The Master of Arts in Music program is intended to provide additional study and training in music to individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree in music or the equivalent.
The Conducting Concentration is designed for those students who wish to specialize in conducting, leading to recital performances as a conductor.
The Music Studies Concentration reflects the general nature of this degree and allows students to pursue a variety of interests within music, such as performance, jazz studies, music education, and composition. The philosophy of this program is to provide graduate students with the advanced education, skills, and credentials to enhance their professional abilities and opportunities.
The Music MA program requires a minimum of 30-34 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree. Students must take 11 credit hours of required music courses and 17 credit hours of elective courses. Both thesis and nonthesis options are available and students planning on pursuing a doctoral degree are encouraged to select the thesis option. Nonthesis students must take a Recital or Graduate Project course (2 credit hours) in addition to the 28 credit hours of coursework described above, and thesis students must complete a thesis project (6 credit hours).
Total Credit Hours Required: 30-34 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Program Prerequisites
A bachelor's degree in music from a NASM accredited school or the equivalent.
Degree Requirements
Students Choose Music Studies or Conducting Concentration
30 - 34 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Music Studies Concentration - 30-34 Credit Hours Music Studies Required Courses - 11 Credit Hours- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- MUH6916 - Music Bibliography and Research (3)
- MUH6935 - Music History Seminar (3)
- MUT6621 - Techniques and Concepts of Musical Analysis (3)
- Earn at least 2 credits from the following types of courses: To include a minimum of 2 credits of applied lessons (5000 or 6000-level in MVB, MVK, MVS, MVP, MVV, MVW, or MVO) or ensembles (5000 or 6000-level in MUN or MUO).
Music Studies Elective Courses - 17 Credit Hours Music Studies Restricted Electives in Music- Complete all of the following
- Course selections in this area will be in a cognate or area of emphasis with approval by program adviser (Performance, Conducting, Composition, Music History, Music Theory, Music Education, Jazz Studies, etc.). Students may not take non-repeatable graduate courses that are similar to courses taken at the undergraduate level.
- Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses: Any 5000 or 6000 level course with a prefix of MUC, MUE, MUG, MUH, MUL, MUN*, MUO*, MUS, and MUT. Internship, Co-op, or Independent Study credit cannot be used toward the degree without the approval of the program coordinator. No more than 6 credits maximum from each prefix can count towards the degree requirements. * MUN 5368L, MUN 5385L, MUN 5465L, and MUO 5505L may be used in the degree program a maximum of five times. * MUN 5325, MUN 5145, MUN 5215, MUN 5125, MUN 5445, MUN 5715L, and MUN 5716L may be used in the degree program a maximum of four times. Note: The designation MUN 5XXX means that any 5000-level ensemble course will fulfill this requirement.
- Students may also take the following towards this 9 credit hour requirement: MVX 5XXX - Performance V (audition required) 2 Credit Hours MVX 6XXX - Performance VI (audition required) 2 Credit Hours Note: The designation MVX 5XXX means that any 5000-level applied music course in performance will fulfill this requirement.
Music Studies Restricted Elective Studies in Supportive Areas - 8 Credit Hours- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 8 credits from the following types of courses: MVO 5250 - Advanced Secondary Instruction 1 Credit Hours MUS 6908- Independent Study 1-3 Credit Hours 5000- or 6000-level music courses or non-music courses with approval of advisor; may include any new or repeatable courses from the sections above. Students may not take non-repeatable graduate courses that are similar to courses taken at the undergraduate level.
Music Studies Thesis/Nonthesis Option - 6 Credit Hours- Complete 1 of the following
- Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Music Studies Thesis Option MUS 6971 Thesis 6 Credit Hours Students planning to pursue a doctoral degree (in areas such as music theory, music education, or music history) are strongly encouraged to select the thesis option.
