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Conducting Degree Plan

A concentration within the Master of Music degree

Choral Conducting

Major Area (12 Credit Hours)

For choral conductors, the major area curriculum consists of 9 credits chosen from the following courses in Choral Literature:

  • MUS582 , MUS 583, MUS 584, and MUS 585. (9 credit hours)
  • MUS 550: Recital (3 credit hours)

All Graduate Choral Conducting majors must pass a Diction Proficiency Entrance Exam covering English, German, French, Italian, and Latin diction. Any deficiency must be made up by taking the undergraduate course MUS 330 - Diction for Singers.

Other Courses (12 Credit Hours)

  • MUS 515 (Research and Bibliography) (3 credit hours)
  • MUS 577 (Analysis of Tonal Music) (3 credit hours)
  • MUS 578 (Analysis of Twentieth Century Music) (3 credit hours)

and choose one of the following (3 credit hours):

  • MUS 575 (Music Theory Pedagogy)
  • MUS 573 (Survey of Music Theory)
  • MUS 562 (Seminar in Music History)

Electives in Methodology and Literature (9 Credit Hours)

Chosen from courses related to the respective area of specialization: MUS 413G, 415G, 418G, 419G, 420G, 428G, 429G, 434G, 459G, 460G, 461G, 462G, 464G, 465G, 471G, 509, 511, 513, 514, 519, 520, 521, 524, 525, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 532, 533, 534, 535, 536, 537, 538, 541, 542, 571, 580, 595, 598, or 597 (9 credit hours)

Total (33 credit hours)

All full-time students must enroll and participate in a minimum of one section of MUS 544 Graduate Ensemble each semester whether or not the student has an assistantship.

Instrumental Conducting

12 hours in Major Applied Music and Recital

  • MUS 539 (1-3) Advanced Conducting and Score Study I-III 9 hours
  • MUS 550 Recital (see note below)

12 hours in History and Theory of Music

  • MUS 515 (Research and Bibliography) (3 credit hours)
  • MUS 577 (Analysis of Tonal Music) or
  • MUS 578 (Analysis of Twentieth Century Music) (3 credit hours)

and choose two of the following (6 credit hours)

  • MUS 575 (Music Theory Pedagogy)
  • MUS 573 (Survey of Music Theory)
  • MUS 562 (Seminar in Music History)

9 hours electives in Methodology and Literature

Must include:

  • MUS 513 Band Rehearsal Techniques 3 credit hours
  • MUIS 434G Band Literature 3 credit hours
  • One free elective in Music 3 credit hours

Note: Recital MUS 550. The student will be required to demonstrate conducting ability through a 50 minute program in the chosen field. This program should demonstrate his/her higher knowledge of music of different style periods as well as performance techniques. The recital must be approved and supervised by the Chairman of the Instrumental Conducting Area. In addition, the program must be supported by carefully researched program notes submitted to and approved by the supervising professor at least one month prior to the performance date.