Music Composition (MM)

Master of Music in Music Composition
Unit: School of Music (GU)
Program: Music Composition 
Academic Plan Code(s): See Concentration Requirements tab.

Program Information

The Master of Music Composition (MM) degree is a two-year program of study designed to further the expertise and experience of students who have already completed an undergraduate degree in music composition (or its equivalent). While most students who are admitted into the MM Composition program have received undergraduate degrees in music composition, students without an undergraduate degree in music composition may be accepted in the MM composition program if they 1) demonstrate compositional skills and experience approximately equivalent to an undergraduate degree in composition, and 2) hold a Bachelor of Music degree or its equivalent. 

General Information Regarding Academic Policies

1. Detailed curricular and program offerings, including specific requirements and provisions for degree programs, are published in the university catalog. Students will be provided with copies of the "Handbook for Graduate Studies in Music", the "Guidelines for Preparation for the Graduate Music History Entrance Examination," and "Guidelines for Preparation for the Graduate Music Theory Entrance Examination." These documents are also available on the School of Music website.
2. Students will be required to address any deficiencies revealed by entrance examinations in courses taken within the first two semesters of study. Credit toward the degree is not granted for review coursework.
3. All students are required to complete Bibliography and Research Methods (MUS 607 ) by the end of the second semester of study (part-time students by the completion of 15 credit hours of graduate study). Upon satisfactory completion of requirements stated in Handbook sections B.2 and B.3, students will be considered in good standing.
4. Students will complete a project appropriate to the field of study as defined by the faculty of their program. The completion of this project (public recital, thesis, professional paper) normally takes place in the last semester of graduate study. Preparation and presentation of a recital must follow the guidelines in the "Handbook for Graduate Studies in Music" and the preparation of a thesis must follow the "Guidelines for the Preparation and Processing of Theses" issued by the Graduate School. The preparation of a thesis in music composition must also follow the "School of Music Thesis Formatting Guidelines for MM in Composition".
5. In order to graduate, a student must be in good standing with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. No more than six (6) credit hours with any C or C+ grade will be accepted toward a degree, and no grade below a B-minus will be accepted for a course in the student's major subject area. Credit hours earned beyond the minimum in any curricular areas apply only to that area and cannot be assigned to another area in order to satisfy required credit. At least one-half of the total hours in graduate courses must be at the 600 level. Any exceptions to the program of study must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. A student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0, or who fails to satisfy the published performance criteria, will be placed on academic probation. Students are ordinarily not permitted to continue on academic probation for more than one semester.
6. When all coursework and projects have been satisfactorily completed, the student becomes a candidate for the degree and is approved to take the graduate oral examination. A candidate who fails the oral examination at the end of one semester may not be given a second one before the end of the following semester. A candidate who fails the second oral examination will not be granted the degree of MM or MME from the University of Louisville.
7. Upon request, a maximum of six (6) credit hours of earned graduate credit with a minimum grade of B may be transferred from accredited institutions that offer advanced degrees. Credit for applied music will not be transferred, but advanced standing may be awarded at a jury. Ensemble credits appropriate to the student's degree program may be considered for transfer, but not to exceed one (1) credit hour per semester. Music history and music theory credits will be evaluated for transfer by the Director of Graduate Studies and the respective faculty. Transfer of more than six (6) credit hours may be requested provided that they are not earned by extension, or as thesis or practicum hours, and that the residency requirement of 24 credit hours is maintained by the addition of the University of Louisville credits to the total program. Transfer of graduate credit hours within the University of Louisville toward a graduate degree in music may be requested provided that the minimum residence requirement of 24 credit hours is maintained.
8. Students receiving a graduate assistantship (teaching, research, or service) will be provided with adequate training and will be required to adhere to university policies. Performance of duties in research and service by graduate assistants will be periodically evaluated. Students with teaching assistantships will be evaluated each semester.
9. Part-time students (with the exception of those in the MME degree program) must participate in one ensemble for every 18 credit hours of completed coursework. If part-time study precludes completing ensemble degree requirements, other coursework may be substituted.

Admission Requirements 

1. Applications for admission to a graduate program require the following:
   1. Completed graduate application and application fee
   2. Official transcripts for all previous post-secondary course work (all transcripts not in English must be certified as authentic and translated verbatim into English)
   3. At least two letters of recommendation
2. Applications to specific degree programs require evidence of preparation for advanced study as follows: 
   1. In performance, an acceptable audition
   2. In academic specializations (music composition, music history, music theory), a portfolio of work appropriate to the field of study
   3. In music education, evidence of classroom teaching experience
3. Applicants whose primary language is not English must show English language proficiency in one of the following ways:
   1. Minimum TOEFL examination score of 213 on the computer-based test, or 79-80 on the internet based test, IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam or official Duolingo overall score of 105.
   2. Documentation of the award of a degree from a recognized English language institution.
4. Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution in the area to be pursued in advanced studies, or they must present evidence of equivalent preparation.
5. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 on a 4-point scale.

