Graduate Degree

Musicology - Master of Arts

Program:
Musicology - Master of Arts
Plan Code:
MUSICOL_MA


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Music

Graduate Study

Musicology - Master of Arts

In addition to meeting the requirements of the University and of the College of Music students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

To be admitted to the Master of Arts degree program in musicology on regular status, an applicant must have a bachelor's degree in musicology, or have completed the courses in musicology that are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in music at Michigan State University or their equivalents.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Musicology

The program is available under both Plan A (with thesis) and Plan B (without thesis).  A total of 32 credits is required for the degree under either Plan A or Plan B.  The student's program of study must be approved by the student's academic advisor.  The student must meet the requirements specified below:

Requirements for Both Plan A and Plan B

1. Complete the following course (3 credits):
MUS 830 Research Methods and Materials in Music 3
2. Complete one of the following two options (12 credits):
a. 9 credits of music history and 3 credits of ethnomusicology, in addition to Music 830. At least two of the courses must be at the 800–level.
b. 3 credits of music history and 9 credits of ethnomusicology including Music 832 or Music 833, in addition to Music 830. At least two of the courses must be at the 800–900-level.
If a 400–level course is to be used to satisfy this requirement, the student must enroll concurrently in 1 credit of MUS 892A Seminar in Music History.
3. Complete 2 or 3 credits in music theory.
4. Complete 3 credits in a cognate outside the College of Music. Both the cognate area and the related courses must be approved by the faculty in the area of musicology.
5. Demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language, approved by the student’s academic advisor. Credits in courses in a foreign language may not be counted toward the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in musicology.
6. Complete 2 credits in music performance at the 800–level.
7. Complete 5 or 6 additional credits in music excluding musicology.
8. Participate in music activities during two semesters of enrollment in the program.  The activities must be acceptable to the faculty in the area of musicology and must be approved by the student's academic advisor.


Additional Requirements for Plan A

  1. Complete the following course:
    MUS    899    Master's Thesis Research (4)
  2. Complete a thesis under the direction of a member of the musicology faculty that is acceptable to the final oral certifying committee consisting of the student’s thesis advisor, another member from the musicology area, and a faculty member from music faculty. A copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School and to the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and will be retained as part of the permanent degree record.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

  1. Complete the following course:
    MUS    898    Master's Research (4)
    Possible projects include historical performance, instrument construction, or transcribing or editing historical music.
  2. Complete and submit a research project under the direction of a member of the musicology faculty that is acceptable to the final oral certifying committee consisting of the student’s thesis advisor, another member from the musicology area, and a faculty member from music faculty. A copy of the project must be submitted to the Graduate School and to the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and will be retained as part of the permanent degree record. Possible projects include historical performance, instrument construction, or transcribing or editing historical music.
Academic Standards
A grade of 3.0 or higher is required for Music 896 and 898.