James Forger, DEAN
The College of Music offers undergraduate programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts, and graduate programs leading to the degrees of Master of Music, Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Musical Arts.
All degree programs in the College of Music are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
The College faculty and student body represent diverse backgrounds and cultures and work together to challenge past assumptions and set future directions in the arts. An open and responsive learning environment continues to attract faculty, staff, and students from rich and varied cultural traditions into our educational community.In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to the university, acceptance into an undergraduate program in the College of Music requires satisfactory performance on a major instrument or in voice as determined by audition.
Candidates who wish to major in composition must submit a portfolio for review and approval by the area faculty.All students in Bachelor of Music degree programs in the College of Music must successfully pass an Upper Division Performance Examination as a prerequisite for enrollment into applied music at the 300-level. The examination is administered by the faculty of the area of study at the conclusion of the fourth semester of applied music at the 100-level.
Transfer credit in music theory and music performance is validated by examination. Transfer credit in other music courses must have the approval of the College of Music.
General Requirements for All of the Bachelor's Degree Programs in the College of Music
The College of Music encourages honors students to develop distinctive undergraduate programs. The Director of Student Affairs serves as advisor to Honors College students, and it is the advisor’s responsibility to help the student plan a rigorous and balanced program which will also reflect the student’s special interests and competencies.
The college offers honors opportunities, chiefly through Honors Options in courses, private lessons, and seminars at both introductory and advanced levels. These agreements, through prior arrangement, permit the student to earn Honors credit for specialized study beyond the usual requirements of the course.
Any combining of jazz and classical private lessons will be determined on an individual basis by the respective applied areas. This policy will serve to assure that sufficient attention is given to the acquisition of the necessary repertoire and skills, especially in the primary area. If a student wishes to change from classical to jazz or vice versa, an audition will be required prior to the final decision.
The Bachelor of Music degree program in composition is designed for students who are interested in obtaining a strong foundation in music composition and for students who are preparing for advanced study in music composition, music theory, or musicology.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition
The Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies is a professional degree program. It includes the common core courses of all other Bachelor of Music degree programs and the shared objectives of musical literacy, development of aural skills, understanding of a broad repertoire, and attainment of analytical skills. Uniquely, this program seeks to develop a high level of competency in jazz performance, and in compositional, scoring, and arranging skills. It also strives to prepare individuals to understand the literature and historical and cultural context of jazz.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies
The Bachelor of Arts degree program with a major in music is a liberal arts program with a strong emphasis in music. It may fulfill the requirements for entrance into a Master of Music program; it does not provide preparation for teacher certification in music.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music
The Bachelor of Music in Music Education provides for the comprehensive training of music teachers. It allows students to develop a program of study tailored to their interests and needs as teachers. Students are encouraged to develop their musicianship through ensembles, private lessons, conducting classes, the creative musicianship component, and a wide variety of instrumental and voice classes. Students develop their skills as educators in courses that begin in the freshman year and culminate in a student teaching/professional development semester. Graduates of this program will be able to plan, implement, and assess music instruction in a variety of instructional settings and for a variety of student populations.
The B.M. in Music Education degree leads to music teacher certification by the State of Michigan in grades K-12. To be recommended for certification, persons must complete all course requirements and any additional standards or tests set forth by the Department of Teacher Education or the Michigan Department of Education.
A jazz studies minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in the bachelor's degree program in music education.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education
The Bachelor of Music degree in music performance requires concentrated study in one of the following five performance areas: piano, stringed instruments, wind instruments, percussion instruments, or voice. Students who select stringed instruments or wind instruments as their performance area choose one instrument as their major instrument.
Students who do not meet the minimal standards of musicianship of the College of Music may need to be enrolled in the bachelor's degree program in music performance more than the usual four years in order to qualify for a degree.
A Specialization in Piano Pedagogy is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in the bachelor's degree program in music performance with piano as the performance area.
A jazz studies minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in the bachelor's degree program in music performance.
