Programs of Study Spring 2005 illinois home
 

Music

(Including Music Education and Musicology)

Director of the School: Karl P. Kramer
School of Music
2136 Music Building
1114 West Nevada Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3189
E-mail: t-ward2@uiuc.edu

Graduate Degree Programs

The School of Music offers graduate study leading to the Master of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts, Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology, Master of Music in Music Education, Doctor of Education in Music Education, and the Certificate of Advanced Study in Music Education. Complete details of these programs may be found in the school’s brochure on graduate study in music.

Admission

Requirements for admission to the master’s programs are a bachelor of music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or an equivalent degree from another accredited institution. Students holding other degrees may be admitted but will be expected to make up any deficiencies in addition to the requirements for the degree. Applicants for the Master of Music Education must hold a bachelor’s degree in music education with an grade point average of at least 3.0. Those majoring in musicology are generally expected to have a minimum grade point average of 3.25 (A = 4.0). Applicants in performance and literature must pass a qualifying audition before their major division or submit satisfactory recordings. Applicants in musicology, theory, and composition must present writings or other evidence of their ability to pursue work at the graduate level. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required but is strongly recommended for applicants in musicology.

A candidate for admission to the Certificate of Advanced Study in Music Education program must hold a master’s degree in music or music education and must have satisfactorily completed two years of professional employment in music education. During the student’s first registration period, placement examinations are administered in music history, music theory, and applied music.

Prerequisites for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology programs are (1) the Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or an equivalent degree from another accredited institution; and (2) a minimum of 32 semester hours in the liberal arts and sciences, usually including general history, philosophy, and literature. Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts programs must also have (1) a high level of proficiency in composition or performance—candidates in composition must submit original scores for review and candidates in performance and literature must pass a qualifying audition or submit satisfactory recordings; and (2) appropriate experience in ensemble performance and/or score reading. Candidates in voice must have fulfilled all foreign language requirements considered prerequisites for the Master of Music degree.

An applicant for admission to the Doctor of Education in Music program must hold a master’s degree with a major in music, music education, or a related academic discipline acceptable to the Graduate Committee for Music Education. Admission is determined by examinations in music history, music theory, music education, and applied music; personal interviews; records of previous education and experience; and recommendations from persons who have known the applicant. A report of the applicant’s score on the Miller Analogies Test should accompany the application for admission.

For all programs, international applicants whose native language is not English must present a paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) minimum score of 590 (243 on the computer-based test). Students may begin a program in any semester.

Language Requirements

For the Master of Music program, applicants in voice and vocal accompanying and coaching are required to have had one year each of college-level French, German, and Italian. Applicants in other applied music areas and in theory and composition are required to have had one year of any language at the college level. Applicants in musicology must give evidence of a reading knowledge of French or German. Students who are otherwise admissible may satisfy any language deficiencies concurrently with graduate studies.

All Doctor of Musical Arts candidates will be required to demonstrate proficiency in at least one language other than English. Each division may specify which language is required or may require proficiency in more than one language. Proficiency is required in German and at least one other language, depending on the proposed field of specialization, for candidates in the Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology program. The Language requirement can be satisfied by evidence of two years of undergraduate study, by completion of a two-semester, 500-level reading course with a grade of at least B, or by satisfactory test scores.

Graduate Teaching Experience

Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an important part of the graduate experience in the Doctor of Musical Arts program.

Research and Professional Curricula

Master of Music

The fields of specialization for the Master of Music degree are musicology, music theory, composition, performance and literature (piano, organ, harpsichord, voice, orchestral instruments), choral music, instrumental conducting, vocal accompanying and coaching, and piano pedagogy.

