music Techniques
- CMP 495 – Master of Arts Thesis: The thesis has two parts. Part I is an extended composition for instrumental, vocal, and/or computer-implemented media, approved by the department, and written under the guidance of a faculty member. Part II is an essay dealing with some historical, theoretical, or analytical aspect of music; it should be comparable in scope to an article of 10-15 printed pages in a scholarly journal.
- The remaining required credits are elective, and are chosen by the student in consultation with the adviser, depending on the background, needs, and special interests of the student. As many as six credits in applied music may be included in this elective block.
- CMP 412 – Compositional Practice ca. 1925-1955
- Composition students in the MA program will present a 30-minute public lecture on their own music and progress toward the degree. The lecture will function as a comprehensive review and be evaluated by the composition faculty.
Master of Arts with a Major in Ethnomusicology
Prerequisites:
Ethnomusicology students will be interviewed and admitted to the musicology department via the same process as incoming musicology students, which includes, among other things, the evaluation of writing samples of students' undergraduate work. In addition to the Western music history and theory entrance exams taken by all incoming graduate students at the Eastman School, ethnomusicology students will also take a special exam demonstrating their knowledge of and experience with world music traditions. Thus, a prerequisite for entrance to this program is at least one undergraduate course in world music. The MA in ethnomusicology requires a minimum of one year of study in residence.
Curriculum:
- MUY 502 – Introduction to Ethnomusicology
- ETH 480 – Approaches to Ethnography
- ETH 495 – Thesis
- ETH 215-216 – World Music Ensemble (Gamelan or Mbira)
- MUY 501 – Introduction to Musicology
- Theory or other music elective – Electives are taken from a variety of courses offered at Eastman and/or the University of Rochester, according to a student's interests. Students may also enroll in applied music lessons or other world music ensembles for elective credit (maximum of six credits).
- Foreign language Exam – in a language appropriate to the student's area of study.
- Comprehensive oral exam required.
Master of Arts with a Major in Music Education
Prerequisites:
- A high standard of musicianship and scholarship
- Breadth of musical and general education
- Teaching experience is strongly recommended but not required
The application process:
- Applicants to the MA degree program with a major in music education must complete the Supplemental Application for Music Education Applicants (see Admissions website), and submit it with their applications by the application deadline. This form includes an essay requirement.
- Test scores, papers, and personal statement must be submitted with the application, as stated above.
- An interview with a member of the music education faculty will be scheduled on a regular audition day in Rochester.
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Applicants will be scheduled for a skills assessment test. (Click here for a sample skills assessment test.)
Curriculum:
The MA curriculum in music education may follow the thesis option or the field project option. Music education majors may apply to the music education faculty for permission to write a thesis as part of their degree programs after completing at least two 400- level (or higher) music education courses, one of which must be MUE 413. Students in the field project option conduct a field project, prepare a written paper on the project, and give a public presentation.
| I. Thesis Option | II. Field Project Option | ||
| course | credit | course | credit |
| MUE 402 (Measurement and Evaluation) | 3 | MUE 402 (Measurement and Evaluation) | 3 |
| MUE 413 (Intro. to Research) | 3 | MUE 413 (Intro. to Research) | 3 |
| MUE 501, 502 (Seminar: History and Philosophy, Curriculum Development) | 6 | MUE 501, 502 (Seminar: History and Philosophy, Curriculum Development) | 6 |
| MUE 495 (Thesis) | 8 | MUE 471 (Teaching Internship) | 2 |
Ten credits of electives as follows:
|
10 | MUE 465 (Instr’l. Techniques) or CND 223 (Choral Conducting.) | 2-3 |
| MUE 473 (M.A. Project) | 4 | ||
| Electives in theory, composition,or orchestration | 3-4 | ||
| Electives in such areas as music education, theory, music history, or courses from the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development, including. no more than 6 credits of applied music and 2 credits of ensemble | 7-9 | ||
| Total credits | 30 | Total credits | 31-33 |
MM-MUE Summers-Only Program:
Summers-only study is available for students admitted to the Master of Arts in Music Education program. Normally, a Summers-Only student has full time employment as a music teacher and completes the majority of coursework for the degree during consecutive summer sessions. For those music teachers employed in the Rochester area, a limited number of courses may be completed in Fall and Spring Semesters
Master of Arts with a Major in Music Theory
The MA with a major in music theory is not normally taken as a seperate degree program. Rather, the MA is awarded to a student in the MA/PhD program in music theory after satisfying one foreign language requirement and after completing 30 credits (with at least nine credit hours of non-theory electives) in the course of study for the PhD in theory with a grade of B or higher. MA students must pass a final exam if finishing with the MA only, or pass a qualifying exam in order to move on to candidacy for the PhD. See the section on PhD degree programs for application requirements.
Master of Arts with a Major in Musicology
The MA with a major in musicology is not normally taken as a separate degree program. Rather, the MA is awarded to a student in the MA/PhD program in musicology after he or she completes two years in residence and 30 credits of coursework, 20 of which must be in musicology, and three to 10 credit hours in non-musicology courses (one theory class is required within these elective credits). In addition to coursework, one foreign language examination must be passed. Students finishing with an MA only must submit a portfolio of three papers written for seminars in musicology or for analogous courses in music theory or other departments (at least one of these papers will focus on a theoretical or analytical topic). MA students must pass a qualifying exam in order to be awarded a certificate of candidacy for the PhD. See the section on PhD degree programs for application requirements.
Master of Arts with a Major in Pedagogy of Music Theory
This major is intended either for those students who wish to focus on a teaching career in music theory (with emphasis in pedagogy, aural and keyboard skills, composition, and cognition), or for other graduate students who may wish to complete a dual degree program in performance (MM or DMA) and music theory.
Prerequisites:
Candidates from a variety of musical and academic backgrounds are welcome to apply for the program, although some experience in upper-level theoretical work normally is required.
The application process:
- Applicants to the MA degree program with a major in music theory pedagogy must complete the Supplemental Application for Graduate Programs in Ethnomusicology, Musicology, Music Theory, and Music Theory Pedagogy (see Admissions website), and submit it with their applications by the application deadline.
- Test scores, papers, and personal statement must be submitted with the application, as stated above.
- An interview with members of the theory faculty will be scheduled on a regular audition day in Rochester.
Curriculum:
- TH 521 – Pedagogy of Theory
- TH 423 – Multimedia Programming for Pedagogy and Research
- TH 451 or 452 – Modal Counterpoint or Tonal Counterpoint
- TH 471 and 472 – Apprenticeship in Pedagogy (includes teaching recital)
- TH 475 or 476 – Intermediate or Advanced Keyboard Skills
- TH 480 – Advanced Harmony and Composition
- TH 511 – Introduction to Theory and Analysis of Tonal Music
- Applied music lessons or electives in non-music-theory classes