Requirements for the Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Performance
This minor is designed to prepare students for challenges encountered in the processes of teaching jazz musicianship. Through analysis of their own learning and study of several role models and mentors students employ techniques that impart and sustain basic principles that are necessary for the development of jazz study. This minor will concentrate on the refinement of skills used in private instruction, rehearsal techniques for small jazz ensembles, and the development of structured techniques for use in classroom instruction. Students will apply their skills using colleagues and combos from the Michigan State University jazz program as subjects.
A jazz studies minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Music degree program in Music Education and the Bachelor of Music degree program in Music Performance. With the approval of the department and college that administers the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Requirements for the Minor in Jazz Studies
A Minor in Piano Pedagogy is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in the Bachelor of Music degree program with a major in music performance and with piano as their performance area. This minor is designed to train students in the fundamentals of piano teaching and performance. An audition is required for admission. Private lessons are based on the availability of teaching capacity. Requirements for the Minor in Piano Pedagogy
The Minor in Music, which is administered by the College of Music, will provide students’ an understanding of the fundamental concepts of music.
This minor is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in bachelor’s degree programs at Michigan State University other than the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music and the Bachelor of Music Degree in Composition, the Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies, the Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education, the Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Performance, and the Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Therapy. With the approval of the department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the minor may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the bachelor’s degree.
Admission
The minor in music requires an audition. Admission is competitive. Students who plan to complete the requirements of the minor should consult the undergraduate advisor in the College of Music.
Requirements for the Minor in Music
For teacher certification, the disciplinary major in music education is available. Students who elect this disciplinary major must contact the College of Music.
Admission as a Junior
To be eligible for consideration for admission as a junior to the teacher certification program with a disciplinary major in music education, the student must:
For information on other requirements for teacher certification, refer to the statement on TEACHER CERTIFICATION in the Department of Teacher Education section of this catalog.
The College of Music offers a variety of programs leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Within the framework approved by the faculty of the University and the College of Music, graduate programs are designed to respond to current professional and social needs and to students’ expectations and goals. The programs combine selected aspects of the following learning opportunities: requisite course work; outreach and teaching experiences; and production, performance, or research projects.
The College faculty and student body represent diverse backgrounds and cultures and work together to challenge past assumptions and set future directions in the arts. An open and responsive learning environment continues to attract faculty, staff, and students from rich and varied cultural traditions into our educational community.
All of the graduate degree programs offered by the College of Music have been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Each applicant must submit a College of Music application for graduate study, including a letter providing the applicant’s academic background and reasons for pursuing advanced study. International applicants must fulfill the university’s English language proficiency requirement as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog or as specified by the specific degree program. Individual master’s and doctoral degree programs may specify additional requirements for consideration for admission such as a sample of an applicant’s composition, a portfolio, or an audition, and/or an interview.
Master of Music degree programs are offered in the following areas: Collaborative Piano, Jazz Studies, Music Performance, Music Composition, Music Conducting, Music Education, Music Performance, Music Theory, and Piano Pedagogy. The Master of Arts degree program is offered in the area of Musicology.
To be admitted to a master's degree program in the college on regular status, an applicant must have:
Master's Orientation Examinations
Oral Final Certifying Examination
All students in master's degree programs in the college are required to pass an oral final certifying examination. Oral final certifying examinations are given during fall and spring semesters, and may be given during a summer session with the approval of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and every member of the student's examining committee.
Academic Standards
A master’s student in the College of Music must:
If at the end of a semester a graduate student fails to meet one or both of the requirements specified above, the student shall receive a deficiency warning. If the deficiency is not removed within one year, the graduate student will not be allowed to continue in the degree program.
A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses that are to be counted toward the degree. All deficiencies with regard to orientation examinations or entrance requirements, whether stated in terms of credits, courses, or performance standards, must be removed before the oral final certifying examination that is required for the master's degree is scheduled. If the student fails the oral final certifying examination, the student shall be allowed to retake the examination only once, during the next Fall or Spring semester.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits must have been completed within the time limit for the degree. As many as 9 semester credits of graduate course work (excluding research and thesis credits) may be transferred into a master’s degree program from other postsecondary accredited institutions of comparable academic quality, if they are appropriate to a student’s program and provided they were completed within the time limits approved for the earning of the degree desired at Michigan State University. The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies must grant approval. Only courses in which at least a 3.0 grade or its equivalent was received will be considered for transfer.
