Music Theory, M.M.

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The Master of Music degree program is designed to prepare musicians to practice their specialization in the changing environment of current American music culture. The program encompasses eleven emphases: music composition, music education, music history, ethnomusicology, music performance, collaborative piano, conducting, jazz studies, piano pedagogy, vocal pedagogy, and music theory.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Masters degree, students in the Ethnomusicology, Musicology, and Theory program are expected to be able to:

Discuss major works, people, and trends in scholarship within their discipline.
Classify unknown musical works in terms of style, genre, chronology, and geographic origin.
Evaluate and interpret music, musical performances, music’s socio-cultural and historical contexts, and existing music scholarship.
Formulate original research questions and select methodologies and/or analytical techniques appropriate to produce scholarship that is historically, culturally, and theoretically grounded.
Construct presentations that prioritize and effectively communicate key information and integrate emergent pedagogical skills.

Admission Requirements

Application Deadline is August 1 for Fall and December 1 for Spring. Funding deadline is March 1. Since application reviews may begin immediately after the deadline we recommend submitting your application and providing all required documents before the deadline.

Documents required:

Three Letters of Recommendation
Professional Resume
Writing Sample (Theory applicants must submit an analysis paper)

Audition/Interview required:

Domestic applicants must select an audition/Interview date under the Secondary Music Application tab
International applicants must submit either a recorded videos/papers/scores online* OR select an audition/Interview date under the Secondary Music Application tab

*under the Portfolio section, if available in this application, or on your Application Status Page after you submit your application

International applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA). Successful completion of ELS 112 will also be accepted for this requirement.

Additionally, Duolingo test scores will be accepted for applications through Summer 2025. Applicants of the Graduate College who have completed a previous degree (associate, bachelor’s master’s or doctorate) from a U.S. college/university or are from a country (click here for a complete list) in which instruction was delivered in English (and attended the university for at least two years) are exempt from providing these test scores.

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses (19 credits)

Electives (5-11 credits)

Applied music/ensembles. Select 2-5 credits from:

MUCT 5000E MUCT 5010E MUCT 5020E MUCT 5030E MUCT 5040E MUED 6120 MUSP 5030E MUSP 5040E MUSP 5050E MUSP 5080E MUSP 5090E MUSP 5100E MUSP 5110E MUSP 5120E MUSP 5130E MUSP 5160E MUSP 5170E MUSP 5370E MUSP 5380E MUSP 5390E MUSP 5400E MUSP 5640E MUSP 5650E MUSP 5660E MUSP 5670E MUSP 5700E MUSP 5760E MUSP 5770E MUSP 5780E MUSP 5790E MUSP 6000E MUSP 6150E MUSP 6190E MUSP 6380E MUSP 6580E MUSP 6190E MUSP 6210 MUSP 6230 MUSP 6240 MUSP 6250 MUSP 6260 MUSP 6270 MUSP 6280 MUSP 6310 MUSP 6320 MUSP 6330 MUSP 6350 MUSP 6360 MUSP 6410 MUSP 6420 MUSP 6430 MUSP 6440 MUSP 6450 MUSP 6550 MUSP 6560 MUSP 6600 MUSP 6610 MUSP 6620 MUSP 6630 MUSP 6640 MUSP 6660 MUSP 6670

Music courses other than music theory. Select 3-6 credits from:

MUCT 5000 to MUCT 7999
MUED 5000 to MUED 7999
MUSP 6000 to MUSP 7999

Other Requirements

Student must take placement examinations in Music History/Literature and Music Theory as they begin their program. Those who do not pass one or more portions are permitted to retest during the first semester of residence. If the re-test is not passed, student must take the appropriate remedial courses, depending on the exam and the score. NOTE: Remedial courses listed here may not be used to satisfy degree requirements, except in the case of MUCT 6080 and MUCT 6120.

1. Music Theory Placement Exam - Pass 1 Exam or select 1 from the following remedial courses:

2. Music History/Literature Exams - Pass 2 Exams or select 2 from the following remedial courses:

Aural skills: each theory major must demonstrate basic aural skills proficiency during the audition/interview. Majors must also take an aural skills proficiency exam. Remedial
aural skills work may be required but does not count toward the degree.

MUCT 5050 - Graduate Aural Skills

Theory test: majors will be given a list of bibliographic materials as part of MUCT 6900 . An examination drawn from that list, to determine knowledge of major writings and re- sources related to music theory is to be taken in residence prior to approval of the thesis topic. Remedial aural skills work may be required but does not count towards the degree.

Culminating Experience (5 credits)

MUCT 6020 - Research Techniques

For Plan I: an oral defense of the thesis is required. Candidates will begin the exam by making a scholarly presentation on some aspect of the thesis.

Plan I:

MUCT 6990 - Thesis Research

Plan II:

MUCT 6980 - Portfolio

Minimum Total Credits (32 credits)

Additional Requirements

Minimum of 3 credits of 6990 required for Plan I master’s students. Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
Minimum of 18 credits must be at the 6000-level or higher
Minimum of 24 credits must be earned at BGSU
All requirements must be completed within six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.