Music
(Including Music Education and Musicology)Director of the School: Karl P. Kramer
School of Music
3004 Music Building
1114 West Nevada Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1712
Graduate Coordinator: Michael Cameron
E-mail: mjcamero@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, and Doctor of Education 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 a 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 for 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.
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 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; 18 semester hours of study in the Liberal Arts and Sciences outside of music; 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 Education program
must hold a master’s degree with a major in music, music education,
or a related academic discipline acceptable to the Graduate Committee.
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.
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 at least 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 at UIUC 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.
The School of Music has proposed to establish jazz majors at the masters and doctoral level. See www.music.uiuc.edu/acadPerfJazzStudies.php for current information.
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 4 hours in Problems and Methods (MUS 528). 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 (MUS 511, MUS 523). 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 cognate or minor field.
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 (MUS 523). Although no formal 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 14 graduate hours in music courses, including 8 hours in comprehensive music education courses and 6 hours of music education, conducting, and/or literature courses, 8 graduate hours in education courses, and 10 additional graduate hours in music courses. 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. For non-thesis students, a master's comprehensive exam, written or oral, will be required for graduation. A full-time student can complete this program in one academic year or four summer sessions. The residence requirement, however, may be fulfilled by one semester and one summer, or by three summers of full-time study.
Doctor of Education in Music Education
This program 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 a minimum of 16 graduate hours in music education, 10 graduate hours in music courses, 16 graduate hours in education courses, and 16 hours in research 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 (minimum of 12 semester hours) in two consecutive semesters (fall-spring), or by full-time study in one semester, a contiguous summer session, and one additional summer session.
Financial Aid
Fellowships, teaching, graduate, 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 Music Admissions Office, (217) 244-7899.