Music

College of Liberal Arts
Department of Music
907-474-7555
www.uaf.edu/music/

B.A., B.M., M.A. Degree

Minimum Requirements for Degree: 30 credits

Downloadable PDF

The academic content of the graduate program is determined by the student and his or her graduate advisory committee. Each graduate student's program is individually tailored and designed to meet the student's professional interests and aspirations, consistent with program requirements. (The UAF academic diploma will read: Master of Arts in Music. It will not display any reference to the student's area of music specialization.)

Recitals and concerts provide students with a variety of musical experiences which expand the regular curriculum.

The music department of UAF is a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the national accrediting organization.

Graduate Program -- M.A. Degree in Music

Concentrations: Conducting, Music Education, Music History, Performance, Theory/Composition

  1. Complete the following admission requirements:
    1. Take an evaluative preliminary examination in music theory and history.*
    2. Music education majors must complete an essay that includes 1) their philosophy of music education, and 2) a discussion of what they believe to be the most current issues in music education.
    3. Composition majors must submit examples of previous work.
    4. Performance majors must demonstrate acquaintance with solo literature of the various historical periods through audition or submission of performance tapes.
  2. Complete the general university requirements.
  3. Complete the master's degree requirements.**
  4. MUS F601--Introduction to Graduate Study--3 credits
  5. MUS F625--Topics in Music History--3 credits
         or MUS F631--Seminar in Music Theory: History and Pedagogy--3 credits
  6. Two semesters of any music performance ensemble--2 credits
  7. Six credits to be selected from MUS F421, MUS F422, MUS F423 or MUS F424.
  8. No more than 12 credits of MUS F697 allowed
  9. MUS F698: Research (6 credits).
  10. Twenty-one credits must be at F600-level. Optionally, no more than 9 credits of F400-level.
  11. Complete at least 16 credits in a primary area of specialization (includes research), with the balance in a secondary area.
  12. Students majoring in vocal performance or music history must demonstrate proficiency in languages appropriate to their area of concentration. Proficiency will be determined by the student's graduate committee in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Languages. Graduate students studying applied music and/or presenting recitals are governed by the same regulations concerning recital preparation, recital jury pre-hearings, and jury examinations as apply to undergraduate students. These regulations are described in the Music Handbook.
  13. Successfully complete comprehensive oral examination in music history and theory
  14. Successfully complete oral defense of thesis, recital program notes, or project
  15. Minimum credits required 30 (36 if thesis is included)

* This preliminary exam, to help determine the areas of strength and deficiency, will cover the following areas: a) music theory, b) music history and literature, c) demonstration of keyboard proficiency, and d) performance ability. Applicants will be accepted from any accredited institution; before admission to a degree program, however, all students (including UAF graduates) must take these preliminary examinations.
** After completing about one semester of the program, students will meet with their advisory committee to define precisely the student's major area of specialization. Such specialization is not to be conceived narrowly as a thesis topic, but rather as a broad area in which the student plans to spend a significant amount of their study. Advisory meetings may be repeated until such time as the student has satisfactorily defined the area of specialization. Each student, with the approval of the advisory committee, shall develop an appropriate final project or thesis. A thesis is required for students majoring in music theory and music history. Performance majors must present a graduate recital and prepare a supporting paper on selected aspects of the recital.
*** Private lessons at either the senior or graduate level. Committee may suggest further study if remedial work is deemed necessary.
Note: All F600-level courses are restricted to graduate students; however graduate students may elect some of their courses from upper-division undergraduate courses (F300- or F400-level).