Southwestern College

Overview

Degree Offered
Southwestern College confers a Master of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Music Education or Performance degree.  Additional information about the degree may be found in the SC Graduate Catalog.

Academic Advising
Dr. Timothy Shook, Chair, Performing Arts Division, will serve as advisor for MA in Music students.

Class Enrollment
The MA in Music degree program features a blended approach with classes offered online as well as on campus classes. The course of study can occur either during the year following completion of an undergraduate degree or over four summers with campus-based courses available for teachers and others seeking advanced study in music.

Charges and Fees 2011-12
MA in Music tuition per credit hour - $365

Other fees include:

Audit tuition per credit hour (no credit) - $95
Transcript Fees:
Printed, per copy - $7
Faxed, per copy - $10

Cancellation of Charges
Students who officially withdraw from a course may be eligible for some cancellation of charges. To withdraw, give notice in writing to the appropriate graduate program office.

Tuition and fees for courses are cancelled according to the following schedule for classes lasting eight weeks:

90% is cancelled when notice is given within the first week of class
50% for notice given before the end of the fourth week
25% for notice before the end of the sixth week

Degree Requirements for the Master of Arts in Music:

1. Complete the specific MA in Music program requirements.
2. Complete a minimum of 33 credit hours.
3. Have an overall grade point average of 3.0 (B average) with no grade below a C- (1.67).
4. Have Southwestern College graduate course credit of at least 27 hours.
5. Be elected to the degree by the faculty and by the Board of Trustees.

Credit Hours
All graduate music students must complete the required minimum of 33 credit hours beyond the undergraduate degree.

Course of Study

Master of Arts in Music Core (12 hours)
Research Methodologies	3
Master’s Final Project (Thesis/Lecture-Recital/Recital/Report)	3
Music Theory Seminar	3
Music History (One of the following: Baroque, Classical, Romantic or Contemporary)	3
Core Total	12

Emphasis in Music Education:
Applied Major	3
Assessments, Tests & Measurement	3
Action Research (Music Ed)	3
(Core + Emphasis)	21
Electives chosen from: Current Educational Trends (Music Ed), Applied Lessons, Ensembles, Conducting, Special Topics (Summer Workshops), other approved topics	12
TOTAL HOURS	33

Emphasis in Performance:
Advanced Studies in Literature and Pedagogy	3
Applied Major	9
Ensemble (Large - 2 min/Chamber - 2 min)	4
(Core + Emphasis)	28
Electives chosen from: Conducting, Music History, Music Theory, Applied Study, Advanced Studies in Applied, Discipline, Business, Leadership, Special Studies and other approved course	5
TOTAL HOURS	33

Time Limits
All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within one six-year period.  Work over six years old may be reinstated only with the permission of the Academic Dean, upon recommendation of the Chair of the Music Department.

Comprehensive Oral Examination
Successful completion of a comprehensive oral examination is required for graduation.  This exam, which is administered by a committee of three music faculty, is given during the final semester.  Oral examination committees are chosen by the student’s advisor in consultation with the student.  Students must be enrolled the semester in which they take comprehensive examinations.

Final Projects
All degrees require a final graduate recital, lecture/recital, report or thesis.  The student will produce a written document and/or perform a public recital/program.  Work on the final project may begin when 15 hours of graduate credit are completed and the student has enrolled in MUS 594 (Final Project).  Reference and obvious connection should be made to concepts learned in MUS 511 Research Methodologies.
 
Graduate Recital
Students pursuing the Performance emphasis are required to present a public recital, program or lecture/recital and submit a supporting document; a research paper, detailed analysis, or annotated bibliography.  The recital and supporting document is supervised by a single full-time faculty member chosen by the student.  The student should enroll in MUS 594 (Final Project) during the semester in which the program is to be presented. 

The recital or program will be approximately 50 – 60 minutes in length.  The content of the program is determined by the student and the applied teacher.

Three faculty members will attend the graduate recital (grades will be averaged for 75% of the Final Project grade) and the supervising faculty member will grade the supporting document (25% of the Final Project grade).

Thesis
Students pursuing the Music Education emphasis may produce a written document.  The thesis will be supervised by a faculty member chosen by the student.  This faculty member should be willing to invest the time and effort necessary to oversee the writing of the document.  Two other faculty, chosen by the student in consultation with his “major” supervisor serve to advise the student in his research and writing as well as edit the document. 

After the thesis is completed and approved in the Department of Music, it is copied and bound.  One copy is reserved for the music library, a second copy is given to the Southwestern College Deets Library, and the student is encouraged to give a third copy to the “major” supervisor of the document.

The student should enroll in MUS 594 (Final Project) when writing of the document begins.  The student may request a “U” grade if the project cannot be finished in a single semester.

Report
Students pursuing the Music Education emphasis may produce a report.  This is supervised by a single faculty member chosen by the student.  The final product is determined by the student and faculty member and should demonstrate extensive involvement in a given subject matter.

Reports typically result from gathering special materials, from an internship or similar experience, or from seminars, conference courses, or supervised research. The report is subject to the approval of the committee (described below) and ultimately of the chair of the music department.

The project is treated like a thesis.  It is supervised by a single faculty member, but two additional faculty members function as advisors and editors.  When the Department of Music approves the project, it is duplicated and a single copy is reserved for the music library.  The student is encouraged to reserve a second copy for the major supervising faculty member. 

The student should enroll in MUS 594 (Final Project) when the project begins.  The student may request a “U” grade if the project cannot be finished in a single semester.

Transfer Learners
Learners may be able to transfer hours earned in other regionally accredited graduate programs if the grade point average of those total hours is 3.0 or higher.  A maximum of six semester hours (with grades of A or B) may be applied to the Southwestern graduate degree. The decision to accept transfer credit will be made by the appropriate academic administrator.

Transfer students must also meet these requirements:

1. Regardless of grade points earned in graduate study at other institutions, have at least a B average for all work taken in the Master of Arts in Music degree at Southwestern College.
2. Accept the judgment of appropriate academic administrator in substituting transfer credits for courses in the Southwestern graduate catalog.

More information about the Master of Arts in Music may be found in the Southwestern College Graduate Catalog.  Click here to review the catalog online.