Music and Sound Studies Graduate Minor
for the Graduate Minor in Music and Sound Studies
The Music and Sound Studies Minor is designed for graduate students interested in expanding their knowledge of music as a scholarly discipline that encompasses the entire sonic landscape. It is intended in particular for students, in fields outside of music, who intend to engage with music and sound in their research, teaching, and learning. Courses in the minor may not be completed credit/no credit.
Prospective students should contact the School of Music Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for admission to this program. The DGS will direct the inquiry to the Musicology Area Chair, who will schedule an interview and/or email exchange with the prospective student to gauge interest level, reasons for applying, and goals. No audition or formal application is required.
The School of Music has been an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music since 1933.
Admission
For all degree programs, consult the admission requirements stated on the School of Music’s website.
Requirements for admission to the Master of Music (MM) programs are a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or an equivalent degree from another accredited institution. Students holding other degrees may be admitted but will be expected to make up for any deficiencies and fulfill all requirements for the graduate degree.
Applicants to choral music, instrumental conducting (wind band or orchestra), jazz performance, piano pedagogy, performance and literature, and vocal accompanying and coaching must pass a qualifying audition for their major area or submit satisfactory recordings. Applicants in musicology and composition must present writings or other evidence of their ability to pursue work at the graduate level. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required.
The School of Music requires all-new MM students to complete entrance examinations in music theory and musicianship. These exams take place the week before the fall term begins. See the School of Music’s Graduate Resources page for more information.
A prerequisite for admission to the Artist Diploma is a bachelor's degree.
Applicants to the MM and the Artist Diploma (AD) whose native language is not English must present an iBT score of 79 for admission to the Artist Diploma (AD), 90 for the Master of Music (MM), excluding Musicology; MM in Musicology requires an iBT score of 96. A TOEFL iBT of 103 or higher is required for Full Status Admission to the University of Illinois Graduate College and School of Music. See the complete English proficiency requirements. Fall admission only; other terms of entry by departmental petition approval only.
Requirements for admission to the Master of Music in Education (MME) are:
For MME applicants with public school experience:
For MME applicants without public school experience:
Applicants seeking admission to the MME + Licensure program should review the online requirements.
Applicants to the MME whose native language is not English must present an iBT score of 96 for the Master of Music Education (MME). A TOEFL iBT of 103 or higher is required for Full Status Admission to the University of Illinois Graduate College and School of Music. See the complete English proficiency requirements.
The School of Music offers an academic year program and a Summers-only MME. For academic year applications, the School of Music offers Fall admission only; spring term of entry by departmental petition approval only.
Requirements for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology programs are the Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or an equivalent degree from another accredited institution.
Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts programs must have:
The School of Music requires all new DMA students to complete entrance examinations in music theory, musicianship, and score reading. These exams take place the week before the fall term begins. See the School of Music’s Graduate Resources page for more information.
Applicants to the DMA or PhD whose native language is not English must submit an iBT score of 96. A TOEFL iBT of 103 or higher is required for Full Status Admission to the University of Illinois Graduate College and School of Music. See the complete English proficiency requirements.
For information about admission to the MME and PhD in Music Education, please visit our website.
Language Requirements
For the Master of Music program, applicants in voice and vocal accompanying and coaching must have had at least one year each of college-level French, German, and Italian or the equivalent. Applicants in other applied music areas, composition, conducting, and musicology are required to have had one year of any language at the college level or the equivalent.
All Doctor of Musical Arts candidates must demonstrate proficiency in at least one language other than English. Each area may specify which language is required or may require proficiency in more than one language. Please review the current Graduate Music Handbook for more details.
Proficiency is required in two languages, depending on the proposed field of specialization, for candidates in the Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology program. This may be demonstrated through two years of undergraduate study in each language.
For all Graduate Degrees:
For those students who do not meet the language requirement at the time of entrance, it may be satisfied by evidence of two years of undergraduate study or the equivalent, by completion of a two-semester, or by satisfactory test scores. For up-to-date information regarding the language requirements of the School of Music, please see the Graduate Music Handbook.
Graduate Teaching Experience
Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, experience in teaching is considered an essential part of the graduate experience.
Financial Aid
Fellowships, teaching, graduate, and research assistantships are awarded on a one-year basis, with continuation dependent upon success in the program. Specific information on application procedures is available from the Music Admissions Office, by phone (217) 244-7899 or email.
- Undergraduate degree in music education from an accredited institution;
- An overall grade average for the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate work of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). The grade average for Music Education and Education courses, when averaged separately, must also be at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale);
- Recommendations from three individuals who can discuss the applicant’s musicianship, ability to undertake graduate-level study, and teaching ability/potential.
- The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for application to the MME, nor do MME students take placement tests in music theory or music history.
- recommendation from a principal or supervisor who speaks primarily to the quality of the applicants teaching experience;
- recommendation from an individual who speaks primarily to the quality of the applicant's musicianship;
- recommendation from an individual who speaks primarily to the applicant's potential for completion of graduate level study;
- applicants who wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistantship should ensure that at least one of their references provides specific comments on their potential to engage in university-level teaching duties associated with such an appointment.
- recommendation from a music education professor;
- recommendation from an applied or ensemble music professor;
- recommendation from an individual who can speak to the applicant's potential for completion of graduate study.
- a high level of proficiency in composition, conducting, or performance - candidates in composition must submit original scores for review, and candidates in performance and literature must pass a qualifying audition or submit satisfactory recordings; and
- appropriate experience in ensemble performance and/or score reading. Candidates in voice and vocal accompanying and coaching must have fulfilled all foreign language requirements considered prerequisites for the Master of Music degree, including 1 year of college-level study in Italian, French, and German.
for the Graduate Minor in Music and Sound Studies
The minor requires students to earn 12 credits from the menu below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music and Sound Studies Required Courses | 4 | |
| Foundations and Methods of Musicology I | ||
or MUS 512 | Fdns/Methods of Musicology II | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music and Sound Studies Elective Courses | 8 | |
| Two (2) 500-level Musicology courses to be chosen from MUS 513-MUS 524 (course titles listed below) | ||
Graduate students in this Minor may take these courses with the consent of instructor, as noted in the course descriptions. | ||
| MUS 513 | Topics in Opera History | 4 |
| MUS 514 | Musicology and Pedagogy | 4 |
| MUS 515 | Topics in Vocal Music | 4 |
| MUS 516 | Fieldwork and Ethnography | 4 |
| MUS 517 | Topics in Instrumental Music | 4 |
| MUS 518 | Regional Studies in Musicology | 4 |
| MUS 519 | Analytical Methods: Musicology | 4 |
| MUS 520 | Social Theory in Ethnomusicology | 4 |
| MUS 521 | Historical Studies in 20thC Music | 4 |
| MUS 522 | Special Topics Seminar | 4 |
| MUS 523 | Seminar in Musicology | 4 |
| MUS 524 | Seminar in Works of Select Composer | 4 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
for the Graduate Minor in Music and Sound Studies
School of Music
Director of School: Dr. Linda Moorhouse
Associate Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Reynold Tharp
Program Contact: Jenny Phillips
School of Music Website
School of Music Faculty
2040 Music Building, 1114 West Nevada Street, Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-3459
College of Fine & Applied Arts
FAA College Website
Admissions
Overview of School of Music Admissions & Requirements
Music Admissions Email
(217) 244-7899
Graduate College Admissions & Requirements