Master of Music Curriculum Outline
Music Composition Major
(revised 2009)
Admission requirements are available on the Policies
and Procedures page.
Degree Requirement:
The degree requires the completion of 30 semester hours, including
a thesis, which consists of a score and recorded performance (if at
all possible) of an original work in a larger form. An oral thesis
defense is required. After the successful defense has been
completed, permanently-bound copies of the score must be placed in
both the university library and the music graduate office before
the degree will be conferred.
A separate final comprehensive oral examination covering the
entire program of study is also required after the successful
thesis defense.
The Graduate Music Diagnostic Exams in music theory and music
history are required for placement purposes. These exams are
administered immediately prior to the start of classes each
semester. Student performance on these exams may indicate a need
for review coursework in these areas in addition to the
distribution requirements listed below.
At least 50% of the curriculum must be courses numbered
at the 500-level or higher.
| Distribution |
| Ensemble |
(1) |
| MT 421 |
Professional Topics in Music Composition (1) |
| MH 520 |
Research in Music (3) |
| Music History Electives |
MH 405 or MH 500-506 (3) |
| MT 619 |
Advanced Composition (3, 3, 3) |
| MT 708 |
Composition Recital (0) |
| MT 709 |
Thesis (3) |
| MT 799 |
Final Oral Examination (0) |
| Music Theory Electives |
(4) Note: MT 550 (Pedagogy of Music Theory) is encouraged, but
not required. If electronic music has not been taken at the
undergraduate level, it is strongly recommended that MT 440
(Electronic Music I) and MT 441 (Electronic Music II) be taken.
Additional hours of MT 619 may NOT be used to satisfy this
requirement |
| General Music Electives |
(6) |
Note: Independent studies may only be used to
fulfill "General Music Elective" credit requirements and must be
approved by the Director of Graduate Music Studies.