Master of Music

Admission Requirements

The applicant must meet the School of Graduate Studies’ current minimum general admission requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

Minimal Admission Requirements for the Master of Music degree set forth by the Music Department include:

  1. A bachelor’s degree with a major in music with competence in the specialty in which graduate study is desired.
  2. At least a 2.75 overall GPA and at least a 3.00 GPA for the last two years of undergraduate work.
  3. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

Additional Admission Requirements for Specific Degrees

(to be sent directly to the Music Department)

Master of Music in All Areas of Performance, Pedagogy or Conducting

  1. Audition on the major performing instrument or voice on campus, via virtual live audition, or by live recording of a recent performance.
    1. Coordinate directly with the applied instructor or area conductor (choral or instrumental).
  2. Repertoire list of works studied and/or conducted or studied and/or performed on the major performing instrument or voice.
  3. Additionally, for Vocal Pedagogy and Vocal Performance: Performance resume; evidence of two semesters satisfactory study of lyric diction and two semesters satisfactory study of a foreign language other than the student’s native language or English.
  4. All students admitted to the program in Vocal Performance will be examined upon their arrival on campus in order to provide appropriate advisement for the beginning of graduate study. These examinations will cover lyric diction and the International Phonetic Alphabet.

Master of Music in Collaborative Piano

  1. Audition on campus, via virtual live audition, or by live recording of a recent performance.
    1. Coordinate directly with the applied piano instructor. If auditioning on campus, you must supply your own partners.
  2. Resume detailing education and collaborative piano experience.
  3. Repertoire list including solo and collaborative piano works (instrumental and vocal).
    1. Use MS Word or PDF format organized first by instrument and/or voice type then by composer in alphabetical order..

Master of Music in Composition

  1. A representative sample of compositions.

Degree Requirements

All Graduate Music degree programs (M.M. & Ph.D.) require the following Core Courses:

MUSC 500Introduction to Graduate Study in Music3
MUSC 502Perspectives in Music Theory3
MUSC 508Perspectives of Music History3
Total Credits9

Degree Requirements - M.M.

Students seeking the Master’s degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Music Department.

Degree requirements for the Master of Music degree in Music Department include:

  1. 32-38 credit hours in one of the available seven specializations:
    1. Music Education
    2. Performance
    3. Vocal Pedagogy
    4. Composition
    5. Choral Conducting
    6. Instrumental Conducting
    7. Collaborative Piano
  2. At least one-half of the credits must be at or above the 500-level.
  3. The specialization in Conducting requires at least a one-year residence.

Music Education Specialization

Independent Study Option

Core Courses listed above9
MUSC 503Psychological Foundations of Music Learning3
MUSC 509Trends in Music Education3
MUSC 598Research in Music Education3
MUSC 997Independent Study (Music Education topic)2
Electives in Music Education6
Electives (from outside Music Education, may be from outside the Department of Music)6-12
Total Credits32-38

Thesis Option

Core Courses listed above9
MUSC 503Psychological Foundations of Music Learning3
MUSC 509Trends in Music Education3
MUSC 598Research in Music Education3
MUSC 998Thesis (Music Education Topic)4
Electives in Music Education6
Electives (from outside Music Education, may be from outside the Department of Music)4-10
Total Credits32-38

Performance Option

Core Courses listed above9
Music Education Courses
MUSC 503Psychological Foundations of Music Learning3
MUSC 509Trends in Music Education3
MUSC 598Research in Music Education3
Electives in Music Education6
Applied Music & Recital (may include conducting)
MUSC 595Individual Lessons (Conducting students 1 credit, all others 4 credits)1-4
MUSC 599Graduate Recital2
Conducting Courses (required for conducting students only)
MUSC 521Instrumental Literature3
or MUSC 524 Choral Literature
MUSC 561Advanced Choral Conducting2
or MUSC 562 Advanced Instrumental Conducting
Electives (from outside Music Education, may be from outside the Department of Music)0-8
Total Credits32-43

