Common core, 15 hours

• MUGC 5930 - Research Problem in Lieu of Thesis

• (ethnomusicology concentration only) (6 hours)

• OR

• MUGC 5950 - Master’s Thesis (musicology and composition concentrations only) (6 hours)

•  

• MUMH 5010 - Introduction to Research in Music

Additional requirements

Additional requirements for each concentration are outlined below. The Office of Graduate Studies in Music provides complete information concerning procedures, administrative details and GRE requirements for individual programs. Before the degree is granted, the candidate must pass a final comprehensive exam—either oral, written or both—covering the field of concentration and, if applicable, the thesis or research problem. The examination may be taken no more than three times.

Participation in performance laboratories and ensembles

Some degree programs require participation in a performance laboratory and/or ensemble. Music laboratories are choir, orchestra, band, jazz lab band, and accompanying.  Ensembles available for graduate student participation are: opera theater, early music ensembles, NOVA ensemble, intermedia performance arts, brass ensembles, chamber wind ensembles, jazz ensembles, chamber orchestra, percussion ensembles, string ensembles, vocal ensembles, harp ensemble, and Mariachi Aguilas.

Lecture attendance requirement

Each graduate student with a declared concentration in musicology or music theory is expected to attend all lectures presented in the Division of Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology Lecture Series during each long term/semester of full-time enrollment (9 hours). Each graduate student with a declared concentration in composition is expected to attend all Music Now events during each long term/semester of full-time enrollment.

Application procedure

Applicants to the Master of Arts degree with a major in music and a concentration in composition must submit a completed College of Music application form and a portfolio to the College of Music Admissions Office by the first Monday in December to be considered for acceptance in the following academic year. The portfolio must include scores, recordings, a resume or vita, transcripts, letters of recommendation, writing sample and a personal statement; details are included in the Composition Student Handbook on the composition division web site (composition.music.unt.edu/composition-handbook).

General application information

1. Please note that application to the Toulouse Graduate School is separate from application to the College of Music and that admission to the Graduate School does not imply acceptance to the composition program.
2. International applicants in composition must be provisionally accepted to the program prior to beginning study at the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI).

Additional application information may be found in the Composition Student Handbook on the division web site (composition.music.unt.edu/composition-handbook).

Degree requirements

The Master of Arts with a major in music and a concentration in composition is a 33-hour degree with thesis and includes the common core (15 hours, listed above), plus three possible options for the remaining 18 required hours. Course substitutions may be considered with advisor’s consent.

• MUCP 5080 - Composition Seminar
• MUCP 5190 - Master’s Composition
• Guided electives in music, related field or minor field outside of music (9 hours).
• Interdisciplinary track requires a minor field outside of music.

Additional requirements

1. Each graduate student with a declared concentration in composition is expected to attend division events, including concerts, reading sessions, seminars and Music Now presentations during every term/semester of full-time enrollment.
2. Composition students are expected to present at least one public performance or reading of original compositions each semester; these may include Spectrum programs, reading sessions, student recitals or any off-campus venues.
3. All graduate composition majors not enrolled in thesis or dissertation will be reviewed by the composition faculty each spring semester.
4. Graduate composition students are to maintain a portfolio that includes completed works, recordings and a record of works and performances. This portfolio is submitted to the composition faculty for evaluation at the annual graduate review each spring term/semester.
5. Students may enroll in no more than one composition lesson each term/semester.
6. A grade of B or better is required in all courses used to satisfy the MA degree, including leveling and review courses. Students not meeting this division standard will be placed on probation for one term/semester. Students not fulfilling the conditions of probation will be dismissed from the program by majority vote of the composition faculty. Additional reviews may be called for at any time during the course of study in order to monitor the student’s progress.
7. Graduate degree candidates in composition are not to take more than a total of 3 credit hours of thesis or dissertation per term/semester. Any request for an exception to the policy must be made in writing and approved by the composition faculty.

Composition students are expected to enroll in thesis (MUGC 5950 ) for at least two semesters. During those semesters of enrollment, students are to meet with their major professor on a regular basis (typically one hour per week, similar to graduate composition lessons). Other arrangements may be made for nonresident students as long as (1) both the student and major professor agree on the terms, and (2) sufficient progress on the final document can be demonstrated to the graduate advisory committee each semester.

Additional information, including a complete listing of all composition program policies and procedures, is included in the Composition Student Handbook (http://composition.music.unt.edu/composition-handbook).

