Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
About the College
Academic Policies
Admission
Requirements
Courses
Degrees Offered
MA MUSI
Admission
Requirements
Faculty
General Regulations
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Master of Music
The Moores School of Music is a full member of the National
Association of Schools of Music and a member of the Texas Association
of Music Schools. The school offers the Master of Music and Doctor of
Musical Arts degrees.
Students majoring in other disciplines may elect courses in music and
may participate in the ensembles. Instruction in applied music will be provided for students majoring in other departments at the University of Houston as long as teaching time and practice facilities are available after the requirements for music majors are met.
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting college graduate admission requirements, applicants must have completed:
- A minimum of 60 semester hours in music at either the undergraduate or the postbaccalaureate level with a grade point average of at least
3.0 (=4.00). These 60 hours should include the basic music undergraduate courses in theory and history.
- Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test. (minimum: 300 verbal)
- An audition before appropriate members of the music faculty (performance and conducting majors); evidence of a successful senior performance recital;
submission of scores and tapes of three original compositions for varying media for evaluation by the
composition faculty (composition majors). For applicants in music education, evidence of successful professional experience
in a field of music teaching.
- Three letters of recommendation for graduate study, with one letter from an academic professor.
- Satisfactory results on placement examinations in music literature and music theory; deficiencies
in either of these areas (a maximum of six semester hours in each area) must be made up in the first
year of graduate studies; remedial courses do not count toward the degree requirements.
Applicants who do not meet these requirements will be required to make up undergraduate deficiencies. Conditional admission may be granted to students whose overall grade point average in the last 60 hours of course credit is at least 3.0 (A=4.00), whose grade point average in the discipline is at least 3.00 (A=4.00), and whose scores on the Graduate Record Examination are high enough to indicate probable success in the program. Consult the Moores School of Music Web site for additional information and more specific requirements.
Music Theory
Music theory majors must pass a major entrance examination in addition to the theory placement examination and must have a grade point average of at least 3.25 (A=4.00) in all undergraduate theory courses. Students must also complete sophomore-level French or German, courses equivalent to sophomore-level French or German, or six hours of intensive graduate reading courses in French or German as soon as possible after enrollment.
Music Literature
Majors in music literature must have completed six semester hours of advanced music literature/history courses and must have a grade point average of at least 3.25 (A=4.00) in all undergraduate music literature/history courses. Students must complete sophomore-level French or German, courses equivalent to sophomore level French or German, or six hours of intensive graduate reading courses in French or German as soon as possible after enrollment.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination is designed to measure the student's knowledge of the various materials covered in the master's program. The examination consists of a written component, with an oral portion included if the student's committee feels this is necessary.
The committee will consist of the student’s major instructor, a representative from the music literature/history faculty, and a representative from the music theory faculty.
The examination is typically taken toward the end of the semester of graduation. If it is not passed, it must be retaken the following semester of the regular academic year. If the examination is failed twice, the student will not be allowed to graduate.
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Master of Music
The Moores School of Music is a full member of the National Association of Schools of Music and a member of the Texas Association of Music Schools. The school offers the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees.
Students majoring in other disciplines may elect courses in music and
may participate in the ensembles. Instruction in
Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting college graduate admission requirements, applicants must have completed:
- A minimum of 60 semester hours in music at either the undergraduate or the postbaccalaureate level with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (=4.00). These 60 hours should include the basic music undergraduate courses in theory and history.
- Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination General Test. (minimum: 300 verbal)
- An audition before appropriate members of the music faculty (performance and conducting majors); evidence of a successful senior performance recital; submission of scores and tapes of three original compositions for varying media for evaluation by the composition faculty (composition majors). For applicants in music education, evidence of successful professional experience in a field of music teaching.
- Three letters of recommendation for graduate study, with one letter from an academic professor.
- Satisfactory results on placement examinations in music literature and music theory; deficiencies in either of these areas (a maximum of six semester hours in each area) must be made up in the first year of graduate studies; remedial courses do not count toward the degree requirements.
Applicants who do not meet these requirements will be required to make up undergraduate deficiencies. Conditional admission may be granted to students whose overall grade point average in the last 60 hours of course credit is at least 3.0 (A=4.00), whose grade point average in the discipline is at least 3.00 (A=4.00), and whose scores on the Graduate Record Examination are high enough to indicate probable success in the program. Consult the Moores School of Music Web site for additional information and more specific requirements.
Music Theory
Music theory majors must pass a major entrance examination in addition to the theory placement examination and must have a grade point average of at least 3.25 (A=4.00) in all undergraduate theory courses. Students must also complete sophomore-level French or German, courses equivalent to sophomore-level French or German, or six hours of intensive graduate reading courses in French or German as soon as possible after enrollment.
Music Literature
Majors in music literature must have completed six semester hours of advanced music literature/history courses and must have a grade point average of at least 3.25 (A=4.00) in all undergraduate music literature/history courses. Students must complete sophomore-level French or German, courses equivalent to sophomore level French or German, or six hours of intensive graduate reading courses in French or German as soon as possible after enrollment.
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination is designed to measure the student's knowledge of the various materials covered in the master's program. The examination consists of a written component, with an oral portion included if the student's committee feels this is necessary.
The committee will consist of the student’s major instructor, a representative from the music literature/history faculty, and a representative from the music theory faculty.
The examination is typically taken toward the end of the semester of graduation. If it is not passed, it must be retaken the following semester of the regular academic year. If the examination is failed twice, the student will not be allowed to graduate.