Applicants who meet the requirements listed in items 1-5 will be considered for conditional admission for graduate study at the School of Music. For additional entrance requirements specific to the degree of interest, consult the section relevant to the degree program below. Entrance examinations in music history, theory and, if appropriate, jazz, will be administered before the first term of study. The School of Music provides guidelines to assist in preparing for the entrance examinations.

Any exception to the above expectations will be evaluated individually and will require a statement indicating criteria to be met in a specified time frame with provisions for monitoring progress and performance. Justification must be provided in writing and must be accepted by the faculty of the student's proposed program, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean of the School of Music. Students who fail to meet performance standards or who do not meet other requirements as outlined in the letter of admission, program of study, or the catalog of the University of Louisville are subject to dismissal from their programs.

Prerequisites

1. Bachelor of Music degree or equivalent.
2. A demonstration, by examination, of skills and capacities in the following fields:
   1. Written, aural, and keyboard harmony
   2. Melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic dictation
   3. Elementary counterpoint
   4. History and literature of music, and analytic understanding of musical forms and genres
3. Evidence of preparation for advanced work in the area, as follows:
   1. Applicants for the track in Music Composition must submit original works to indicate ability and technical facility in the field of composition.
   2. Students should have a thorough and practical knowledge of piano, as well as a thorough knowledge in the areas of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments.

Program Requirements

Coursework

Other Requirements

All students must pass an oral examination after all coursework is completed.

¹

These courses may be satisfied by passing the entrance examinations in these areas

²

Students should take MUS 667 Introduction to Electronic and Computer Music and MUS 668 Advanced Topics in Computer Music. Co-requisite for MUS 667/MUS 668 sequence.

³

Students in Electronic Music Composition Track should take AUDI 606 offered by Heuser Hearing Institute and Audiology Department in lieu of an additional Theory or History Seminar.

⁴

Three semesters of major ensemble or MUS 551 Studies in Improvisation (two (2) credit hours) and one (1) elective credit hour, which can be satisfied by a major ensemble or two semesters of minor ensemble, but may also be satisfied by an academic or applied elective at the 500 or 600 level.

⁵

Music Composition and Electronic Music Composition concentrations require 11 credits; Acoustic and Electronic Music Composition concentration requires 19 credits.

Concentration Requirements

Music Composition Concentration

Academic Plan Code(s): MUSIMM COM

¹

Graduate composition majors are required to present public performances of their works within at least two semesters of their enrollment, for a total of at least 20 minutes of music. The graduate thesis will not be granted final approval until this requirement is met.

²

Four semesters required (Co-requisite for MUSA 643, MUSA 644, MUSA 645, or MUSA 646).

³

500 level or above; minimum of two semesters; may include Conducting or Seminar in Conducting MUS 659/MUS 660 (sections designated for students who are not conducting majors);may include Composition for Digital Media (MUSA 683); but excludes additional semesters of Applied Composition.

Electronic Music Composition Concentration

Academic Plan Code(s): MUSIMM EMC

¹

Graduate composition majors are required to present public performances of their works within at least two semesters of their enrollment, for a total of at least 20 minutes of music. The graduate thesis will not be granted final approval until this requirement is met.

²

Co-requisite for MUSA 643.

³

500 level or above; may include Conducting or Seminar in Conducting MUS 659/MUS 660 (sections designated for students who are not conducting majors); may include additional semester of Applied Composition.

⁴

Must be approved by the Director of Computer Music Studies.

Acoustic and Electronic Music Composition Concentration

Academic Plan Code(s): MUSIMM AEC

¹

Co-requisite for MUSA 643, MUSA 644, MUSA 645, MUSA 683, MUSA 684,  MUSA 685.

²

500 level or above; minimum of 2 semesters; may include Conducting or Seminar in Conducting MUS 659/MUS 660 (sections designated for students who are not conducting majors). Students in Acoustic and Electronic Music Composition can’t take additional Applied Composition or Composition for Digital Media courses.

³

Must be approved by the Director of Computer Music Studies.

⁴

Graduate composition majors are required to present public performances of their works within at least two semesters of their enrollment, for a total of at least 20 minutes of music. The graduate thesis will not be granted final approval until this requirement is met.