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Fall 2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
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Fall 2025 Graduate Catalog

Music, MA

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Department of Music, College of Arts and Sciences
Degrees Awarded: Master of Arts in Music (Critical Music Studies); Master of Arts in Music (Composition)
 
Chairperson: Christina Dahl; Staller Center 3304 (631) 632-7330
Graduate Program Director: Judith Lochhead; Staller Center 3346 (631) 632-7349
Graduate Program Coordinator: Monica Winchell (631) 632-7352
 

The Department of Music offers programs that normally lead to the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music, with tracks in Critical Music Studies and in Composition. The Department also offers programs that normally lead to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Performance.Master’s Degrees in Music with tracks in Critical Music Studies, in Composition, and in Music Performance are also available.

Stony Brook’s graduate programs in Music have grown out of a unique partnership between the academy and the conservatory. The Music Department has a distinguished and well-balanced faculty in the scholarly study of music, composition, and performance. Graduate curricula are designed to facilitate interaction among musical disciplines that have traditionally been kept separate. A number of courses are team-taught by two or more faculty members, examining topics from several disciplinary viewpoints, and academic courses typically have a mix of students from all areas. Several examine music in a broader social context, drawing on such disciplines as ethnomusicology, cultural studies, and feminist theory. Interdisciplinary studies are central to the educational philosophy of the department, and the Department encourages the development of professional competence in more than one area of musical study. For students at the Doctoral level who propose to do serious work both in performance and in some other area, a variety of options are available, including some dual degrees.

Music of the 20th and 21st centuries is a particular emphasis of both the performance and academic programs, but other areas are also amply represented. Students can choose seminars from a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from the history of music theory to American popular music.Performing organizations include Baroque Chamber Ensemble, Chamber Music, Jazz Ensemble, Contemporary Chamber Players, Camerata Singers, Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, VOLTA West African Music Ensemble, and Opera Workshop.

Admission Requirements

Admissions Website

The following are required for admission to the Graduate program in Music (Critical Music Studies) and in Music (Composition) leading to an MA and/or PhD degree, in addition to the requirements of the Graduate School:

  1. A bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution.
  2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate records, and all graduate records, where applicable.
  3. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) in undergraduate music courses.
  4. Three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the student’s work.
  5. Examples of undergraduate work:
    1. For Critical Music Studies track applicants, essays in music history, analysis, theory, ethnomusicology, or criticism.
    2. For Composition track applicants, musical scores and recordings.
  6. Acceptance by both the Department of Music and the Graduate School.

Applicants are invited to submit any other evidence of their abilities in support of their application for admission, such as recordings of music performances.

All students entering the MA program will be assessed in the following areas:

  1. Ear training.
  2. Basic keyboard skills (for Composition students only).
  3. The history and cultural study of music.
  4. The analysis of music.

These exams are advisory only; students will be advised on which courses to take to address any gaps or develop specific skills.

Degree Requirements

General Requirements: MA in Music:

Thirty graduate credit hours (exclusive of those in MUS 505 - Foundations of Musicianship , and MUS 591 - Practicum in Teaching ) chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor. A student must achieve an overall 3.0 grade point average in order to receive a degree. The program must include:

If a course in a department or program other than Music is taken toward the degree, approval from the Graduate Studies Committee must be obtained.

Note: All graduate students whose programs have a foreign language requirement (M.A. and Ph.D. in Music for the Critical Music Studies track,M.M in Music Performance in Harpsichord and Voice, and D.M.A.) must take the appropriate foreign language exam, typically during their first semester of residence. Students who fail the examination must take an appropriate language course or retake the examination (depending on the program).

Specific Requirements: MA in Music, Composition Track

Course Requirements

In addition to the general course requirements for the M.A. degree listed above, the M.A. in Music (Composition) requires:

Comprehensive Examination

Written examination in the analysis of pre-assigned compositions.

Master’s Composition Portfolio

Students must satisfy the Departmental requirement that they have written compositions of sufficient quality and variety during the period of study after admission to the Graduate School. Fair copies of all these compositions must be submitted electronically to the Graduate Program Coordinator by the eighth week of the semester in which the student intends to graduate. The last day for graduate students to submit theses and dissertations, as specified in the academic calendar, will be the final deadline for all works to be submitted.

Specific Requirements: MA in Music, Critical Music Studies Track

Course Requirements

In addition to the general course requirements for the M.A. degree listed above, the M.A. in Music (Critical Music Studies) requires:

One course from Elective Group 1:
One course from Elective Group 2:
One course from Elective Group 3:

Foreign Languages

Proficiency in one non-English language determined in consultation with the Critical Music Studies faculty. Proficiency is demonstrated through translation exams given each semester.

Qualifying Examinations

Written examinations in the historical, cultural, and analytical study of music.

Master’s Paper

A substantial essay, normally from an advanced seminar that the student has revised under the supervision of program faculty, is required. The revised paper should be submitted no later than the twelfth week of the semester in which the student expects to receive the degree.

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