Master of Music
Unit and Grade Requirements
Thirty units of graduate work are required; a minimum of 15 units
(excluding thesis) must be at the 500 level or higher. All students must
satisfy the special requirements of their major department (see
departmental advisor). Students must complete at least 26 semester units
at USC, including the thesis or recital. A grade point average of not
less than 3.0 (A = 4.0) is required for all graduate courses in music,
and a grade of B or higher is required for all courses in the major
department. Students who transfer credits must achieve this average on
all combined transferred and residence units.
Transferred Credits
All credits transferred must be the equivalent of corresponding
current work at USC. Transfer work must have been completed
within seven years from the date of admission to a master's degree
program to be applied toward that degree. Transfer credit petitions must
be filed with the appropriate faculty chair and the chair's decision
made no later than the end of the first year in either the master's or
doctoral program.
Time Limit
The time limit for completing the Master of Music degree is five years.
Progress is measured from the beginning of the first course at USC
applied toward the degree. Extensions will be granted by petition to the
Thornton School for only the most compelling reasons.
Thesis Requirements and Guidance Committees
A thesis is required of candidates for the Master of Music degree in
composition; a thesis or final project is required of candidates for the
Master of Music degree in music education. For composition majors, the
thesis will consist of a work in three or more movements for four or
more instruments; for music education majors, the thesis will consist of
a research document written on a topic approved by the music education
department, the final project will consist of a creative project that
will present the arrangement, production or design of innovative ideas,
materials or curricula for specific applications in teaching music.
Before registering for 594a Thesis, a student must choose a guidance
committee composed of three regular faculty, approved by the department
chair, of which at least two come from the home department. The chair of
the guidance committee directly supervises the preparation of the
thesis, the final acceptance of which is based upon the unanimous
recommendation of all three members of the committee.
Master's Recital
At least one public recital is required of all candidates for the Master
of Music degree with a major in choral music, composition, organ,
strings or vocal arts. Two public recitals are required for majors in
conducting, guitar, jazz studies, keyboard collaborative arts, wind and
percussion instruments, and piano. Candidates should apply at the Music
Operations Office for recital dates. Some departments require that a
candidate be prepared to play or conduct the program for the approval of
a faculty committee in advance of the recital.
Students majoring in conducting may complete the recital requirements
with a formal public recital or with special projects assigned, approved
and attended by faculty from the conducting department, who also judge
the acceptability of all such performances.
Comprehensive Review
Candidates for the Master of Music must pass a comprehensive review
toward the end of their course of study. This review, which is
administered by the faculty of the major department, consists of an oral
or written examination or a specially designated course; it will cover
relevant aspects of musical performance, literature and technique.
Master of Music in Choral Music
Prerequisite
Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Music degree or
its equivalent. Completed course work must include at least the
following: Conducting MUCD 340, MUCD 343 and MUCD 441; Music History and
Literature MUHL 331 and MUHL 332; Theory and Composition MUCO 232b, MUCO
233b and MUCO 338x. One year of German or French is strongly
recommended. Applicants must have attained senior standing in a
principal performance medium.
Keyboard Proficiency
A keyboard proficiency test will be
given by the choral faculty during the student's first semester in
residence to determine if additional study in keyboard is required.
Comprehensive Review
A final oral examination in choral
literature, conducting and rehearsal techniques will be administered by
the choral music faculty.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
MUCM 440 (2), MUCM 541 (2), MUCM 542 (2), MUCM 543 (2),
MUCM 590 (2) | 10 |
| MUCD 443 (2), MUCD 541 (6) | 8 |
| Ensemble | 2 |
| MUHL 570 (2), electives at 500 level
(4) | 6 |
| MPVA 439 (2), MPVA 501VO (2) | 4 |
| Graduate recital | 0 |
| Comprehensive review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Composition
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a Bachelor of Music degree
with a major in composition or theory.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| Ensemble | 2 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL 578 (2), electives at the
500 level (4) | 8 |
| Individual instruction 501 in any performance medium | 4 |
| MUCO 537 (8),
MUCO 592 (2), MUCO 594ab (4) | 14 |
| Electives | 2 |
| Graduate recital | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Conducting
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a bachelor's degree with a
music major and have at least one year of experience conducting an
orchestra.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| MUCD 550 (8) | 8 |
| Ensemble (preferably chamber music) | 4 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL 575 (2),MUHL 591 (2) | 6 |
| One course from MUHL 573 (2), MUHL 574 (2),
MUHL 576 (2), MUHL 577 (2) or MUHL 578 (2) | 2 |
| MUCO 501 (2), MUCO 502 (2) | 4 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Two graduate recitals | 0 |
| Comprehensive review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Jazz Studies
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a Bachelor of Music degree
with a major in jazz studies or its equivalent.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| MUEN 505
or MUEN 529 (4), MUEN 532 (4) | 8 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL 578 (2), MUHL electives at
the 500 level (2) | 6 |