Candidates for the Master of Music degree in theory, composition, and in performance and literature must earn at least 32 graduate hours, including 8 graduate hours at the 500 level in their major field and one unit in Problems and Methods. Candidates in performance and literature must earn 8 graduate hours in the music literature course in their major applied area. Candidates in musicology must earn 8 graduate hours in Introduction to Musicology and 8 graduate hours in the Seminar in Musicology. Electives in music theory, history and literature, and other music and nonmusic courses will be chosen in consultation with the candidate’s graduate adviser. Each candidate for the Master of Music must participate in an ensemble during two of the terms of study. A graduate recital is required of all candidates in performance and literature. Candidates in musicology and theory must write a thesis, for which two units of credit are given. Candidates in composition must present a portfolio of their works for approval by the composition faculty.

Doctor of Musical Arts

The fields of specialization for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree are composition, piano, organ, harpsichord, choral music, voice, vocal accompanying and coaching, and orchestral instruments.

Candidates must earn a minimum of 64 graduate hours beyond the requirements for the master’s degree. The program is worked out in consultation with the student’s graduate adviser in terms of special needs, interests, and abilities; it will ordinarily include a minimum of 12 graduate hours in the major field of specialization, 8 graduate hours in advanced music literature courses, and 8 graduate hours in a minor field. Candidates take a preliminary examination once they complete all coursework and prior to presenting any required recitals.

In the fields of composition and of performance and literature, 24 graduate hours are devoted to a special doctoral project. Composers must produce a large-scale original score. Performers must demonstrate comprehensive repertory study in the form of two solo recitals or one solo recital and two of the following options: performing a concerto, a major operatic or oratorio role, or a chamber music program; giving a lecture-recital; or preparing and, when appropriate, conducting a concert by an instrumental or vocal ensemble. Those majoring in one of the string instruments must also present a recital of chamber music. Students in vocal accompanying and coaching must give four recitals, one of which must be chamber music. In addition, both fields have a research requirement that serves in lieu of a thesis. In the field of choral music, 4 graduate hours are given for the preparation and presentation of a one-hour program representative of a comprehensive repertory, and 16 graduate hours are devoted to the writing of a thesis.

Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology

The Ph.D. in Musicology is intended for those whose interests lie in research in the history of music, systematic musicology, or ethno-musicology.

A minimum of 64 graduate hours must be earned beyond the requirements for the master’s degree, including at least 8 graduate hours in the seminar in musicology. Although no formal outside minor is required, students are expected to take courses in fields outside music that are appropriate to the proposed area of thesis research. A preliminary examination is taken after all coursework is completed. Usually, 32 of the total of 64 graduate hours are devoted to the writing of an original doctoral thesis.

Music Education Curricula

Master of Education

Candidates for this degree must earn a minimum of 16 graduate hours in music courses, 8 graduate hours in education courses, and 8 graduate hours of electives. Four of the 8 graduate hours in music courses must be in music education. All students pursuing this degree must complete placement examinations in music history and theory and in their major performing medium during the registration period of their first term in residence. Each candidate for the Master of Music Education must participate in an ensemble during two of the terms of study. A thesis is not required. A full-time student can complete this program in one academic year or four summer sessions. The residence requirement may be fulfilled by one semester and one summer or by three summers of full-time study.

Certificate of Advanced Study in Music Education

This program, designed to provide advanced professional preparation for music educators, requires a minimum of one year of graduate study beyond the master’s degree. A minimum of 32 graduate hours beyond the master’s degree is required, including 4 graduate hours in music education courses and 4 graduate hours in educational psychology.

Doctor of Education in Music Education

This program, offered jointly by the School of Music and the College of Education, is designed to develop leaders in music education with a high level of musical, intellectual, and professional competence. At least 64 graduate hours of work beyond the master’s degree are required, including 24 graduate hours in music courses and 24 graduate hours in education courses. No more than 8 graduate hours of credit in applied music may be counted toward the degree. A thesis is required; it may be in the area of improving professional practice and may be a field study. The residence requirement may be fulfilled either by full-time study in two consecutive semesters or by full-time study in one semester, a contiguous summer session, and one additional summer session.

Financial Aid

Fellowships and teaching and research assistantships are awarded on a one-year basis with continuation dependent upon success in the program. Specific information on application procedures is available from the School of Music Graduate Office .