University of Calgary : Music

Music - MUSI

Contact Information

Location: Craigie Hall D 100
Faculty number: 403.220.5313
Fax: 403.282.6825
E-mail address: ikubicek@ucalgary.ca
Web page URL: http://music.ucalgary.ca/graduate/prospective

1. Degrees and Specializations Offered Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) with specialization in Musicology, Composition, or Music Education
Master of Arts (MA) thesis-based with specialization in Musicology
Master of Music (MMus) thesis-based with specializations in Performance, Conducting, Composition, or Music Education

2. Admission Requirements

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department requires that all applicants submit:

a) One-page letter detailing their specific reasons for pursuing graduate study

b) Two reference letters

Other requirements are outlined below and based on the degree being pursued.

Master of Music (Performance)
A live audition or video/audio recording. Repertoire for the audition must contain representative works from a variety of historical periods and must demonstrate an advanced level of technical accomplishment. Recordings should be approximately 20-30 minutes in length.

Master of Music (Conducting)
a) A completed Bachelor of Music degree, including study in conducting

b) Demonstrated ability in an audition, which can be met in two ways:

A video of approximately fifteen minutes
A rehearsal of a University ensemble (during Fall and Winter)

c) Demonstrated competence on a major instrument or voice

Master of Music (Composition)
a) A completed Bachelor of Music degree, including study in composition

b) A portfolio of at least three recent compositions, together with recordings where available

Master of Music (Music Education)
The Department is not currently accepting applications to the Master of Music (Music Education) for the 2010-2011 academic year.

a) Normally, two years of successful teaching experience or equivalent professional involvement in music education

b) An essay on a topic in Music Education prepared during or subsequent to the applicant’s undergraduate work

Master of Arts (Musicology)
A research essay or paper of approximately 10-15 pages on a topic in music history or theory prepared during or subsequent to the applicant’s undergraduate course work.

Doctor of Philosophy
a) A recognized Master’s degree or equivalent

b) Composition - a portfolio of works, together with recordings, if available, and an extended research paper

c) Musicology - one or two extended research essays of approximately 25 pages in length

d) Music Education - one or two extended research essays

3. Application Deadline The deadline for the submission of complete applications for both Master’s and doctoral program is January 15 for September admission.

For students wishing to pursue a Master of Music in Performance, an audition of approximately thirty minutes will be arranged on an individual basis from December 1 to April 15. Specific dates and times can be arranged by contacting the Graduate Administrator at 403.220.5383.

For consideration for university scholarships, complete applications (including the audition and the required TOEFL score, if applicable) must be concluded by January 15. Departmentally-administered funding (such as graduate teaching assistantships and research scholarships) will be decided after April 15.

4. Advanced Credit The applicant must make advanced credit requests as part of the admission process. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission.

5. Program/Course Requirements

In addition to Faculties of Graduate Studies and Arts requirements, the Department, excluding qualifying courses, requires:

Master's Degrees
Master of Music (Music Education): Music History and Literature 603, 651 and three full approved graduate-level courses

Master of Music (Composition): Music Theory and Composition 671, Music History and Literature 651, Music Theory and Composition 695.01/691 and two full approved graduate-level courses

Master of Music (Performance): Music History and Literature 603, 651, Music Performance 691, 693, one half course at the graduate-level in Music Theory and Composition or Music History and Literature and three other approved half course options

Master of Music (Conducting): Music History and Literature 603, 651, Music Performance 632 or 634 and two full approved graduate-level courses

Master of Arts (Musicology): Music History and Literature 603, 651 and three full approved graduate-level courses

Restrictions
No more than one full course for the Master of Music and Master of Arts degrees may be taken in an area other than Music.

Doctor of Philosophy
Students entering the PhD program will normally be required to complete at least six half courses:
a) An interdisciplinary half course designed by the student and supervisor
b) Five additional approved graduate-level half courses. Students in the Doctor of Philosophy (Composition) program must take Music History and Literature 651 unless this course (or its equivalent) has been completed as part of a Master's degree.

