Degrees Offered

The School of Music offers the Master of Music degree with majors in music performance, conducting (choral, instrumental, and wind), early music, jazz studies, organ and church music, composition, computer music composition and music theory; the Master of Music Education degree; the Master of Science degree with majors in ballet, music theater scenic techniques, and stage direction for opera. Through the University Graduate School, students may seek the Master of Arts degree with majors in musicology, music theory, or arts administration; or the Master of Arts for Teachers degree. Master of Music students may elect a second major from those available on the Master of Music degree. Combined degrees are available in the Master of Library Science with the Master of Arts in Music Theory or Musicology.

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Structure of Master's Curricula

1. Major Field (18-21 credits)
   
   
2. Music History and Literature Requirement
   6 credit hours selected from M525 Survey of Operatic Literature (3 cr.), M527 Symphonic Literature (3 cr.), M528 Chamber Music Literature (3 cr.), M651 Medieval Music (3 cr.), M652 Renaissance Music (3 cr.), M653 Music of the Baroque Period (3 cr.), M654 Classic Music (3 cr.), M655 Romantic Music (3 cr.), M656 Twentieth-Century Music (3 cr.), M502 Composers: Variable Title (3 cr.), or M510 Topics in Music Literature (3 cr.). Course topics may not be repeated.
   
   
3. Cognate Field
   (secondary concentration) 6 credit hours in one department of the school other than the student's major, with approval of the appropriate department chairperson and the director of graduate studies; or 6 credit hours in one field outside the School of Music, with approval of the graduate advisor in that department and the director of graduate studies in the School of Music; or 6 credit hours within or outside the School of Music, with approval of the director of graduate studies in accordance with departmental guidelines. These courses must fit a specific theme or emphasis; a proposal is required. This option is called an "individualized cognate."

   For degrees in a music performance area, the cognate field may not be in another performance area. For a cognate in a performance area, when allowed, an audition before the applied music faculty is required; the performance level required is the same as for a minor.

   Courses used to satisfy cognate requirements must be taught by regularly appointed faculty members. Courses taught by associate instructors will not count. The student must meet the qualifications of the parallel minor, and only courses that would fulfill the requirements for a minor are acceptable. The cognate field may become a minor if at least 12 credit hours are taken in that field.
   
   

4. Ensemble
   Each semester.
   
   
5. Language Proficiencies and Tool Subjects
   If required.
   
   
6. Comprehensive Review
   Before graduation, all master's degree students must pass an oral or written examination. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the major field department to ascertain the procedures established within that department. This consultation should be accomplished within the first year of residency.

Credit Hour Requirements

The minimum requirement for a master's degree is 30 credit hours, excluding required credit hours in prerequisite or review courses and major ensemble. Individual degrees may require more credit hours. Courses counted for credit toward the master's degree are numbered 500 or above. Upon approval of the director of graduate studies and the department that offers equivalent courses in the School of Music, master's students may transfer course work taken for graduate credit at other institutions. M.M., M.M.E., and M.S. students may transfer up to 6 credit hours; M.A. and M.A.T. students may transfer up to 8 credit hours. No course may be transferred unless the grade is B or higher. Applied lessons, chamber music, ensemble, and similar courses may not be transferred for degree credit nor may transfer courses satisfy entrance proficiencies in music history and literature and music theory.

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Residence Requirement

The minimum requirement for a master's degree is two semesters or four summer sessions in residence. With permission of the director of graduate studies, a student may count toward the residence requirement up to 6 credit hours of graduate work completed at any regional campus of Indiana University.

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Required Grades

Major
Each course in the major field must have a grade of B or higher to fulfill degree requirements.

Music History and Literature Requirement
Each course in this requirement must have a grade of C or higher to fulfill degree requirements.

Cognate
Each course in a cognate or minor field must have a grade of C or higher to fulfill degree requirements. In addition, courses counting toward a cognate or minor field must have at least an average of B. Departments offering the cognate or minor may require a higher grade average.

Tool Subjects
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in each course to fulfill degree requirements.

Language Proficiencies
Each grammar, diction, or reading course must have a grade of C or higher to fulfill degree requirements.

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Time Limit for Degree Completion

Students admitted to a master's degree program must complete all degree requirements within seven years after beginning graduate study. Students who do not complete their work within the prescribed time limits must be readmitted to the major field (through interview, submission of documents, or audition, as appropriate to the major) and meet current degree requirements and make any other curricular changes indicated by the departmental chairperson and the director of graduate studies. Petitions for exceptions must be sent to the director of graduate studies, who considers them on a case-by-case basis, giving preference to continued professional involvement in music. If granted, extensions last no more than one year. In addition, any course taken more than seven years earlier must be revalidated according to the procedures of the department offering the course. These time limits are suspended for students in active military service for the duration of that active service.

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