Skip Navigation
*To search for student contact information, login to FlashLine and choose the "Directory" icon in the FlashLine masthead (blue bar).
 

School of Music Graduate Study PDFDownload to print

Entrance (Diagnostic ) Examinations

All entering master's and doctoral students take entrance (diagnostic) examinations in music theory and in music history prior to first enrollment. Based upon the examination results, the student may be required to take certain courses as a part of his/her program if shown to be deficient in a particular area. Students with an extensive background in a specific area may not be required to take any courses. Students with a generally good background may be required to take one or two graduate courses in one area. Students who are not fully prepared for graduate-level work in any area may be required to take the appropriate undergraduate practicum course (MUS41111 or 42211) in addition to one or two graduate courses. Graduate courses required as a result of the diagnostic examinations will be considered electives within the degree program except where required as part of the major program. If the number of hours required exceeds the number of elective hours in the program, this will result in a larger number of required hours than the minimum numbers listed below.

Master of Arts and Master of Music

Program Requirements
Each student will be accepted as a major in a specific curricular area. It may be necessary for the student to complete Kent State University requirements for the appropriate undergraduate degree. A program of study leading to the master's degree should be planned in consultation with the advisor. Students pursuing the Master of Music may select one of the following options: a thesis option, an essay and recital option, a two-recital option, or a coursework option depending on their major. The Master of Arts program requires a thesis.

Secondary Applied Music
Election of secondary instruments or secondary voice requires an audition and approval of the appropriate applied division.

Ensemble
A maximum of two ensemble credit hours may be applied toward degree requirements. Students must petition the Graduate Studies Committee to count additional ensemble hours toward degree requirements. Piano performance majors may satisfy the ensemble requirement with MUS 55311 and/or MUS 55321. Music ensembles are open to all qualified university students upon satisfactory audition. Membership in music organizations is not limited to music majors and minors. All master's students are required to participate in an ensemble for two semesters.One summer session is considered equivalent to one semester.

Research Tool Requirement
Candidates for the Master of Arts degree program in musicology or ethnomusicology must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language, normally German or French. With the approval of the advisor and the graduate studies committee, other languages may be substituted, especially for the student in ethnomusicology. Credit hours earned in meeting this requirement are not applicable toward the credit-hour requirement in the degree program.

Final Oral Examination
All students writing a thesis or essay must pass a final oral examination covering the thesis or essay and the student's major area of study. A student electing the two-recital option must pass a final oral examination covering literature performed in recitals and the student's areas of performance and study in the degree. Those completing a coursework option must pass a final oral examination covering all of the coursework in the master's degree program. The final oral examination may be attempted two times.

Workshop Credit
A maximum of 4 semester hours of workshop credit may be applied to certain graduate degrees. The hours must pertain to the degree emphasis. Workshop credit with grades of A or B may be transferred into a degree program.