Teacher Education Option

Prerequisite Degree: B.A., B.S., or B.M. in Music or Music Therapy

Core Courses listed above9
Music Education Courses
MUSC 503Psychological Foundations of Music Learning3
MUSC 509Trends in Music Education3
MUSC 598Research in Music Education3
Conducting Courses
MUSC 521Instrumental Literature3
or MUSC 524 Choral Literature
MUSC 561Advanced Choral Conducting2
MUSC 562Advanced Instrumental Conducting2
Methods Courses
MUSC 440Methods and Materials for Elementary Music3
MUSC 441Methods and Materials for Middle and Secondary School Music3
Recital
MUSC 599Graduate Recital2
Undergraduate coursework to fulfill licensure requirements
MUSC 140Methods: Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, Percussion, Voice2-5
MUSC 150Class Lessons (voice and/or guitar)1
MUSC 180Introduction to Music Therapy3
MUSC 242Diction I (choral specialization)1
MUSC 340Introduction to Music Technology2
MUSC 423Instrumental and Choral Arranging2
MUSC 427Analysis of Musical Form2
MUSC 444Applied Music Pedagogy (choral)2
MUSC 445Choral Methods3
or MUSC 446 Instrumental Classroom Methods and Materials
T&L 250Introduction to Education3
T&L 252Child Development3
T&L 386Field Experience1
T&L 433Multicultural Education3
T&L 486Field Experience1-4
T&L 487Student Teaching4-16
Total Credits66-84

All students must demonstrate keyboard proficiency equivalent to level 4; keyboard principals must demonstrate an equivalent level of vocal proficiency.

Some 300 and 400 level courses may be permitted to fulfill graduate elective requirements, subject to School of Graduate Studies academic policies.

Performance Specialization

Core Courses listed above9
Performance Courses
MUSC 596Individual Lessons (Voice requires 11, Instrumental and Piano require 10)10-11
MUSC 599Graduate Recital2
Other Courses
MUSC 555Graduate Applied Music Pedagogy (Voice majors require 3, Instrumental and Piano majors require 2)2-3
MUSC 997Independent Study2
Electives3-9
Voice Principal
MUSC 512Diction I1
MUSC 514Diction II1
MUSC 581Singing on Stage2
Piano Principal
MUSC 578Seminar for Collaborative Piano2
MUSC 579Chamber Ensembles (on Primary Instrument)2
Instrumental Principal
MUSC 570Instrumental Ensemble Performance (Instrumental Major)2
MUSC 579Chamber Ensembles (Instrumental Major)2

Vocal Pedagogy Specialization

Core Courses listed above9
Pedagogy Courses
MUSC 555Graduate Applied Music Pedagogy3
MUSC 590Internship in Music (These credits may be taken in any combination in whichever semester(s) time and positions are available)4
Other Courses
MUSC 596Individual Lessons7
MUSC 597Special Projects (Pedagogy topic)2
MUSC 997Independent Study2
Electives5-10
MUSC 512Diction I1
MUSC 514Diction II1
MUSC 581Singing on Stage1
Total Credits35-40

Music Composition Specialization

Core Courses listed above9
Composition Courses
MUSC 537Advanced Studies in Musical Form2
MUSC 538Advanced Orchestration2
MUSC 596Individual Lessons10
MUSC 593Final Project in Composition4
Electives4-11
Total Credits31-38

For those in the composition concentration, the final project in composition replaces an independent study.

Choral Conducting Specialization

Core Courses listed above9
Conducting Courses
MUSC 561Advanced Choral Conducting2
MUSC 562Advanced Instrumental Conducting2
MUSC 595Individual Lessons (Conducting)2
MUSC 599Graduate Recital (Conducting)2
Other Courses
MUSC 524Choral Literature3
MUSC 555Graduate Applied Music Pedagogy3
MUSC 580Choral Ensemble Performance2
MUSC 594Individual Lessons (Voice)2
MUSC 997Independent Study2
Electives3-9
Total Credits32-38

Instrumental Conducting Specialization

Core Courses listed above9
Conducting Courses
MUSC 561Advanced Choral Conducting2
MUSC 562Advanced Instrumental Conducting2
MUSC 595Individual Lessons (Conducting)2
MUSC 599Graduate Recital (Conducting)2
Other Studies
MUSC 521Instrumental Literature3
MUSC 570Instrumental Ensemble Performance2
MUSC 594Individual Lessons (Instrumental)2
MUSC 997Independent Study2
Electives6-12
Total Credits32-38

 Collaborative Piano Specialization

Core Courses listed above9
Collaborative Piano Courses
MUSC 578Seminar for Collaborative Piano (Taken twice)2
MUSC 596Individual Lessons10
MUSC 599Graduate Recital (Taken twice)2
Other Courses
MUSC 512Diction I1
MUSC 579Chamber Ensembles2
MUSC 997Independent Study2
Electives2
MUSC 555Graduate Applied Music Pedagogy2
Total Credits32