- Earn at least 2 credits from the following types of courses: Music Studies Nonthesis Option - 2 Credit Hours The culminating experience may be a recital in performance, composition, or conducting (Graduate Recital); or a written project of smaller scope than a thesis; e.g., a portfolio or research paper (Graduate Project). MUS 6976L - Graduate Recital 2 Credit Hours or MUS 6975L - Graduate Project 2 Credit Hours
Conducting Concentration - 30 Credit Hours Conducting Required Courses - 11 Credit Hours- Complete all of the following
- Complete the following:
- MUH6916 - Music Bibliography and Research (3)
- MUH6935 - Music History Seminar (3)
- MUS6960 - Comprehensive Exam
- MUT6621 - Techniques and Concepts of Musical Analysis (3)
- Earn at least 2 credits from the following types of courses: To include a minimum of 2 credits of applied lessons (5000 or 6000-level in MVB, MVK, MVS, MVP, MVV, MVW, or MVO) or ensembles (5000 or 6000-level in MUN or MUO).
Conducting Elective Courses - 17 Credit Hours Conducting Area of Emphasis - 12 Credit Hours- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 12 credits from the following:
- MUG6306 - Conducting and Literature (3)
- Course will be taken 4 times at 3 credits each.
Conducting Music Electives - 5 Credit Hours- Complete all of the following
- Earn at least 5 credits from the following types of courses: Any 5000 or 6000 level course with a prefix of MUC, MUE, MUH, MUL, MUN, MUO, MUS, and MUT. Internship, Co-Op, or Independent Study credits cannot to used toward the degree without the approval of the program coordinator.
- * MUN 5368L, MUN 5385L, MUN 5465L, and MUO 5505L may be used in the degree program a maximum of five times. * MUN 5325, MUN 5145, MUN 5215, MUN 5125, MUN 5445, MUN 5715L, and MUN 5716L may be used in the degree program a maximum of four times.
Conducting Nonthesis Option - 2 Credit Hours- Complete the following:
- MUS6976L - Graduate Recital (2)
Grand Total Credits: 30 - 34
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- A bachelor's degree in music from a NASM accredited school or the equivalent.
- The GRE is not required for admission to this program.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A formal writing sample of at least 1000 words, which should represent the applicant's best scholarly work. The topic should be on a musical subject.
- Applicants for the Conducting Concentration will submit a conducting/rehearsal audition of approximately 20 minutes on a repertoire to be agreed upon with the UCF Director of Bands, Director of Choral Activities, or Director of Orchestras (based on an area of focus), in consultation with conducting faculty. A video or remote live conducting example may be substituted at the discretion of the faculty. Applicants will also meet in an interview with UCF conducting faculty.
- Applicants for all other areas within the Music Studies Concentration will require an Admission Examination with a faculty committee. This examination will consist of an interview or audition or portfolio review as appropriate according to the applicant's goals. The applicant will consult with the Graduate Coordinator in advance to prepare for presentation in appropriate areas of interest to the candidate, such as performance, composition, music history, etc. It is highly recommended to attend this examination in person, although the use of audio and/or video recordings is possible, with the permission of the Graduate Coordinator. The faculty committee will evaluate the candidate and make a recommendation regarding admission. The final decision will be made by either the Graduate Coordinator or Director of the School of Performing Arts.
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's career/academic goals and the applicant's potential for completing the degree.
Applicants may be given conditional admission, conditional to the imminent completion of the bachelor's degree and submission of a final transcript.
After acceptance and at the beginning of course work, students will take a diagnostic exam in Music Theory. If remedial course work is required in the case of deficiencies, this will not count toward the total hours for the degree.
Students may transfer up to nine hours of graduate credit from another accredited institution, subject to approval of adviser.
Application Deadlines
| Music MA | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Dec 1 | Apr 1 |
| International Applicants | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Nov 1 |
*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
Additional Program Requirements - Performance V and VI, Conducting & Literature, and ensembles all require an audition.
- Composition V and VI requires submission of a portfolio.
- No more than 6 credit hours of MUN courses may be counted toward the degree.
- A minimum of 15 credit hours applied to the degree must be at the 6000 level.
Equipment FeeStudents in the Master of Arts in Music Program pay a $90 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled.
