Graduate Programs

The Wayne State University Department of Music offers two graduate degrees: the Master of Arts and the Master of Music.  Both are supervised by highly qualified faculty with extensive academic and professional experience in their areas of expertise. For specific program information, please select a degree:

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts degree is designed for students who wish to pursue an academic career in music through a broad liberal arts curriculum.

Master of Music

The Master of Music degree is intended for students who wish to pursue a professional concentration in composition/theory, conducting, or performance (vocal, instrumental, jazz).

The Orchestral Studies certificate is currently on hold. Read the Gainful Employment Disclosure.

 

Graduate Program News

• Congratulations to our Winter 2019 graduates!!
• Keep an eye on your degree progress: check out DegreeWorks!
• Incoming grad students: please check your email for occasional messages regarding your studies.
• Graduate Placement Examinations have been scheduled!  See "Graduate Placement Examinations" below.

Graduate Student Scholarships

Support for graduate studies is available from both institutional and non-institutional sources. More information about Department of Music scholarships is available under the "Scholarships" tab. Additional information about financial support for graduate study is also available from the Wayne State University Graduate School, the CFPCA, and the Office of Student Financial Aid. Sources of institutional funding include:

• Dumesnil Endowed Talent Scholarships offered by the Department of Music, awarded annually (see Scholarships)
• Activity Award Scholarships offered by the Department of Music, awarded on a semester-by-semester basis
• The Gretchen Valade Graduate Assistantship in Jazz offered by the Department of Music, awarded annually
• The Thomas C. Rumble Fellowships, offered by the Graduate School in partnership with the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, awarded annually. For information on the 2019-2020 Rumble Fellowship competition, see the CFPCA Rumble Guide and the CFPCA Rumble Application.
• The Graduate Professional Scholarship offered by the Graduate School, awarded annually
• The David DiChiera Scholarship, offered by the Department of Music, awarded annually for Vocal Performance and related music programs
• Master's Scholarships, offered by the Graduate School, awarded annually
• Graduate Student Professional Travel Awards, offered by the Graduate School to graduate students to support conference travel
• Travel Grants, offered by the WSU Humanities Center to graduate students to support conference travel during the Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer terms

Graduate Placement Examinations

Incoming graduate students are required to take Graduate Placement Examinations in music history and music theory.

The next round of graduate placement exams are scheduled for Monday, August 19, 2019.  The exam in music theory will be held 10:00 - 11:30 am, and the exam in music history will be held 12:30 - 2:00 pm.  Students should meet in the Department of Music office (room 1321 in the Old Main building) about ten minutes before each exam.

Advance registration is required.  To register, simply send an email to Dr. Duchan, the Director of Graduate Studies, indicating your intention to take the exams.

Incoming graduate students will only be allowed to register for selected graduate courses if they do not pass the exams.  (Under certain circumstances, students who earned a bachelor's degree in the Department of Music at Wayne State University may be exempt from the Graduate Placement Exam requirement. See the Graduate Student Handbook for details.)  

• Click to view History Study Guide and the Theory Study Guide

Curriculum Guide and Plan of Work

For each graduate program, a "Curriculum Guide & Checklist" provides an easy-to-read list of degree requirements.  It is recommended that graduate students save a copy of the Curriciulum Guide for their program and keep it up to date in order to track their progress toward their degree.  Quick links: MA in Music • MM Comp-Theory • MM Conducting • MM Instrumental Performance • MM Jazz Performance • MM Vocal Performance

Additionally, all Master's students must complete and submit a Plan of Work no later than the completion of twelve (12) graduate credit hours. After completing the form, it must be approved and signed by the student's program advisor and the Department's Graduate Officer.  Once the Plan of Work is accepted, it will be placed in the student's file and the student will be advanced from "Applicant Master's" to "Candidate Master's."  More information about the Plan of Work can be found on the Graduate School website.

Graduate Student Handbook

The Graduate Student Handbook contains the policies and procedures that govern the graduate programs in the Department of Music. All graduate students are encouraged to read it and keep a copy for reference.

Guide to Graduate Electives in Music 

Most semesters, the Department of Music publishes a "Guide to Graduate Electives in Music" to help graduate students plan their course selections.

	Fall 2018	Winter 2019
	Fall 2017	Winter 2018
		Winter 2017

Additional Links

DegreeWorks
List of Graduate Degree Program Advisors
Graduate Credit Transfer Form
Music Course Rotations (Fall 2018-Winter 2022)
Wayne State University Graduate Bulletin
Guide to Writing Program Notes