Graduate Programs in Music
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:
The Master of Arts in Music degree is designed for students who wish to pursue an academic career in music through a broad liberal arts curriculum.
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).
⇒ Click here to apply for admission to one of our graduate programs
Graduate Program News
- Winter 2023 Graduate Placement Examinations have been scheduled (please see below).
- The Winter 2023 music history seminar will be "Paris: Music Capital of Modernity," taught by Professor Blaszkiewicz. Registration starts October 10 at registration.wayne.edu!
- New (updated) Curriculum Guides are now available for all graduate programs. Bonus: they now double as your Plan of Work, too!
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 "Scholarships" in the "Students" 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:
- Evangeline 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
- Several Endowed Scholarships, including the Professor Robert L. Lawson Endowed Memorial Scholarship and the Music Study Club of Metropolitan Detroit Endowed Scholarship (and numerous others), awarded by the Department of Music
- To apply for these endowed scholarships, please visit AcademicWorks or contact the Office of Student Financial Aid
- The Thomas C. Rumble Fellowships, offered by the Graduate School in partnership with the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts, awarded annually
- The Graduate Professional Scholarship, offered by the Graduate School, awarded annually
- The Dean's Diversity Master's 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
- Graduate School Thesis/Dissertation Research Support grants, offered by the Graduate School to graduate students pursuing research for their thesis or dissertation
- 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 Examinations will be held on Friday, January 6, 2023. The history exam will be 10:00-11:30 AM and the theory exam will be 12:30-2:00 PM.
⇒ Please contact Dr. Duchan with any questions.
Incoming graduate students are only 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 the History Study Guide (revised June 2021) and the Theory Study Guide
Curriculum Guide & Plan of Work
For each graduate program, a "Curriculum Guide & Plan of Work" provides an easy-to-read list of degree requirements. The same form functions as the Plan of Work (see below). It is recommended that graduate students save a copy of the Curriculum Guide for their program and keep it up to date to track their progress toward their degree.
All Master's students must complete and submit a Plan of Work no later than the completion of twelve (12) graduate credit hours. As of Fall 2022, the Plan of Work is the same form as the Curriculum Guide; it is no longer a separate form. After supplying the required information, the Plan of Work must be approved and signed by the student's program advisor and the Department's Graduate Officer. Once accepted, it will be placed in the student's file, and the student will be advanced in academic rank from "Applicant Master's" to "Candidate Master's." More information about the Plan of Work can be found on the Graduate School website.
To find your Curriculum Guide & Plan of Work, click on your degree program (Master of Arts or Master of Music) at the top of this page; for the Master of Music, then select your concentration. The form is available on the page for your degree/concentration.
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. (Last updated: 11/2020.)
Additional Links & Forms
| Links | Forms |
|---|---|
| Graduate Student Handbook for the Department of Music | Private Lessons Info & Forms |
| Graduate Music Course Rotations (2022-2025) | Plan of Work Form (*as of Fall 2022, the Plan of Work is the same form as the Curriculum Guide) |
| List of Graduate Degree Program Advisors for the Department of Music | Instructions for Completing Your Curriculum Guide & Plan of Work |
| DegreeWorks (to view degree progress) | Directed Study Form |
| Wayne State University's "Learn Anywhere" Resources for Students | Oral Examination Report Form |
| Wayne State University Graduate School | Graduate Credit Transfer Form |
| Wayne State University Graduate Bulletin | Change of Graduate Status Form (to change/add a program) |
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