6. Additional Requirements

Diagnostic examinations in music history and theory will be given to all entering students in order to determine if qualifying work in these areas is required.

Language
Master’s Programs

Master of Arts (Musicology)
Applicants are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of a language other than English—normally German. In practice, this requirement and any other linguistic competence that may be deemed necessary for the student’s proposed research area must be met before the thesis topic will be approved.

Other Master’s programs
While there are no formal second-language requirements for the various programs of the Master of Music degree, students may be required to attain proficiency in a language other than English where this is deemed appropriate for the proposed thesis/project.

Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy (Musicology)
Candidates are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of two languages other than English. German is recommended as one of the required languages.
Doctor of Philosophy (Composition) and (Music Education)
Candidates are required to demonstrate a reading knowledge of one language other than English.

Performance
Graduate students in the MMus Performance program are required to participate in one of the large ensembles for the duration of their degree. Pianists are required to accompany two hours per week in a vocal or instrumental studio if they do not participate in an ensemble. Another option for pianists is to accompany a Junior or a Senior recital. The head of the performance area will make all ensemble or accompanying assignments. Students in graduate programs other than performance are not required to participate in an ensemble, although such participation is encouraged.

Thesis/Recital/Project
Master’s Programs
All Master’s degree programs require a thesis or recital or project equivalent (see below), prepared under the guidance of a supervisor and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Department.
Master of Music (Performance)
The thesis is interpreted to be two public recitals featuring solo performances and chamber music. At least one Canadian work should be included in one of the recitals. The examining committee will evaluate the candidate’s performance in both of the recitals. Recital proposals are to be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator for approval by the Graduate Committee at least two months before each performance.
Master of Music (Conducting)
The thesis is interpreted to be two public performances, on or off campus, with University or community ensembles.
Master of Music (Composition)
The thesis is interpreted to be a large-scale compositional project and an accompanying descriptive essay related to the project. Normally, the project will be presented in a public recital.

Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy (Composition)
The thesis is interpreted to be a substantial creative project and an accompanying analytical/research paper approved by the supervisory committee.

7. Credit for Undergraduate Courses Not applicable.

8. Time Limit Maximum completion time is five years for the Master of Music programs and four years for the Master of Arts (Musicology). Maximum completion time is six years for the doctoral program.

9. Supervisory Assignments The Graduate Coordinator will function as the interim supervisor for all newly admitted students during their first term. This arrangement will allow students to use their first term as an opportunity to meet with faculty and to secure a permanent supervisor.

10. Required Examinations

Master's Degrees

Master of Arts (Musicology), Master of Music (Music Education) and Master of Music (Composition)
A comprehensive oral examination encompassing all areas of the chosen field is required. This examination will take place following the completion of coursework and must be satisfactorily completed before the submission of the thesis/project.

Master of Music (Performance) and (Conducting)
A comprehensive oral examination based upon the literature of the instrument and more extensively upon the repertoire of the approved recital programs is required. This examination must be satisfactorily completed at least four weeks before the date of the second public performance required for the degree.

Doctor of Philosophy

This degree requires a candidacy examination with a written and an oral component upon completion of course work, but no later than 28 months after initial registration.

Questions on the research proposal will be included in the oral candidacy examination.

Final thesis oral examinations of written theses are open.

11. Research Proposal Requirements Research proposals must be submitted to and approved by the Department's Graduate Studies Committee at least two months before the student intends to defend or perform.

The proposal should include:

A detailed description of the area of investigation,
A clear statement of the approach to be taken and the research method to be utilized,
An account of how the work will be presented,
An indication of how the project will make an original contribution to the student’s field of study.

12. Special Registration Information Students should consult the Graduate Coordinator before registering.

13. Financial Assistance Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

For scholarship applications, see Application Deadlines.

14. Other Information International applications will not be considered unless the applicant has completed and passed the TOEFL examination (or equivalent) before the application or scholarship deadline. Students must apply for the Open Scholarship Competition by January 15.

15. Faculty Members/Research Interests Current faculty members and their areas of interest can be found at http://music.ucalgary.ca/contact-us/directory.

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