Graduate
Curricula for Graduate Degrees
Composition
Master of Music in Composition
Prerequisite
Bachelor of Music in composition or its demonstrated equivalent.
Admission
Applicants should submit:
- A portfolio of four to six scores representing a variety of forms and media, and
- A chronological list of completed compositions, including date, instrumentation, duration, and any performances (recordings of performances are recommended).
Those invited to interview should be prepared for a brief ear-training examination.
Major
18 credit hours
- K910 Composition Graduate Major (12 cr.), concurrent with I500 Performance and Composition Masterclass (0 cr.)
- I711 Master’s Recital (0 cr.)
- T556 Analysis of Music Since 1900 (3 cr.)
- K600 Thesis in Composition (3 cr.)
Music History and Literature Requirement
6 credit hours. See “Structure of Master’s Curricula” under General Requirements for Master’s Degrees in this bulletin.
Outside Area
6 credit hours. See “Structure of Master’s Curricula” under General Requirements for Master’s Degrees in this bulletin.
Major Ensemble
2 credit hours each semester until four fall-spring enrollments are reached or the student graduates.
Master of Music in Computer Music Composition
Prerequisite
Bachelor of Music in composition or its demonstrated equivalent.
Admission
Applicants should submit a portfolio of electronic and/or acoustic compositions (scores/recordings) and a list of all compositions.
Major
18 credit hours
- K503 Electronic Studio Resources I (3 cr.)
- K504 Electronic Studio Resources II (3 cr.)
- K506 Projects in Electronic Music (6 cr.), concurrent with I500 Performance and Composition Masterclass (0 cr.)
- K509 Seminar in Computer Music (3 cr.)
- I711 Master’s Recital (0 cr.)
- K600 Thesis in Composition (3 cr.)
The Thesis in Composition can be a research paper or substantial electroacoustic composition.
Music History and Literature Requirement
6 credit hours. See “Structure of Master’s Curricula” under General Requirements for Master’s Degrees in this bulletin.
Outside Area
6 credit hours. See “Structure of Master’s Curricula” under General Requirements for Master’s Degrees in this bulletin.
Major Ensemble
2 credit hours each semester until four fall-spring enrollments are reached or the student graduates.
Tool Subject
2-3 credit hours in computer programming languages to be selected from CSCI A504 Introductory C++ Programming (2 cr.), CSCI A597 Introduction to Programming I (3 cr.), or other Computer Science programming courses at the 500 level or above, with the approval of the director of the Center for Electronic and Computer Music; or equivalent, demonstrated by previous course work or by a proficiency exam administered by the computer science department.
Doctor of Music in Composition
Designed for the talented and accomplished composer who demonstrates creative ability of a high artistic level.
Prerequisite
Master’s degree in composition or its demonstrated equivalent.
Admission
Applicants should submit:
- a portfolio of four to six scores representing a variety of forms and media, including one orchestral work;
- a chronological list of completed compositions, including date, instrumentation, duration, and any performances; and
- recordings of performances demonstrating the range of their abilities.
Those invited to interview should be prepared for a brief ear-training examination.
Major
36 credit hours
- K910 Composition Graduate Major (18 cr.), concurrent with I500 Performance and Composition Masterclass (0 cr.)
- K701 Doctoral Composition Chamber Recital (1 cr.)
- K702-K703 Doctoral Composition Document I-II (0-0 cr.)
- K700 Dissertation in Composition (8 cr.)
- Music electives (9 cr. in conducting, composition, electronic music, or other area approved by the department; must include a graduate-level conducting course in new music, orchestral, choral, or wind conducting, unless one has been taken previously; may include additional dissertation credits.)
K702 (movement of chamber music written during a week-long examination period) and K703 (setting of a given text during a 24-hour period) should be completed within two semesters of first registration.
Minors
See “Structure of Doctoral Curricula” under General Requirements for Doctoral Degrees in this bulletin. The “guided electives” option is not available for composition majors.
Tool Subjects
T551 Analytical Techniques for Tonal Music (3 cr.) and T556 Analysis of Music Since 1900 (3 cr.) or equivalents, which will not be included in the total credit hours required for the major, but may count toward a minor in music theory.