MA and MMus Programs

 

Master's programs require from 2 to 4.5 courses depending on the area of concentration. These requirements are outlined briefly below. In some cases additional undergraduate or graduate courses may be required to satisfy deficiencies. Such special requirements may form a part of the offer of admission, or may emerge from the planning meeting with your program advisor.

All programs have special requirements (thesis, language, ensemble, etc.) in addition to the formal course requirements. Students in composition, music education, musicology or theory may, with the consent of their program advisor and subject to a successful audition, include 9508 (Applied Music for Non-Performance Majors) among courses required for the degree. It should be understood, however, that this is an exceptional arrangement.

Applied music instruction beyond that required or permitted in a degree program may be available at extra cost, under course number 9502 (non-credit, no mark). Under some circumstances, credit for graduate-level work taken elsewhere may be granted. Consult your program advisor.

 

PDFCurrently-offered Graduate Courses

 

Degree Requirements

MA in Musicology
Visit Graduate Courses for descriptions of the courses outlined below.

*Students must indicate their intention to write a thesis in writing by the end of their first term of registration. In order to proceed in the thesis stream, they must submit a thesis proposal to the Graduate Committee no later than one month after the start of their third term of registration.*

Thesis Option

  • Thesis: 9590
  • 4.0 half courses in musicology or theory
  • Thesis may be in the field of western art or popular music

Course-based Option

  • Viva voce exam : 9589 The Viva voce is an oral examination based on revision of two papers originally submitted to graduate courses. The topic of the two papers shall be approved by the Program Advisor prior to submission. Students should consult the Graduate Program Assistant by the middle of the fifth term of registration in order to schedule the viva voce examination at the end of that term. The two papers must be submitted at least three weeks before the scheduled date of the examination.
  • 7.0 half courses (at least 4.0 of which must be in Music History)


MA in Popular Music & Culture

For more information, please visit www.fims.uwo.ca/popmusic/.



MA in Music Theory
Visit Graduate Courses for descriptions of the courses outlined below.

*Students must declare their intent to pursue the thesis or course-based stream by the end of the first term of registration.*

Thesis Option

  • Thesis: 9590
  • 1 half-course in history of theory: 9560, 9561, 9562, or 9563
  • 1 half-course in analysis: 9526 or 9519
  • Resources and current areas of research in music theory: 9521
  • 1 other course or 2 half-courses

Course-based Option

  • Resources and Current Areas of Research in Music Theory (half-course): M9521
  • 1 half-course in history of theory: one of 9560, 9561, 9562, or 9563
  • 1 half-course in analysis: 9526 or 9519
  • 4 other course half-courses (or equivalent), of which two must be in the area of Music Theory
  • Viva voce exam: M9589 The Viva voce is an oral examination based on revision of two papers originally submitted to graduate courses. The topic of the two papers shall be approved by the Program Advisor prior to submission. Students should consult the Graduate Program Assistant by the middle of the fifth term of registration in order to schedule the viva voce examination at the end of that term. The two papers must be submitted at least three weeks before the scheduled date of the examination.
  • Total Course Requirements: Seven half-courses (or equivalent).
  • Language Requirement: Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of a language other than English: normally French or German, although another language may be substituted if crucial to their research. If possible, students should meet the language requirement at the time of admission but in any case, no later than one year after matriculation. University language courses at the introductory level will normally satisfy this requirement as will a graduate reading course or completion of an examination approved by the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies and Research).


MMus in Composition
Visit Graduate Courses for descriptions of the courses outlined below.

  • Thesis: 9590
  • 1 full course in composition: 9518
  • 1.5 other courses


MMus in Music Education
Visit Graduate Courses for descriptions of the courses outlined below.

Applicants to Western’s masters program in music education can enroll as full-time, part-time, or summer students. They can also choose between thesis and course-based options. The thesis option consists of three required foundations courses in music education research methods, coupled with a course in either music education philosophy or psychology, a music education elective, and a thesis (an original research project done in consultation with faculty). Normally, students choose from among empirical, qualitative, historical, or philosophical methodologies for their research.

Students enrolled in the course-based option for the masters program in music education take the same three required foundations courses in music education research methods, although they have more choice with respect to other courses. In addition to taking one music elective and three music education electives, students sit for a comprehensive oral examination based on academic coursework and teaching practice.

A new summer master's program is now also available. Beginning July 2009, two music education courses will be offered each summer, allowing students the option of pursuing either the course-based or thesis format for the degree across four summers.

Students in the summer option pay fees only during the summer terms.
Program requirements for the degree are the same for full-time, part-time or summer students.

Applicants to the masters program in music education are normally expected to possess an Honors Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Bachelor of Education. Two years of successful teaching experience (or equivalent experience), an interview, and submission of two recent writing samples are required for entrance to the program.

