Structure of the Master's Curricula:

The minimum requirement for a master's degree is 30 credits (some degrees may require more), excluding required credit hours in prerequisite or review courses and major ensemble. All master's degrees include studies in a major field, a music history and literature curriculum common to all majors and a secondary concentration called a outside area.

Below is a general list of common requirements for most Master's degrees. Select the section heading to view specific information on that portion of the curriculum.

Programs (majors)

Click on the program name below to have a list of requirements for that degree open in a new window.  These requirements are for the 2007-2009 bulletin.  If you entered under the 2001-2003, 2003-2005, or 2005-2007 bulletin, click here for a list of program requirements. 

Course Load

Residency Requirement and Transfer Credit

Time Limits

Students admitted to a master's degree program must complete all degree requirements within seven years after beginning graduate study. Students who do not complete their work within the prescribed time limits must be readmitted to the major field (through interview, submission of documents, or audition as appropriate to the major), meet current degree requirements and make any other curricular changes indicated by the departmental chair and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Petitions for extensions of the limit must be sent to the Director of Graduate Studies, who considers them on a case-by-case basis, giving preference to continued professional involvement in music. If granted, extensions last no more than one year. In addition, any course taken more than seven years earlier must be revalidated according to the procedures of the department offering the course.

These time limits are suspended for student in active military service for the duration of that active service.

Students who entered from 1993 to 1998 have a time limit of 5 years, 7 for summer-only students.

Music History & Literature Requirement

                                    *Course topics can not be repeated.

Outside Area

An Outside Area, which is like a small minor, consists of six credit hours in a field outside the major. It can be satisfied in any of three ways:

1. Six credit hours in one department of the School of Music other than your major, with approval of the appropriate department chairperson and the Director of Graduate Studies.
2. Six credit hours in one field outside of the School of Music, with approval of the graduate advisor in that department and the Director of Graduate Studies in the School of Music.
3. Six credit hours within or outside the School of Music, with approval of the Director of Graduate Studies in accordance with departmental guidelines. For this option, called an "individualized outside area," the courses must fit a specific theme or emphasis; a written proposal is required.

To declare an Outside Area, students must complete an Outside Area Approval Form, acquire the appropriate signature, and submit the form to the Graduate Office.

Guidelines for Master's Outside Area

1. The Outside Area may become a minor if at least 12 hours are taken in that field, and any other requirements for the specific minor are met. (The form for requesting a minor--not a regular outside area--is available here.]
2. A grade of "C" or better is needed in each course to fulfill the degree requirement. In addition, courses counting toward an outside area or minor must have at least an average of "B." Departments offering the outside area or minor may require a higher grade average.
3. For an outside area in a performance area, an audition report completed by the applied instrument faculty must accompany the Outside Area Approval Form. The performance level required for an outside area is the same as for a minor.
4. Performance majors may not use another performance area for an outside area except that modern-instrument performers may elect an early-music minor and vice versa. A minor in performance, when allowed, requires study at the 800 level.
5. Courses that could count toward a student's major field are generally not eligible (for example, a student may not count "excess" performance study credits in the major toward an outside area): up to six credit hours may be taken in courses closely related to the major field only if they are not specifically required as part of the major. Courses that have traditionally been accepted include string pedagogy for string majors, string technology for string majors, harp pedagogy for harp majors, and opera workshop for voice majors. Any combination of courses other than these must be approved before the student enrolls.
6. The courses to be counted under the "individualized outside area" are approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in accordance with departmental guidelines before the student enrolls. Courses are not normally approved "after the fact."
7. Under the "individualized outside area," performance majors may include applied study in a related instrument, up to a maximum of two credits. Graduate credit is awarded if the student is accepted at the minor (800) level and is taught by a faculty member.
8. Courses that are normally used to satisfy proficiencies or tool subjects are not eligible (such as M539, M541, M542, T508, T509, T511, and piano classes and P700 lessons). Ensemble and chamber music coaching are not eligible. Graduate reading courses in foreign languages (under _491/492 numbers) are also not eligible.

9. Courses must ordinarily be at the graduate level. Undergraduate courses at the 100 or 200 level are not eligible.
   Advanced undergraduate courses at the 300 or 400 level may be eligible if they satisfy a requirement for the undergraduate major
   in that subject.
10. Courses may be transferred from other institutions to qualify for the outside area. Such courses must meet the other requirements above and be officially accepted for transfer.

For information about the process to declare an Outside Area in Composition, see here.

Recitals

Each master's performance major must perform a varying number of recitals, depending on the degree program. M.M. Instrumental Conducting, Wind Conducting and Composition majors are also required to do a public performance. General recital requirements are provided below. For specific information on recital requirements, students should review the information for their degree and check with their department chair.

For information regarding recital guidelines and scheduling, review the Recital Scheduling homepage, or contact the Recital Scheduling Office (855-6000).

Recital Requirements

1. A hearing is required for all master's degree recitals that are in partial fulfillment of academic requirements.

1. It is the teacher's responsibility to schedule a hearing so that it can be completed and the recital performed within the deadlines established each semester by the dean of the School of Music.

2. Hearings should normally be completed during the fall or spring semesters even if the recital is to be given at a later time.