With the approval of the student’s academic advisor and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, these transfer credits may fulfill specific MSU degree requirements; but not all transfer credits will necessarily fulfill specific MSU degree requirements.
Doctor of Musical Arts degree programs are offered in: Collaborative Piano, Music Composition, Music Conducting, and Music Performance. The Doctor of Philosophy degree program is offered in Music Education.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University as described under Admission in the Graduate Education section of this catalog, students must meet the requirements specified below.
To be admitted to a doctoral degree program in the College of Music on regular status, an applicant must have:
Admission on provisional status may be offered if the applicant’s record is incomplete or contains minor deficiencies in preparation.
Doctoral Orientation Examinations
The student plans a program of study in consultation with a guidance committee, subject to the rules of college and the university. For the composition of the committees, see the information below regarding specific degree programs.
Comprehensive Examinations
All students who are enrolled in doctoral degree programs within the College of Music are required to pass comprehensive examinations. For details about those examinations, see the statements on those programs in the sections that follow. The comprehensive examinations are given during fall and spring semesters and the summer session.Final Oral Examination
The dissertation, composition, or scholarly paper on which the final oral examination is based must be submitted to the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and all of the members of the student's guidance committee no later than four weeks before the final oral examination. In cases where the final oral examination involves a lecture-recital and document, the student must pass the defense of the lecture-recital and the document before the lecture-recital can be performed. In cases where the final oral examination involves two lecture-recitals, the student must pass the defense of the lecture-recital before that lecture-recital can be performed. Final oral examinations and performances of lecture–recitals are given during fall and spring semesters, and may be given during a summer session with the approval of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and every member of the student's committee.
A doctoral student in the College of Music must:
A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses that are to be counted toward the degree.
Graduate credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions or international institutions of similar quality if they are appropriate to a student’s program and provided they were completed within the time limits approved for the earning of the degree desired at Michigan State University. The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies must grant approval. Only graduate–level courses in which at least a 3.0 (B) grade was received will be considered for transfer.
With the approval of the Guidance Committee and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, these transfer credits may fulfill specific Michigan State University degree requirements; but not all transfer credits will necessarily fulfill specific Michigan State University degree requirements.
College of Music Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree
Should the student's guidance committee fail to accept the dissertation or the student's performance on the final oral examination, the student shall be allowed to rewrite the dissertation or to retake the examination only once. The dissertation must be rewritten or the examination must be retaken within one year, during a fall or spring semester.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Music, students must meet the requirements specified below.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano, an applicant must present a live performance audition before and be interviewed by a committee of faculty in the piano area, including the director of the collaborative piano program. For an applicant who has a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Michigan State University, the live performance audition may be waived at the discretion of the faculty in the piano area. With the approval of the faculty in the piano area, an applicant may be considered for admission to the program on the basis of a high-quality audio recording of a recent performance including a solo piano work, one vocal-piano work, and one instrumental-piano work. An applicant who submits an audio recording may be admitted only on provisional status pending the presentation of a live performance audition and an interview with the faculty in the piano area. The live performance and the interview must be completed before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program and must meet the requirements of the piano area.
To be admitted to the Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano on regular status, an applicant must have:
Requirements for the Master of Music in Collaborative Piano
The program is available only under Plan B (without thesis). A total of 30 credits is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below:
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Music, students must meet the requirements specified below.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies, an applicant must present a live performance audition before a committee of faculty in the jazz studies area, including the director of the jazz studies program and take the Jazz Musicianship Proficiency Examination. For an applicant who has a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University, the live performance audition may be waived at the discretion of the faculty in the jazz studies area. With the approval of the faculty in the jazz studies area, an applicant may be considered for admission to the program on the basis of a high-quality audio recording of a recent jazz performance. An applicant who submits an audio recording may be admitted only on provisional status pending the presentation of a live performance audition before the faculty in the jazz studies area and taking the Jazz Musicianship Proficiency Examination. The live performance and the proficiency examination must be completed before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program and must meet the requirements of the jazz studies area.