*Students must declare their intent to pursue the thesis or course-based option stream by the end of the first term of registration.*

Thesis Option 

  • Thesis: 9590
  • 3 half-courses: 9531, 9539, 9577                  
  • 1 half-course chosen from 9581 or 9583
  • 1 half-course chosen from 9505, 9548, 9553, 9570, 9572, 9574, 9576, 9578, 9579, 9580, 9586

Course-based Option

  • 3 half-courses: 9531, 9539, 9577                   
  • 1 half-course music elective
  • 3 half-courses chosen from 9505, 9548, 9553, 9570, 9572, 9574, 9576, 9578, 9579, 9580, 9581, 9583, 9586
  • Comprehensive oral examination: 9589


MMus in Literature & Performance
Visit Graduate Courses for descriptions of the courses outlined below.

Concentrations are offered on piano, voice, collaborative piano, orchestral instruments, harpsichord, organ, music theatre, choral conducting, and instrumental conducting. For further information on the conducting concentrations, please visit the Conducting page.

Thesis Option

  • Thesis: 9590
  • Recital: 9511
  • 3 seminars in performance studies: 9593, 9594, 9595**
  • 2 half-courses in applied music: 9509 and 9584
  • Ensemble: 9528
  • 2 half-courses in musicology or theory*

1 other course, as follows:

  • Keyboard (solo) and voice 9515, or 2 half-courses from 9566, 9568/9569
  • Organ: 9558 or 9568/9569
  • Orchestral instruments: one and one half-courses from 9564, 9565, 9566, 9568, 9569, 9506, 9507, half-course in musicology or theory
  • Choral or instrumental conducting: 9574y and 9575y, or 9516y and 9517y

*with the permission of the program advisor and the Associate Dean, graduate seminars in other areas may be substituted

**Conducting majors may substitute 9503, 9504, 9531, 9581, 9583, or 9586 for 9595.


Course-based Option

  • 2 recitals: 9511, 9588
  • 3 seminars in performance studies: 9593, 9594, 9595**
  • 3 half-courses in applied music: 9509, 9584, 9585
  • Ensemble: 9528
  • 1.5 other courses, as follows: keyboard (solo or accompanying) and voice 9515 and a half course from 9566, 9568/9569, or a half-course in musicology or theory*
  • Organ: 9558 and a half-course from 9568/9569, or a half-course in musicology or theory*
  • Orchestral instrument: 9564/9565 and a half-course from 9566, 9568/9569, or a half-course in musicology or theory*
  • Choral or Instrumental Conducting: 9574y (Seminar in Choral Conducting I), 9575y (Seminar in Choral Conducting II) or 9516y (Seminar in Instrumental Conducting I), 9517y (Seminar in Instrumental Conducting II) and one graduate music elective*

*with the permission of the program advisor and the Associate Dean, graduate courses in other areas may be substituted

**Conducting majors may substitute 9503, 9504, 9531, 9581, 9583, or 9586 for 9595.

 

Other information

 

Summer Applied Music Instruction
It is possible for the three terms of Applied study to extend through the summer. However, because of the typical schedule of most graduate performance faculty, the program cannot guarantee the availability of instruction during the summer. Registration for applied study, which involves summer instruction, must be individually arranged between student and teacher and notice of the arrangement must be provided in writing to the Graduate Office.

Time Limits and Residency Requirements
It is your responsibility to see that you understand and meet all degree requirements within the prescribed time limit (two years beyond completion of the residence requirement, three terms of full-time registration). Ordinarily, it is only possible to obtain an extension for one term and only when circumstances clearly beyond your control have interrupted or seriously delayed your degree work.

Records of marks and averages
If your average grade in graduate courses falls below 70%, you may continue in the program only by special permission of the Graduate Committee. For purposes of computing the average for Teaching Assistantship and Scholarship eligibility, marks obtained in all graduate courses will be counted. Marks in undergraduate courses, whether taken for personal interest or to remedy deficiencies, will not count. Ensemble 9528, and Language Reading courses are ordinarily graded Pass/Fail, and are not considered by the Don Wright Faculty of Music in computing your average. (Note, however, that such course grades may be considered in applications for external funding.)

"Satisfactory" for 9511 (First Recital), 9588 (Second Recital), and 9590 (Thesis) will be entered on your official University transcript when you have fulfilled the requirement. A grade of "F" will be entered on the official
University transcript for one of these requirements only if you do not have permission to attempt it again, and therefore must withdraw from the
program. However, records of marks obtained in all courses, including unsatisfactory attempts in 9511 or 9588 (Recital) and the Defence of
Thesis will be kept in the Don Wright Faculty of Music.

 

 

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