Master of Music

Program Director

Ewelina Boczkowska
3025 Bliss Hall
(330) 941-1833
eboczkowska@ysu.edu

Program Description

Master’s degrees are offered in music education, music performance, music history, music the­ory/composition, and jazz studies through the Dana School of Music, which was founded in War­ren, Ohio, in 1869 as Dana’s Musical Institute. A member of the National Association of Schools of Music, Dana currently enrolls 300 undergraduate and graduate students. The Dana School of Music is designated an All-Steinway School, featuring 68 Steinway pianos in addition to six mechanical action organs, two harpsichords, an electronic music laboratory, and 80 acoustically treated practice rooms, all housed in the $6 million Bliss Hall. In addition, the University library contains a large music section, especially notable for its collected and scholarly editions, while the Multimedia Center holds several thousand recordings, and practical edition scores.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to graduate study in the Master of Music degree must present a baccalaureate degree in music from an accredited college or university. Admission requires a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale). Students with less than a 2.7 average must provide satisfactory scores on the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination. Upon admission and before the end of the first semester of graduate study, each student must take a placement examination in music history and music theory. Failure to do so will result in an addition of six semester hours (three semester hours in music theory, three semester hours in music history) to the 32-semester-hour degree program. Theory/composition applicants must submit evidence of compositional or analytic activity. All performance degree applicants must audition on their principal instrument for acceptance to the appropriate applied music level. Students with a major in conducting performance must show evidence of conducting skill through an audition and interview. Students wishing to enroll in any music course under non-degree status must have the approval of the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music.

• Completion of all requirements outlined in respective courses of study.
• Students who fail to meet the standards set by the School of Music may, upon recommendation of the Dana Graduate Committee, will be required to withdraw at the end of the semester.  Any student with an overall grade-point average below 3.0 (i.e. not in good standing) for two consecutive semesters shall be dismissed from the master's program in music.
• An entrance examination and a final qualifying examination is required of all M.M candidates.  Students who pass the theory entrance exam will qualify to test out of 6921 Graduate Analysis I.  All students will take three core required courses (6977 Philosophies of Music, 6922 Graduate Analysis II, 6960 Research in Music).
• Students who require a thesis (MUHL, MUTC and jazz studies) will do an oral examination on the thesis as well as take an exit examination comprised of three questions covering the content from at least one core required course and at least on specialized seminar.  Performance majors will submit a document supporting the recital in lieu of a thesis, and will also complete the exit examination.  Music education majors electing the non-thesis option will only be required to complete the exit examination.  Procedural regulations governing the final qualifying examination are available from the Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music.
• Thesis students who have completed MUHL 6990 Thesis 1 and MUHL 6991 Thesis 2, (2+2 s.h.), and have completed all course requirements but have not defended the thesis are required to main­tain current student status if they expect to receive advisor or committee assistance or utilize University services (e.g., library, computer, parking, and so forth). This can be ac­complished by registering for one hour of MUHL 6991 Thesis 2.

Performance 

Music History and Literature 

Music Theory and Composition 

Music Education 

Jazz Studies 

(A) Courses to be selected from List A
(B) Courses to be selected from List B
(C) Courses to be selected from List C
(D) Courses to be selected from List D
(E) Courses to be selected from List E
(F) May include up to two semester hours of ensemble courses and up to four additional semester hours of applied music courses. Selection is subject to results of entrance placement examination in music theory and music history. All music electives must be approved by the advisor.

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of specialized knowledge of at least one era of Music History (MUHL). Assessment: EXIT EXAM
2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of specialized knowledge of at least one aspect of Music Theory (MUTC). Assessment: EXIT EXAM
3. Students will demonstrate research skills and techniques through the creation of an original scholarly project. Assessment: RUB RIC / FINAL ASSIGNMENT 6942 or 6973
4. Students will demonstrate the ability to write in a scholarly manner about their area of specialization within music. Assessment: RUBRIC / RECITAL DOCUMENT, THESIS, OR FINAL PROJECT IN 6973.