To be admitted to the Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies on regular status, an applicant must have:
Requirements for the Master of Music in Jazz Studies
The program is available only under Plan B (without thesis). A total of 35 credits is required for the degree. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below:
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Music students must meet the requirements specified below.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Music degree program in music composition, an applicant must submit to the College of Music at least two original compositions representative of the applicant's creative work. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to include in the application portfolio, audio CD or video recordings of performances of all musical scores they submit. "Live" recordings are preferred but MIDI realizations are acceptable.
To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree in music composition from a recognized educational institution, or have completed the courses in music composition that are required for the Bachelor of Music degree in composition at Michigan State University or their equivalents.
Requirements for the Master of Music Degree in Music Composition
The program is available only under Plan A, for which an original composition is required in lieu of a thesis. A total of 32 credits is required for the degree. The student's program of study must be approved by the student's academic advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below:
In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Music students must meet the requirements specified below.AdmissionTo be considered for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in music composition, an applicant must submit to the College of Music two original compositions representative of the applicant’s creative work. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to include in the application portfolio audio CD or video recordings of performances of all musical scores they submit. “Live” recordings are preferred, but Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) realizations are acceptable.
To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have a master's degree in music composition from a recognized educational institution or a total of 30 credits of approved course work.
Guidance Committee
The student’s guidance committee, which must be formed during the first year of graduate study, must consist of a faculty member in the area of music composition, who serves as chairperson, a second faculty member in the area of music composition, one faculty member in the area of music theory, and one faculty member in the area of music history.Requirements for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Music Composition
Each student in the program has a major professor who provides instruction in music composition, oversees the preparation of the original composition, and oversees the final oral examination based upon that composition.
The student must:
To be admitted to the Master of Music degree program in music conducting on regular status, an applicant must have:
When applying for admission to the Master of Music degree program in music conducting, an applicant must specify one of the following three major areas: wind conducting, choral conducting, or orchestral conducting.
With the approval of the faculty in an applicant's major area, an applicant may be considered for admission to the program on the basis of a high–quality recording of a recent performance, rather than on the basis of a live performance audition. An applicant must submit a video recording showing a front view of the applicant conducting for a minimum of 10 minutes. An applicant who submits a recording may be admitted only on provisional status pending the presentation of a live conducting audition before a faculty committee in the applicant's major area. The audition must be presented before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program. The audition must be in the major area of conducting that the applicant specifies.
To schedule an audition, an applicant should contact the College of Music Admissions Office. An applicant who selects the orchestral conducting area must obtain a list of required repertoire from the Director of Orchestras in the College of Music.
Requirements for the Master of Music Degree in Music Conducting
The student must meet the requirements for one of the following three major areas of conducting: wind conducting, choral conducting, or orchestral conducting.
A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for Music 897.
To be admitted to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in music conducting on regular status, an applicant must have:
When applying for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program with a major in music conducting, an applicant must specify one of the following three major areas: wind conducting, choral conducting, or orchestral conducting.
With the approval of the faculty in an applicant's major area, an applicant may be considered for admission to the program on the basis of a high–quality video recording of a recent performance, rather than on the basis of a live performance audition. An applicant must submit a video recording showing a front view of the applicant conducting a minimum of 10 minutes. An applicant who submits a recording may be admitted only on provisional status pending the presentation of a live performance audition before a faculty committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Music. The audition must be presented before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program. As part of the audition, an applicant must present a 10–minute lecture on a topic related to conducting. The applicant may be asked to conduct a live performance group or to illustrate appropriate conducting techniques in relation to printed scores. The applicant may submit video and audio tape recordings of performances that they have conducted.
