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2024-2025 Graduate Catalog [Current Academic Year]
Music [M.M.]
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 Return to: In-Person/Hybrid
Eastern Michigan University offers a Master of Music degree program with eight concentration options:
- Conducting
- Music Education
- Music Performance - Collaborative Keyboard
- Music Performance - Harpsichord or Organ
- Music Performance - Piano
- Music Performance - Voice
- Music Performance - Wind, String, or Percussion Instrument
- Piano Pedagogy
For more information on specific music program policies, please refer to the School of Music & Dance Student Handbook.
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Program Admission
Admit Terms and Deadlines
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; students may start the program in the Fall or Winter. See Application Deadlines.
The School of Music and Dance recommends students begin coursework in the fall. Minimum Graduate School Requirements
For full admission, applicants must have 1) Earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution, 2) a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program. Conditional admission may be available to applicants not meeting minimum admission requirements.
Program Requirements
The following criteria are required for all applicants. Additional or modified criteria based on the applicant’s concentration may be required (see Concentration Specific Admission Criteria).
- Undergraduate degree in music, or an equivalent degree
- A personal statement summarizing plans for graduate study
- Two letters of recommendation
- Audition.
- Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam (to be completed on applicants’ audition day)
- An interview with a faculty member may be required
- In addition to submitting a Graduate School application, applicants must also submit a School of Music & Dance application (emich.edu/music-dance/apply/graduate-music). Applicants will select an audition day within the School of Music & Dance application.
Concentration-Specific Admission Criteria
The applicant is responsible for ensuring that their application includes the required concentration-specific documents.
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Conducting
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Music Education
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- Undergraduate degree in music education, or an equivalent.
- The personal statement must include the applicant’s teaching philosophy.
- The recommenders must be familiar with the applicant’s teaching.
- Applicants must complete an interview with an appropriate faculty member.
- Audition is only required for applicants intending to pursue Applied Music study.
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Piano Pedagogy
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- The personal statement must include the applicant’s teaching philosophy.
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Music Performance (All Concentrations)
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- Repertoire list (submitted within the School of Music and Dance application)
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Music Performance-Voice
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Application
Your application will be submitted using GradCAS, a Centralized Application Service (CAS) hosted by Liaison. After reviewing the admission requirements, please review the application instructions and select the appropriate application.
- Go to 2023-2024 GradCAS to apply to a program beginning in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Winter 2025.
- Go to 2024-2025 GradCAS to apply to a program beginning in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Winter 2026.
Domestic Applicants Within the application, follow the instructions to submit an official transcript from all previously attended institutions.
International Applicants Before applying, applicants must review the international application/process deadlines at emich.edu/international as they may differ from general program requirements.
For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.
Admissions Advisor Donald Babcock, PhD, Professor, N101 Alexander, 734.487.4380
Advisor Information
Upon admission to the School of Music & Dance, each student will meet with the graduate advisor for assistance in planning a curriculum.
Robert Peavler, DMA, 339 Alexander, 734.487.3728
Degree Requirements: 30 hours
The Master of Music program requires the completion of a minimum of 30 hours of coursework, a comprehensive review of performance, and a graduate recital (see the bottom of the page for additional details). A student must earn a grade of a B or higher in all courses. If a grade lower than a B is earned in any course, the student must retake the course and receive a B or higher, before the credits for that course can be counted toward their degree.
Supportive Studies in Music: 10 hours
Students will complete ten hours of Supportive Studies in Music. To satisfy this requirement, students will complete MUSC 500 Introduction to Graduate Studies and eight additional hours of coursework distributed among the music theory and music history courses listed below, and in some cases other courses not listed. The specific requirements are determined by the student’s concentration.
Each student must achieve an acceptable score (70% or higher) on the Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam before enrolling in any of the Music Theory courses. The Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam may be taken only one time.
Students who fail to achieve an acceptable score must complete MUSC 509 Graduate Theory Review (2 hrs) with a B or better, prior to enrolling in the music theory courses listed below. Students placed into MUSC 509 are allowed to take the course only one time. Any student who does not earn a B or better in the course, will not be allowed to continue in the graduate program. MUSC 509 does not count towards degree requirements.
Concentration: 20 hours
Choose one concentration from the following.
Conducting
Supportive Studies in Music
- Complete MUSC 513 Form and Analysis and choose two additional hours from the list of Music Theory courses
- Choose four hours from the list of Music History courses
Music Education
Supportive Studies in Music
Music Education Core Courses: 12 hours
- MUSC 572 Psychology of Music Teaching and Learning 3 hrs
- MUSC 642 Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Music Education 3 hrs
- MUSC 646 Music Curriculum and Assessment 3 hrs
- MUSC 695 Seminar 3 hrs
Culminating Experience and Elective Courses: 8 hours
A student must complete eight hours from one of the following options.
Option I - Thesis
Required Courses: 6 hours
In addition to the following course requirements, a one-hour Thesis defense and final Graduate School approval of the Thesis is required. - EDPS 687 Qualitative/Interpretive Research 3 hrs
- MUSC 693 Thesis 3 hrs
Restricted Elective Course: 2 hours
Students are required to complete a minimum of 2 hours of music or non-music courses. These may include courses offered through the College of Education, the music education course electives listed below, or others. Course selection requires advisor approval.