Acceptance and permission to enroll

To obtain permission to enroll in course work, the student must:

1. apply for admission to UNT through the Toulouse Graduate School (an evaluation of the student’s transcripts will determine the assignment of leveling courses);
2. attend all orientation sessions scheduled by the Director of Graduate Studies in Music;
3. take the Graduate Placement Examination (GPE) given by the College of Music; and
4. complete the appropriate leveling and review courses the first term/semester they are offered.

Application for acceptance into the program is made by a letter submitted to the coordinator of the musicology area. The following supplementary materials should accompany this letter:

1. an academic resume;
2. three letters of recommendation by persons who know the applicant personally, professionally or academically;
3. one or more samples of the student’s writing on musical topics; and
4. a completed College of Music application, which includes a statement of personal interest indicating reasons for interest in pursuing graduate study in the chosen field. Please note that the music history area considers this statement and the writing samples to be critical; applicants should put a great deal of thought into writing the statement and choosing the writing samples.

Advising and degree plan

The Musicology Coordinator will assign a mentor to each student admitted to the Master of Arts with a major in music and a concentration in musicology. The mentor will assist the student in choosing courses and, after the student has finished 12 hours of course work that count toward the degree, in completing the degree plan. The degree plan, listing all courses to be required for the degree, must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies in Music. Forms for this purpose are available in the College of Music Graduate Studies Office, Music Building, Room 216A. All changes in the degree plan must be submitted in writing and filed with the Graduate Studies Office.

Degree requirements are determined by the Graduate Catalog in effect at the time the degree plan is approved by the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. Degree plans may not be filed in the term/semester a student plans to graduate.

The Master of Arts with a major in music and a concentration in musicology is a 35-hour degree with thesis, including the common core (15 hours, listed above), plus the following requirements for the remaining 20 hours:

Concentration in Musicology, 15 hours*

• MUMH 5020 - Introduction to Musicology

*Master’s thesis

Graduate students with a concentration in musicology, (with or without an emphasis in early music performance) must write a thesis proposal and thesis according to the guidelines in the Graduate Student Handbook available at mhte.music.unt.edu.

Before the degree is granted, the student must pass a final oral examination covering the field of concentration and, if applicable, the thesis or research problem. The examination may be taken no more than three times.

Concentration in Ethnomusicology, 22 hours

• ANTH 5010 - Anthropological Thought and Praxis I (3 hours)
• MUET 5210 - Seminar in Ethnomusicology (6 hours)
• MUET 5220 - Ethnomusicology Field and Research Methods (3 hours)

Master’s thesis

Graduate students with a concentration in ethnomusicology must either write a thesis proposal and thesis or write two research essays. In either case, they must adhere to the guidelines in the Graduate Student Handbook available at mhte.music.unt.edu.

Before the degree is granted, the student must pass a final oral examination covering the field of concentration and, if applicable, the thesis or two essays. The examination may be taken no more than three times.

Concentration in Music Theory, 21 hours

• MUET 5230 - World Music Analysis
• MUTH 5020 - Readings and Professional Writing in Music Theory
• MUTH 5080 - Pedagogy of Theory
• MUTH 5375 - Analytical Techniques for Popular Music
• MUTH 5380 - Schenkerian Analysis

Additional requirements

1. For the concentration in music theory, the student must pass an examination testing reading knowledge of one foreign language prior to applying for graduation. The choice of language, other than German or French, is to be approved by the music theory area.
2. Students must receive a grade of B or better for all courses counting toward the degree, including leveling and review courses. Students not meeting this division standard will be placed on probation for one term/semester. Students not fulfilling the conditions of probation will be dismissed from the program by majority vote of the faculty.

Advising and degree plan

Students seeking the concentration in music theory should consult the faculty mentor to prepare a tentative program to meet the degree requirements. By the completion of 12 semester hours, the student must file a degree plan in consultation with the faculty mentor. The degree plan, listing all courses to be required for the degree, must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies in Music. Forms for this purpose are available from the College of Music Graduate Studies Office, graduate.music.unt.edu. All changes in the degree plan must be submitted in writing, approved by the faculty mentor and filed with the Graduate Studies Office.

Degree requirements are determined by the Graduate Catalog in effect at the time the degree plan is approved by the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. Degree plans may not be filed in the term/semester a student plans to graduate.

Master’s portfolio

During the last semester of study, students seeking the concentration in music theory must submit a portfolio to a committee consisting of three faculty from the music theory area. The portfolio will comprise two papers written for MUTH courses required of the MA degree. The student must pass an oral examination, administered by the committee, that covers the field of concentration and the two papers in particular. The examination may be taken no more than three times.