For additional information about the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in conducting, contact the Director of Bands, the Director of Choral Activities, or the Director of Orchestras in the College of Music.
The student’s guidance committee, which must be formed in the first year of graduate study, must consist of the student’s major professor, who serves as the chairperson, a second faculty member from the student's conducting area, one faculty member in the area of music theory, and one faculty member in the area of musicology. In instances where additional expertise would be beneficial it is recommended that the guidance committee include an additional faculty member from within or outside the College of Music.
Requirements for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Music Conducting
Each student in the program has a major professor who provides instruction in the student's major area, oversees the musical content of the student's program guides the preparation of required conducting appearances, oversees the preparation of the scholarly paper or abstract, and oversees the final oral examination. Normally, the student studies with the major professor for four semesters.
Doctoral study presumes continuing excellence in course work. A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses that are to be counted toward the degree.
The student's performance on the final oral examination and the scholarly paper on which the examination is based must be approved by the members of the student's guidance committee with not more than one dissenting vote. Should the committee fail to accept the final oral examination, or the paper, the student shall be allowed to repeat the final oral examination, or to rewrite the paper, only once. The examination must be retaken, or the paper must be rewritten, within one year, during a fall or spring semester.
In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Music students must meet the requirements specified below.
To be admitted to the Master of Music degree program in Music Education on regular status, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree in music education from a recognized educational institution, or have completed the courses in music education that are required for the Bachelor of Music degree in music education at Michigan State University or their equivalents.
Requirements for the Master of Music Degree in Music Education
The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis). A total of 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan A or Plan B. The student's program of study must be approved by the student's academic advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below:
Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B
Additional Requirements for Plan A
Additional Requirements for Plan B
To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy degree program in music education, an applicant must:
The student must meet the requirements for one of the following five major areas of instrumental music: piano, brass instruments, stringed instruments, woodwind instruments, or percussion instruments:
To be admitted to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in music performance on regular status, an applicant must have:
When applying for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program with a major in music performance, an applicant must specify one of the following two broad performance areas that they wish to pursue: instrumental music or vocal music.
An applicant who selects the instrumental music area must also specify the major instrument or group of instruments (e.g., piano, harp, flute, or percussion instruments) from the categories listed below:
Brass and Percussion: trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussionKeyboard: pianoStringed Instruments: harp, violin, viola, cello, double bassWoodwinds: flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon
To be considered for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in music performance, an applicant must present a live performance audition before a faculty committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Music.
Applicants selecting the instrumental music area must present a live 40-minute audition, including the performance of three major works and approximately 10 minutes of discussion on one or more of the works, that is acceptable to the committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Music. Applicants selecting the vocal music area must present a live 40-minute audition, performing 30 minutes of music and 10 minutes of discussion on one or more of the works, that is acceptable to the committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Music. Required languages: English, French, German, and Italian. Required repertoire: art songs, one opera aria, one baroque or classical aria, one 20th-21st century work. In the case of both the instrumental and vocal music areas, applicants must also be prepared to respond to questions from the audition panel on the entire program.
With the approval of the faculty in an applicant's major area, an applicant may be considered for admission to the program on the basis of a high–quality recording of a recent performance, rather than on the basis of a live performance audition. An applicant who selects the instrumental music or vocal music area must submit either an audio or a video recording. An applicant who submits a recording may be admitted only on provisional status pending the presentation of a live performance audition before a faculty committee appointed by the Dean of the College of Music. The audition must be presented before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program.
The student’s guidance committee, which must be formed during the first year of graduate study, must consist of the student’s major professor, who serves as its chairperson, a second faculty member from the student’s area, one faculty member from the area of musicology, and one faculty member from the area of music theory. In instances where additional expertise would be beneficial it is recommended that the guidance committee include a faculty member from within or outside the College of Music.Requirements for the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Music Performance
The student must meet the requirements specified below:
Each student in the program has a major professor who provides instruction in the student's major instrument or in voice, oversees the musical content of the student's program, guides the preparation of required recitals, oversees the preparation of the scholarly paper, lecture-recital(s) and the final oral examination. Normally, the student studies with the major professor for six semesters.
