Music, Theory and Composition Concentration, M.M.

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Master of Music

Graduates with the Master of 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 and/or scholarship; 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 Music 500, Introduction to Graduate Study in Music, with a grade of B or higher (not B-minus).

Successful completion of Music 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. Music 500 must be taken within the first 13 units of enrollment. Graduate students in string performance are required to participate in orchestra every semester of residency.

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)

MUS 597 - Project (1-3)

Theory and Composition Concentration (14 units)

The Theory and Composition concentration prepares students at the master’s level to be composers in various music styles and to develop their own musical voice.

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