3. Students wishing to have a recital hearing in the summer must have prior approval of the chairperson of the department and the Director of Graduate Studies.

2. If using musicians other than a keyboard accompanist, the student must have the recommendation of his/her teacher and follow the guidelines outlined in the School of Music bulletin.

3. The recitals have specific minimum and maximum durations listed in the School of Music Bulletin.
   

4. A grade of at least a "B" must be achieved on the recital(s). The grade for a masters recital is assigned by the teacher, who hears the recital in person.

Master's Comprehensive Examination

Before graduation, all master's degree students must pass an oral or written examination. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the major-field department to ascertain the procedures in that department.

MME and MM Composition thesis submission

For procedures and rules for the submission of the final Master of Music in Composition thesis, see http://www.music.indiana.edu/department/composition/compdocs.shtml.

For procedures and rules for the submission of the final Master of Music Education thesis or practicum, see http://www.music.indiana.edu/som/grad/MMEThesis.htm.

Double major/double degrees

With permission, MM students may choose to complete a degree with two majors (one diploma, with two majors listed on the transcript) or to complete double degrees (two diplomas) with a small overlap of requirements. The student must be admitted by audition to each major. The two degrees in a double degree must be awarded simultaneously; it is not possible to complete one degree and then to add a second.

MM with a double major (one diploma, two majors listed on transcript). A student must

• complete all requirements for each major;
• satisfy all proficiencies and tool subjects for each major;
• complete the music history & literature requirement (2 music history courses);
• enroll in ensemble each semester;
• perform all required recitals for each major;
• pass comprehensive exams for each major.

(No outside area (cognate) is required; its place is taken by the second major.)

MM double degrees (two diplomas; must be awarded simultaneously). A student must  

• complete all requirements for each major;
• satisfy all proficiencies and tool subjects for each major;
• complete two music history & literature requirements (4 music history courses);
• enroll in ensemble each semester;
• perform all required recitals for each major;
• pass comprehensive exams for each major.

(No outside area is required; its place is taken by the second major.)

Performer's Certificate

Performer's Certificate

Undergraduate students, master’s students, and Performer Diploma students are eligible for the Performer’s Certificate, which is awarded as a special recognition of musical understanding and technical proficiency demonstrated in recital.  Award of the Performer’s Certificate is a three-step process involving the hearing, the recital, and a special hearing by the All-Faculty Performer’s Certificate Committee.  Each of the three steps must take place during a fall or spring semester. Details are available in the undergraduate office.  The following procedures are to be observed.

1.  The student is initially nominated for the Performer’s Certificate at the recital hearing which must be attended by at least three faculty members.  Based on the number present, the necessary number of positive votes to be nominated for a Performer’s Certificate is shown in parentheses:  3(2), 4(3), 5(4), 6(4), 7(5), 8(6), 9(6), 10(7), 11(8), 12(8), 13(9), 14(10), 15(10), 16(11), 17(12), 18(12), 19(13), 20(14), 21(14).

2.  The required quorum for attendance at the recital is five faculty members.  The student, performance instructor, and department chair should consult to be sure that the recital is scheduled at a time when the required quorum can be met.  The chair of the student’s department has the responsibility to assemble the faculty committee in consultation with the performance instructor.  Based on the number present, the necessary number of positive votes to be nominated for a special hearing by the All-Faculty Performer’s Certificate Hearing is shown in parentheses:  5(4), 6(4), 7(5), 8(6), 9(6), 10(7), 11(8), 12(8), 13(9), 14(10), 15(10), 16(11), 17(12), 18(12), 19(13), 20(14), 21(14).

3.  If the recital quorum is met and the vote is positive, the student’s department chair should notify the undergraduate office as soon as possible of the number of faculty present and the results of their vote.  The chair should also instruct the student to go to the undergraduate office immediately to schedule the special hearing.

4.  The regular size of the All-Faculty Performer’s Certificate Committee is seven members; the required quorum at the special hearing is five members.  Based on the number present, the number of positive votes required to award the Performer’s Certificate is shown in parentheses:  5(4), 6(4), 7(5).  The special hearing is scheduled for half an hour.  The student selects the music for the first ten minutes, and the chairperson of the committee, in consultation with other committee members, chooses the repertoire for the remaining time.

5.  At the special hearing, the student must be prepared to perform the entire recital program (the same program as the recital); if other performers were involved in the recital, the same performers must be present at the special hearing. The student is most strongly advised not to schedule the recital within the last two weeks of the semester.  If the student is nominated at a recital taking place after the Sunday which precedes the second-to-last week of classes, the special hearing cannot take place during that semester.  If the special hearing is thus delayed to the following (spring or fall) semester, the requirement that the student be prepared to perform the same recital with the same performers still stands.

Sample Schedule

NOTE: The schedule below is only a sample. Master's students come to degree programs with varied backgrounds and experience, and it is impossible to construct a "one-size-fits-all" curriculum. For general comments on the Master's curricula and the principles on which this sample is based, see the Structure of Master's Curricula section above.

The schedule below is for an violin major with an outside area in music theory who has passed all theory and history entrance proficiency exams except sight singing and music history before 1750.