Program Overview

Musicology Program

This advanced degree program prepares students to write, speak, and research music from various historical and critical perspectives. Through this graduate musicology program, students will work with top professors to study music from historical and theoretical perspectives. Classes will prepare them for academic careers with instruction on how to write, speak about, and research music.

Program Details

• Program Type: Master's
• Academic Unit: Conservatory
• Degree Type: Master of Music
• Standard credit hours: 35
• Delivery Mode: In-person
• Typical Program Length: 1-4 years
• Typical Course Load: 1-5 per semester

Career Opportunities

A degree in musicology is good preparation for an academic career focused on the study of music. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment of postsecondary teachers is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations in the next decade.

• College professor
• Music historian
• Music preservationist
• Median salary/year: $65,038

Potential Courses

• Pedagogy of Music History: This course focuses on techniques and materials related to teaching music history and music appreciation combined with supervised teaching.
• Advanced Research and Bibliography in Music: This course teaches advanced procedures in bibliography, research, and scholarly writing.
• Research Problems: This is an individual study course where you'll work with a member of the graduate faculty to prepare a final project.

Related Programs and Pathways

• Artist's Certificate (Certificate)
• Performer's Certificate (Certificate)
• Music Education (Doctorate)

Admission Requirements

1. Review admission requirements
2. Gather your materials:

• Official transcripts
• Names and locations of previous college(s) and dates you attended
• Citizenship, residency, and visa information (if applicable)
• Artistic resume or CV: Please list all relevant music experience such as ensembles, schools, teachers, performances, and awards
• Two references: List the names and contact information of your references, and the application system will send an email to them requesting that they submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf
• Submit a writing sample from an upper-level music history class, along with a statement of purpose
• An informal interview may be conducted via Zoom, phone, or in-person

3. Complete the online application: $45 for domestic graduate students or $75 for international graduate students

Application Dates

• To Start Classes in Fall: Apply by Dec. 15, Classes begin in August

Financial Aid

• 80% of first-year students seeking a master's degree or graduate certificate received financial aid
• 92% of first-year students seeking a doctoral degree received financial aid
• 77% of all degree- and certificate-seeking graduate students received financial aid