Option II - Final Project
Required Course: 2 hours - MUSC 692 Final Project 2 hrs
To be determined in consultation with the faculty advisor. Could consist of one of the following: - The student examines three different areas of scholarship and gives a one-hour oral presentation based on their work. The presentation will include a handout with references, but no extended paper is required.
- The student examines one area of scholarship in-depth, writes a paper suitable for journal submission (e.g., Music Educators Journal, etc.), and gives an accompanying one-hour presentation.
- The student gives an ensemble conducting recital and an accompanying presentation. Students who choose this option must also take MUSC 678 Advanced Conducting as part of their Supportive Studies or Elective Courses.
Restricted Elective Courses: 6 hours
Students are required to complete a minimum of 6 hours of music or non-music courses. These may include courses offered through the College of Education, the music education course electives listed below, or others. Course selection requires advisor approval.
Music Education Elective Courses - MUSC 565 Ensemble Pedagogy and Literature 2 hrs
- MUSC 590 Special Topics 1 hr
- MUSC 591 Special Topics 2 hrs
- MUSC 592 Special Topics 3 hrs
- MUSC 594 Workshop in Music 1 hr
- MUSC 595 Workshop in Music 2 hrs
- MUSC 596 Workshop in Music 3 hrs
- MUSC 676 Score Study and Rehearsal Strategies 2 hrs
- MUSC 678 Advanced Conducting 2 hrs
- MUSC 697 Independent Study 1 hr
- MUSC 698 Independent Study 2 hrs
- MUSC 699 Independent Study 3 hrs
Music Performance – Collaborative Keyboard
Supportive Studies in Music
- Choose four hours from the list of Music Theory courses
- Choose four hours from the list of Music History courses
Music Performance – Harpsichord or Organ
Supportive Studies in Music
- Choose four hours from the list of Music Theory courses
- Choose four hours from the list of Music History courses
Music Performance – Piano
Supportive Studies in Music
Music Performance – Voice
Supportive Studies in Music
- Choose four hours from the list of Music Theory courses
- Choose four hours from the list of Music History courses
Music Performance – Wind, String, or Percussion Instrument
Supportive Studies in Music
- Choose four hours from the list of Music Theory courses
- Choose four hours from the list of Music History courses
Piano Pedagogy
Supportive Studies in Music
- Choose four hours from the list of Music Theory courses
- Choose four hours from the list of Music History courses
Exit Requirements
In addition to Graduate School requirements, School of Music & Dance requirements are as follows:
Comprehensive Review in Performance
All graduate students must pass an examination covering their major field of study. The examination may be written and/or oral in format, as determined by the student’s faculty committee. Written examinations will consist of three to five essay questions and must be completed in three hours or less. Oral examinations will last approximately one hour.
The examination will occur when the student’s prescribed course work is substantially completed, in the anticipated semester of graduation. In addition, the student must complete the thesis, recital, or other culminating experience prior to taking the examination. Exceptions to this policy may occur only with the approval of the student’s faculty committee and the school director. The examination will be graded Pass/Fail and can be taken no more than three times.
The examination will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the student’s faculty advisor, an additional faculty member from the major field, and a faculty member from outside the major field (or in the case of performance majors, from outside their performance specialty - brass, keyboard, percussion, string, vocal, or woodwind). The specific makeup of the faculty committee will be determined by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor and must be approved by the school director. If a student is unable to form a faculty committee, it will be formed by the school director in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor.
Graduate Recital
Requirements are as follows:
- The student must be registered for applied music during the semester in which the recital is given.
- The student will perform a recital hearing for a faculty committee at least three weeks prior to the performance. In addition to the student’s major applied teacher, at least one other faculty member from the committee must attend the recital.
- The student will provide a thoroughly researched and appropriately referenced recital paper.
- The student will provide a recording of the recital to the School of Music & Dance Office.
Critical Graduation Information
Each graduate student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements or equivalents of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.
Master’s degree requirements must be completed within six (6) years of first enrollment in the master’s degree program.
In the event a student does not complete the master’s degree requirements within six years of the date of their original registration, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their degree in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.
The following are minimum requirements for all master’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University. Some programs require more than the minimum in one or more areas below.
- A master’s degree must require a minimum of 30 credit hours.
- No more than six credits of independent study courses and no more than 12 credit hours of special topics and independent study courses combined may be applied to a graduate degree.
- Residency Requirement:
- For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 36 or fewer required hours, at least 24 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
- For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 37 or more required hours, at least 30 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. Minimum degree hours must still be met for graduation. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
- Residency and enrollment in multiple programs: Students enrolled in multiple master’s/specialist degree programs must have 24 unique credit hours in each degree program.
- Only credits from one completed graduate certificate may be applied to a master’s or specialist degree in a relevant field of study, as determined by the Graduate School and with the approval of the degree-granting academic department, and be included in the residency hours above.
- Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate-level courses taken at EMU and in their program of study to remain in good academic standing and be eligible for graduation. Students do not need to be registered for classes during the semester of graduation.
- The Graduate School does not permit the use of undergraduate courses (499 and below) to meet degree requirements on graduate programs of study.
- Some master’s programs require a thesis; others require a special project or internship; others require students to pass a final exam. See the Graduate School website for Thesis and Dissertation Manuals, all forms, and information about research and human subject approval. Every completed thesis or dissertation must be submitted to Digital Commons. Any form of graduate student work submitted to Digital Commons must first be approved by a faculty advisor and the Graduate School.
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