Degree Offered
- Master of Arts
Nature of the Program
Students completing the Master’s Program in Musicology develop a broad understanding of the primary methods used in musicological and ethnomusicological research. Courses and seminars explore a wide range of musical repertories and scholarly debates, and the curriculum encourages students to engage meaningfully with the field through pedagogical training and focused research.
The theses of recent graduates have explored the construction of female identity through sheet music collection in the post-bellum U.S. South, early twentieth-century violin pedagogy and African American racial uplift, sexual consent in contemporary country songs, performance practice in the music of Brahms, and the ethics of musical improvisation with computer agents.
Recent graduates have entered leading North American doctoral programs or have found employment in occupations drawing heavily upon the expertise and skills developed through our degree program.
Admissions for 2025-2026
Admission to the Master of Arts in Musicology requires academic transcripts, three letters of reference from academic faculty, a personal statement, and a representative sample of academic writing (minimum of 10 pages in length). Applicants must demonstrate a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all undergraduate studies to be considered for admission.
Major Code: 3731
Degree Requirements
Students must demonstrate the equivalent of four semesters of training in a language other than English.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher is required. | ||
| MUSC 670 | Perspectives of Musicology and Ethnomusicology | 3 |
| MUSC 671 | Music History Pedagogy 1 (Music History Pedagogy) | 3 |
| MUSC 771 | Music Research and Bibliography | 3 |
| MUSC 697 | Research | 4 |
| Ensembles (at least 1 credit must be a world music ensemble) | 2 | |
| Select 2 of the following courses: | 6 | |
| Topics in Popular Music | ||
| Topics in the Study of Western Art Music | ||
| Topics in the History of Jazz | ||
| Topics in Music of Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Topics in Musics of the Americas | ||
| Topics in Musics of East Asia | ||
| Topics in Musics of South Asia | ||
| Topics in Gender and Sexuality in Music | ||
| Topics in Race and Ethnicity in Music | ||
| Topics in Musics of the Arab World | ||
| Music of Africa | ||
| Select two of the following courses | 6 | |
| Special Topics | ||
| Special Topics | ||
MUSC 796 | Graduate Seminar | |
| Select one of the following courses | 2 | |
| Counterpoint, 16th Century | ||
| Counterpoint, 18th Century | ||
| Analysis of Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century Music | ||
| Compositional Techniques in Contemporary Music | ||
| Electronic Music | ||
| Theory Topics | ||
| Pedagogy of Theory | ||
| Analytical Techniques | ||
| Compositional Techniques in Contemporary Music | ||
| Electives | 6 | |
| Comprehensive Oral Qualifying Examination | ||
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Major Learning Outcomes
Musicology
Students who successfully complete the MA in Musicology will be able to:
- Demonstrate a working understanding of the intellectual history of musicology;
- Discuss recent trends in musicological scholarship and in related fields, including music theory and analysis;
- Develop level-appropriate course materials using best practices in music history pedagogy;
- Develop and implement an independent research project using musicological research methods;
- Communicate effectively in written and oral venues.