Master of Music

Overview

The Master of Music program is designed for the student who has a bachelor’s degree in music or its demonstrated equivalent and provides further education in four different areas (see below).

About The Program

Degree Options

Master of Music in Jazz Composition or Jazz Performance

The Master of Music in jazz performance is offered on all jazz instruments and offers advanced training in jazz performance. Students earning the Master of Music in jazz performance are equipped to teach at the community college level and some universities and are prepared for successful audition into the increasing number of doctoral programs in jazz studies. Students develop mastery in writing for various ensembles, both large and small. Flexibility within the degree allows students to focus on traditional big band, small group writing, studio orchestra, or more modern genre-blending compositional techniques. UT Arlington’s jazz and classical ensembles provide opportunities to hear your work. Through an informal partnership with the American Jazz Composers Orchestra, one of Dallas Fort Worth’s premier big bands, there is an opportunity for professional performances of your work. As with the MM in jazz performance, students earning the MM in jazz composition are credentialed to teach at community colleges and some universities.

Master of Music in Performance

Prepares students for possible further studies in instrumental or performance at the doctoral level.

Master of Music in Theory

The Department of Music at UT Arlington offers MM students in music theory an environment to refine the scholarly, pedagogical, and presentational skills that are vital to a successful career in the academic field. The degree includes a variety of seminars that cover topics ranging from formal-function theory to post-tonal analysis, as well as room to complement secondary interests in areas such as composition, performance, and history.

Master of Music in Conducting

Our program features an emphasis on individual attention and a significant amount of podium experience.

John Matychuk / unsplash

Degree Requirements

The program is designed for the student who has a Bachelor’s degree in music. A minimum of 30 semester hours is required if the student chooses to write a thesis. If the student chooses not to write a thesis, a minimum of 36 semester hours is required. Advisory examinations in music history and written theory may be administered to all students prior to enrollment or during their first semester as degree-seeking students.

Non-Thesis option

Required Courses

• Musi 5301 --- Form And Style Analysis --- 3
• Musi 5308 --- Music History Selected Topics --- 3
• Musi 5351 --- Philosophy, History, And Curricular Trends In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5352 --- Psychological Foundations Of Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5363 --- Research In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5353 --- Project In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5364 --- Assessment In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 53xx --- Current Trends In Music Education --- 3

Three (3) hours of Music Education electives should be chosen from the following: --- 3

• Electives
• Electives
• Electives

Nine (9) hours of free-choice electives may be selected from ensembles, private instruction, music history, music theory, jazz studies, and repeated special topics courses. Up to six (6) hours of graduate credit from other disciplines may be considered if relevant to the degree, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee. No more than two (2) semester hours of music ensembles may be counted toward the degree. --- 9

Total Hours --- 36

Thesis option

Required Courses

• Musi 5301 --- Form And Style Analysis --- 3
• Musi 5308 --- Music History Selected Topics --- 3
• Musi 5351 --- Philosophy, History, And Curricular Trends In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5352 --- Psychological Foundations Of Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5363 --- Research In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5698 --- Thesis --- 6

Three (3) hours of Music Education electives should choose from the following: --- 3

• Electives
• Electives
• Electives

Six (6) hours of free-choice electives may be selected from ensembles, private instruction, music history, music theory, jazz studies, and repeated special topics courses. Up to six (6) hours of graduate credit from other disciplines may be considered if relevant to the degree, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee. No more than two (2) semester hours of music ensembles may be counted toward the degree. --- 6

Total Hours --- 30

*Students who write a thesis will work closely with one or more members of the graduate faculty from the Department of Music on a research project in a specialized area of interest within the music education field. The student must register for MUSI 5398 when in consultation over the thesis with the advisor or supervisory committee. Students will receive a grade of R (Research in Progress), F (Fail), or W (Withdrawn). These hours do not count towards the degree hours.

Career Opportunities

• Performer
• Conductor
• Academic Instructor/Professor
• Music Consultant
• Orchestral Musician
• Freelance/Studio Musician
• DMA Eligibility
• College-Level Eligible Adjunct Instructor
• Private Lesson Instructor

Admission Requirements

Unconditional Admission

1. Bachelor’s degree in music or its demonstrated equivalent (such as a music conservatory degree).
2. Three letters of recommendation are required, speaking to the student’s potential for success from references familiar with the student’s academic background.
3. A minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work as calculated by the Graduate Admissions.
4. Submitted application to the Department of Music (see the departmental website for more information).

All admission criteria will be considered equally. Students meeting all the criteria, plus any track-specific requirements, will be granted unconditional admission.

Probationary Status

A student showing a deficiency in any of the above criteria and showing promise for successful graduate study may still be admitted on a probationary basis upon the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee. The conditions of the probation will be outlined in the letter of admission. (The Music Department does not have the authority to lower University TOEFL score requirements for any student.)

Provisional Admission

An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.

Denied Admission

An applicant can be denied admission based on the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee. Applicants may reapply for admission if the deficiencies in credentials that led to denial are remedied.

Deferred Admission

A deferred decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.

Tracks are offered in Music Performance, Jazz Studies, Jazz Composition, Music Theory, and Conducting. The program is designed for the student who has a Bachelor’s degree in music.

TOEFL Requirement

Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English by earning a score of at least 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of at least 213 on the computer-based test, or a minimum score of 40 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). The Internet-based TOEFL examination (TOEFL iBT) will be accepted as an alternative to the paper and computer-based TOEFL for admission purposes. Students taking TOEFL iBT must attain a minimum total test score of 79.

Those who do not meet the English proficiency requirement must satisfactorily complete courses in the ESOL area, as approved by the program and Graduate Admissions.