Information for Matriculated Students
Graduate Competency Exams
All incoming School of Music graduate students must pass a competency exam in music theory/ear training prior to enrollment in MUS 530, Seminar in Music Theory. This exam will be graded pass/fail and may be taken no more than three times. Students unable to pass after three attempts must withdraw from the program.
Special Requirements and Standards
All music graduate programs must be completed within six years from the date of matriculation.
Students must maintain a B average in all coursework and must have no grade lower than B-. Students who receive grades lower than B- will be reviewed for retention in the graduate program.
Each program requires that students demonstrate mastery in their primary area of study. Students meet this requirement through the presentation of a lecture-recital or thesis. Consult the individual requirements below for more details.
The following conditions will apply to all recitals, lecture recitals, and thesis projects in pedagogy:
- Required final project must be presented after successful completion of the comprehensive exams.
- Grading of the lecture-recital or thesis will be by a committee of at least two jurors. The jurors will be drawn from the graduate faculty.
- The candidate must receive a grade of B or higher on the final project.
Final Project
Lecture-Recital: A 45 - 60 minute Lecture-Recital based on a topic of the student’s discretion with approval of the applied teacher. A copy of the lecture-recital document must be submitted for review before the public presentation.
OR:
An extensive Thesis based on a pedagogy topic to be agreed on by the program director and student.
Note: The student in the Masters of Music Program / Pedagogy may elect to present a non-required Recital with the approval of the Applied teacher after the 3rd semester of study is achieved.
Transfer credit
Six graduate credits may be transferred to USM from another NASM-accredited college or university.
Admissions credit
Additionally no more than six graduate credits for work earned at USM in the five years prior to matriculation may be credited to the master’s degree.
Residency
No residency is required for the pedagogy program.
Exit Requirements
Pedagogy majors must present a Final Project, a forty-five (45) to sixty (60) minute lecture recital or a thesis based on a pedagogical topic. The selection of an appropriate final project will be made in collaboration with the applied area teacher and program advisor.
In addition to the required Final Project and associated written documents, candidates will be required to complete a written or oral examination in which they will be prepared to discuss topics and answer questions in their field. The exit examination will be scheduled through the appropriate full-time faculty member.