In the case of (1) and (3) above, the student must have completed successfully all of the required course work (with the exception of Music 996 Doctoral Recital Performance), the comprehensive examination, the required public recitals, and the scholarly paper before the final oral examination may occur. In the case of (2) above, the student must have completed successfully all of the required course work (with the exception of Music 996), the comprehensive examination, and the required public recitals before either of the oral examinations may occur.
With regard to 4. (c) (1) above, the student’s performance on the lecture-recital and the related scholarly paper and the final oral examination based on the lecture-recital and the paper must be approved by the members of the student’s guidance committee with not more than one dissenting vote. Should the committee fail to accept the student’s performance on the lecture-recital and the related paper or the final oral examination, the student shall be allowed to repeat the performance of the lecture-recital or to revise the related paper or to repeat the final oral examination. The lecture-recital must be repeated or the paper revised or the oral examination repeated within one year, during a fall or spring semester.
With regard to 4. (c) (2) above, the student’s performance on each of the two lecture-recitals and the final oral examination based on each lecture-recital must be approved by the members of the student’s guidance committee with not more than one dissenting vote. Should the committee fail to accept the student’s performance on either lecture-recital or the final oral examination, the student shall be allowed to repeat the performance of the lecture-recital or to repeat the final oral examination. The lecture-recital must be repeated or the oral examination repeated within one year, during a fall or spring semester.
With regard to 4. (c) (3) above, the student’s performance on the scholarly paper and the final oral examination based on the paper must be approved by the members of the student’s guidance committee with not more than one dissenting vote. Should the committee fail to accept the student’s performance on the paper or the final oral examination, the student shall be allowed to revise the related paper or to repeat the final oral examination. The paper must be revised or the oral examination repeated within one year, during a fall or spring semester.
To be considered for admission to the Master of Music degree program in music theory, an applicant must submit to the College of Music:
To be admitted to the program on regular status, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree in music theory from a recognized educational institution, or have completed the courses in music theory that are required for the Bachelor of Music degree in music theory at Michigan State University or their equivalents.
Requirements for the Master of Music Degree in Music Theory
To be admitted to the Master of Arts degree program in musicology on regular status, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree in musicology, or have completed the courses in musicology that are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Michigan State University or their equivalents.
Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Musicology
The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis). A total of 32 credits is required for the degree under either Plan A or Plan B. The student's program of study must be approved by the student's academic advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below:
To be considered for admission to the Master of Music degree program in piano pedagogy, an applicant must present a live performance audition before and be interviewed by a committee of faculty of the piano area. For an applicant who has a Bachelor of Music degree in music performance from Michigan State University, the live performance audition and the interview may be waived at the discretion of the faculty in the piano area. With the approval of the faculty in the piano area, an applicant may be considered for admission to the program on the basis of (a) a high-quality audio or video recording of a recent performance, (b) a video recording of him or her teaching a piano lesson to a young child, and (c) a written statement of his or her teaching philosophy. An applicant who submits recordings and a written statement may be admitted only on provisional status pending the presentation of a live performance audition before and an interview with the faculty in the piano area. The live performance and the interview must be completed before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program and must meet the requirements of the piano area.
To be admitted to the Master of Music degree program in Piano Pedagogy on regular status, an applicant must have a bachelor’s degree in piano pedagogy, a bachelor’s degree in piano performance or a bachelor’s degree in music education with a major in piano from a recognized educational institution.
In addition, an international applicant is required to have fulfilled the University’s English language proficiency requirement for regular admission as described in the Graduate Education section of this catalog. Provisional admission as a result of English language scores is not possible for this degree program.
Requirements for the Master of Music Degree in Piano Pedagogy
The program is available under Plan B (without thesis). A total of at least 30 credits is required for the degree under Plan B. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s academic advisor. The student must meet the requirements specified below.