Music, Music History and Literature Concentration, M.A.

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(30 UNITS)

Master of Arts in Music

Graduates with the Master of Arts in Music degree have advanced knowledge of music history and literature, and music theory; are proficient, reflective and independent practitioners of music through the areas of performance, improvisation, composition, analysis, scholarship and/or music education; exercise professional standards of written and oral communication through research projects and presentations; demonstrate leadership through successful collaborative experiences, academically and in performance; and apply global perspectives and current trends to their acquired knowledge and skills in their professional work and career development.

Application Deadlines

Information regarding deadlines for online applications and required performance auditions and application materials is available at the School of Music website.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet the CSU requirements for admission to a master’s degree program, and they must also satisfy the CSUF School of Music admission requirements, indicated on the School’s website. Please consult that website and the Graduate Admissions section in this catalog for information. In addition, students must have an undergraduate major in music or the equivalent of an undergraduate music major (i.e., 29 undergraduate units in music appropriate to the student’s concentration).

Diagnostic Exams

Graduate students are required to complete diagnostic exams in music history and music theory prior to their first semester of enrollment. After completing the diagnostic exams, students will be advised on the academic preparation that will be assigned. Information about these exams is sent to all entering graduate students well before the dates of the exams.

Graduate Standing — Conditionally Classified

All applicants admitted to the graduate music program enter in conditionally classified graduate standing. Any prerequisites that are noted on the Graduate Recommendation Form must be satisfied to earn Classified Graduate Standing.

Graduate Standing — Classified

Graduate students earn Classified Graduate Standing after the following requirements are met:

Completion of all requirements indicated on the Graduate Recommendation Form.
Satisfactory completion of MUS 500 with a “B” or better (not B-minus).

Successful completion of MUS 500 satisfies the writing proficiency requirement. Courses taken to satisfy deficiencies cannot be included on the student’s study plan and thus will not count toward the master’s degree.

Degree Requirements

At least half of the degree’s total units must be 500-level courses. MUS 500 must be taken within the first 13 units of enrollment.

Required Core (16 units)

Introduction to Graduate Study (3 units)

MUS 500 - Introduction to Graduate Study in Music (3)

Musicology Seminar (3 units)

Music Theory Class (3 units)

Performance Technique: Applied (2 units)

Performance Technique: Ensemble (2 units)

Culminating Experience (3 units)

Music History and Literature Concentration (14 units)

The Music History and Literature (Musicology) concentration provides students with essential knowledge and skills in music history and literature, in addition to training in musicological research and methods. The program offers graduate seminars in a wide range of areas, including Western art music of all periods, jazz and popular music, and world music. It provides students with close faculty mentoring and flexible study plans tailored to individual interests.

Choose courses with approval from the department graduate adviser and area coordinator. Other courses may be selected with department graduate adviser approval.

Musicology Seminars (6 units)

Choose courses that have not been previously taken.