To earn a master’s degree at Washington University, a student must complete all courses required by their department; maintain satisfactory academic progress; pass certain examinations; fulfill all academic and residence requirements; and apply for program completion (graduation) via Workday Student.
For the details of master’s degree general requirements in Arts & Sciences, including an explanation of Satisfactory Academic Progress, students should review the Master’s Degree Academic Information page of the Arts & Sciences Bulletin.
Program Requirements
- Total Units Required: 36
- Degree Length: 2 years
- Note: Students must be enrolled in 9 graduate credits each semester to retain full-time status. As students complete their coursework, if enrolled in fewer than 9 graduate credits, they must enroll in a specific Arts & Sciences graduate course that will show 0 units but does count as full-time status. Students should connect with their department to ensure proper enrollment prior to Add/Drop.
- Grade Requirement: A grade of B– or better is required for courses to count toward the degree. Students are expected to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in courses that count toward their credit units.
The Master of Arts in Music Theory requires 36 units of graduate study. In addition, students must pass a keyboard skills exam. Students should enroll in the repeatable 0-credit course MUSIC 5231 Graduate Keyboard Skills until they have satisfied this requirement.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MUSIC 5020 | Introduction to Musicological Research I | 3 |
| MUSIC 5070 | Introduction to Contemporary Music Theory | 3 |
| or MUSIC 5160 | Selected Areas of Special Study II | |
| MUSIC 5104 | Analysis I | 3 |
Elective Courses
- 9 units of Theory (chosen in consultation with an advisor from the following: MUSIC 5050 Introduction to Schenker's Analytical Method; MUSIC 5051 Seminar: Schenker's Analytical Methodology; MUSIC 5070 Introduction to Contemporary Music Theory; MUSIC 5150 Selected Areas for Special Study II; MUSIC 5160 Selected Areas of Special Study II; MUSIC 5170 Seminar in Music Theory; MUSIC 5224 Computational Models of Music Theory and Cognition; MUSIC 5331)
- 6 units of Music History and Culture (chosen in consultation with an advisor from the following: MUSIC 5030 Introduction to Popular Music Studies; MUSIC 5080 Introduction to Ethnomusicology; MUSIC 5090 Music Ethnography and Fieldwork Methodologies; MUSIC 5110 Seminar in Music of the Classic Period; MUSIC 5120 Seminar in Romantic Music; MUSIC 5130 Selected Areas for Special Study I; MUSIC 5140 Sound Theory)
- 12 units of electives, within or outside Music, which may include up to 6 units of thesis research (MUSIC 7000 Research in Music) but which exclude basic foreign language instruction
Thesis Requirements/Details
- A Title, Scope, & Procedure form for the master’s thesis must be signed by the thesis committee members and by the program chair. It must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, at least six months before the degree is expected to be conferred.
- A Master’s Thesis Guide and a Thesis Template that give instructions regarding the format of the thesis are available on the website of the Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences. Both should be read carefully at every stage of thesis preparation.
- All other requirements for the degree must be completed before the student may undertake the oral defense of thesis.
Contact Info
| Contact: | Jessica Flannigan |
| Phone: | 314-935-5566 |
| Email: | flanniganj@wustl.edu |
| Website: | http://music.wustl.edu/graduate |