| MUJZ 443 (2) or MUJZ 545 (2) | 2 |
| MUJZ 547 (2),
MUJZ 553 (8) | 10 |
| Electives | 4 |
| Two graduate recitals | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Music Education
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a Bachelor of Music degree
with a major in music education and have one year of teaching experience
beyond supervised student teaching.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| Ensemble | 2 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL electives at the 500 level
(6) | 8 |
| MUED 500 (2), electives (4) | 6 |
| MUED 594ab (4),
or MUED 590 (2) and MUED 592 (2) | 4 |
| MUED 502 (2) or MUED 503 (2) or MUED 505
(2) | 2 |
| Individual instruction (organ, piano, string instrument,
vocal arts, or wind or percussion instrument) | 4 |
| Electives in
music or education | 4 |
| Comprehensive review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Performance (Keyboard Collaborative Arts)
Prerequisite
Applicants must hold the Bachelor of Music degree
with a major in piano or keyboard collaborative arts or equivalent
background as determined by the collaborative arts faculty. It is
strongly suggested that students who have not previously taken courses
in Italian, French, English and German diction, or in song literature,
enroll in the appropriate course(s) (MPVA 440, MPVA 441, MPVA 479) as
part of their electives.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| MUHL 570
(2), MUHL 578 (2), MUHL electives at the 500 level (4) | 8 |
| MPKS 481 (2),
553CP (8), 560 (2), 561 (2) | 14 |
| Electives in music | 8 |
| Two graduate
recitals, one with voice(s), the other with instrument(s) | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Performance (Classical Guitar)
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a bachelor's degree with a
major in music with guitar as the principal instrument.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| MUEN 526
(2), electives (2) | 4 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL 578 (2), MUHL electives at the 500 level
(2) | 6 |
| MPGU 427 (3), MPGU 553CG (8), MPGU 557 (4) | 15 |
| MPKS 481
(2) | 2 |
| Electives | 3 |
| Two graduate recitals | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Performance (Studio Guitar)
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a bachelor's degree with a
major in music with guitar as the principal instrument.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| MUEN 526
(2), electives (2) | 4 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL 578 (2), MUHL electives at the 500 level
(2) | 6 |
| MPGU 553SG (8), MPGU 558 (4) | 12 |
| Music
electives | 4 |
| Electives | 4 |
| Two graduate recitals | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Performance (Organ)
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a Bachelor of Music degree
with a major in organ or equivalent.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| Ensemble | 2 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL 578 (2), MUHL electives at
the 500 level (4) | 8 |
| MPKS 481 (2), MPKS 553OR (8) | 10 |
| Music
electives (at least two from the 500 level) | 6 |
| Electives | 4 |
| Graduate recital | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Performance (Piano)
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a Bachelor of Music degree
in piano or equivalent.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| Ensemble | 2 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL electives at 500 level
(6) | 8 |
| MPKS 553P (8), MPKS 450a (2), MPKS 520 (6) | 16 |
| Electives | 4 |
| Two graduate recitals | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Performance (Violin), (Viola), (Violoncello),
(Double Bass) or (Harp)
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a Bachelor of Music degree
with a major in a string instrument or equivalent.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| MUCD 443
| 2 |
| MUEN
527 (2) and MUEN 520, MUEN 530 or MUEN 550 (4) | 6 |
| MUHL 570 (2),
MUHL 578 (2), MUHL electives at the 500 level (4) | 8 |
| MPKS 481
| 2 |
| MPST
553 (8) | 8 |
| Music electives | 4 |
| Graduate recital | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Master of Music in Performance (Vocal Arts)
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a Bachelor of Music degree
with a major in vocal arts. Students who have not had formal training in
foreign language, diction, vocal pedagogy, acting for singers, song
literature and in Italian, French or German languages must show
competency in these areas through examination or complete appropriate
course work with a grade of B or higher.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| Ensemble | 2 |
| MUHL 570 (2), electives at 500 level
(2) | 4 |
| MPVA 443 (2), MPVA 540 (2), MPVA 541 (2), MPVA 553VO
(8) | 14 |
| Electives in music (400 or 500 level) | 5 |
| Electives | 5 |
| Graduate recital | 0 |
| Comprehensive
review | 0 |
| | 30 |
Comprehensive Review
A final examination in vocal pedagogy, art song and oratorio literature
and diction will be administered by the vocal arts faculty. Students are
required to write extensive program notes for the degree recital.
USC Opera
USC Opera is an integral part of the Vocal Arts
Department, providing career development opportunities for singers,
coach/pianists, conductors and directors. The program includes
instruction in opera history and literature, coaching techniques, stage
direction, body movement for singers, stage training, role study and
analysis.
The opera workshop is a repertory experience involving preparation
and performance of operatic works and excerpts for performance both on
and off the USC campus.
Master of Music in Performance (Flute), (Oboe), (Clarinet),
(Bassoon), (Saxophone), (French Horn), (Trumpet), (Trombone), (Tuba) or
(Percussion)
Prerequisite
The applicant must hold a Bachelor of Music degree
with a major in a wind instrument or percussion or equivalent.
| Curriculum Requirements | Units |
|---|
| MUCD 443
| 2 |
| MUEN
523 (4), MUEN 525 (4) | 8 |
| MUHL 570 (2), MUHL 578 (2), MUHL electives at
the 500 level (4) | 8 |
| MPWP 481 or MPWP 482 (2), MPWP 551 (2), MPWP 553 (8) | 12 |
| Two graduate
recitals | 0 |
| Comprehensive review | 0 |
| | 30 |
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