*Minimum enrollment numbers may be required for two and three credit seminar courses to offer a fully in-person option. If the minimum is not reached, Wesleyan reserves the right to substitute a hybrid format for in-person. All one-credit courses will have all 3 delivery options available.
Our program was officially approved by SACSCOC on February 26, 2021.
The M.A. is a more flexible and well-rounded degree than the M.M. Courses such as the Video and Technology Course, Pedagogy Course, Music Philosophy Course, and Internship/Practicum Course are examples of our coursework that aim to get musicians ready for a more flexible career in music (especially post-pandemic, where just being an excellent performer may not be enough). The common notion that standards for performance are not as high in the M.A. as what would be expected of an M.M. is over-generalized. In reality, the potential for a high level of performance is just as good with an M.A.--we believe that level depends more on the individual than the title of the program. (For example, Wesleyan offers the undergraduate B.A. degree in music, which has a counterpart in the B.M. In recent years, our graduates have gone on to graduate study at prestigious institutions like Peabody, James Madison University, U-Penn, Indiana University, UNC, UCLA, Southern Methodist University, Columbia, Berklee, etc. and been very successful).
Our online courses follow a documented nationwide "best-practice" standard for online learning--they are mostly asynchronous with a weekly synchronous meeting that is also recorded, so that those who cannot attend can still watch the video.
Each Fall and Spring semester will be divided up into two, 8-week split terms according to the yearly academic schedule set by our Registrar. There is one additional 8-week Split Term available in the summer, where students can take individualized courses such as Applied Lessons, Ensembles and Internships.
Full-time at the graduate level is defined as 6 or more credits per semester. If you're trying to finish in the typical 2 years for a masters degree, that would mean taking about 8 credits per semester (see sample schedule above) to reach 32 credits in 4 semesters. Theoretically one could do the whole program very intensively in as little as 12 months. One of the great advantages of our program is that we have a flat per-credit tuition rate, so the cost of the overall program doesn't change, regardless of how short or long you need to finish the program.
Most of the online courses would be asynchronous, with the weekly one-hour synchronous schedule up to the discretion of the instructor and students. Usually the instructor will survey all the students in the class and try to find a time that fits the most people (usually a weeknight in the evening). For students who choose the in-person options on campus, the scheduling will be arranged between the applied teacher/ensemble/internship supervisor and the student.
We will consider transferring in credits on a case-by-case basis. The Registrar and Graduate Program would review your graduate transcript from another institution, carry out an equivalency analysis, and make a decision about which credits would carry over. If you have attended another graduate program in music where you would like to transfer in credits, please send us a transcript as part of the application.
We do not require memorization for the audition. It's generally expected for piano and vocal solo performances, but it's not mandatory. Many wonderful musicians and top performers around the world do not perform from memory, and we want to give our students the freedom to foster expressive communication with the audience without feeling restricted by memorization anxiety, if they choose.
We suggest you apply at least 6 weeks before the term you want to enter. If we receive your materials beyond the cutoff, we will consider it on a case-by-case basis. You can enter in any term. We have entry points in Fall Split A (mid-August), Fall Split B (mid-October), Spring Split A (beginning January), Spring Split B (beginning March), and Summer (mid-May).
Absolutely! You can take as few or as many credits as you’d like--the tuition is calculated by credit hour, so you just pay for the courses you take. There is currently no maximum timeline for completing the degree (though if you think you will need more than 5 years, please let us know). This is our tentative offering for the first 2 years, starting Fall 2021:
Fall I Split A
MUP 501 Applied Lessons (1 credit)
MUP 541 Collaborative Musicianship (1 credit)
MUS 500 Research Methods (2 credits)
Fall I Split B
MUP 501 Applied Lessons (1 credit)
MUS 510 Analytical Techniques (3 credits)
Spring I Split A
MUP 502 Applied Lessons (1 credit)
MUS 520 Technology and Video for Musicians (3 credits)
MUS 630 Practicum/Internship (1 credit)
Spring I Split B
MUP 502 Applied Lessons (1 credit)
MUP 542 Collaborative Musicianship (1 credit)
MUS 620 Advanced History/Literature Seminar (3 credits)
MUS 630 Practicum/Internship (1 credit)
Summer I
Available upon request for individually scheduled courses, including MUP 541/542/543/544, MUP 501/502/601, MUS 630 and MUS 640
Fall II Split A
MUP 601 Applied Lessons (1 credit)
MUP 543 Collaborative Musicianship (1 credit)
MUS 600 Music Pedagogy Seminar (3 credits)
Fall II Split B
MUP 601 Applied Lessons (1 credit)
MUS 610 Philosophy of Music (3 credits)
Spring II
MUP 544 Collaborative Musicianship (1 credits)
MUS 640 Master’s Thesis/Recital (3 credits)
Summer II
Available upon request for individually scheduled courses, including MUP 541/542/543/544, MUP 501/502/601, MUS 630 and MUS 640
Total program hours required for graduation:
32 graduate hours
All courses are conducted using the Zoom software (free download). Some of our vocal professors prefer Facetime for students with Apple devices. Wesleyan professors have taught voice lessons remotely and in hybrid format since March 2020, and students have been able to make progress at the same pace as in-person lessons. Our terms are 8 week Split Terms, with 8 x 1-hour lessons. There are 2 Split Terms in one semester (total 16 one-hour lessons per semester).
We generally look at your overall GPA, which is an average of all coursework. For example, If you have two C's (2.0) and two A's (4.0), the average will calculate as 3.0 GPA. Students below 3.0 GPA can still apply. Their application will be reviewed by the program director, who will determine their admission on a case-by-case basis.
WThe Qualifying exams (sometimes called comprehensive exams, or comps) are taken shortly before graduation and covers all material learned in the entire program. The thesis course is a separate requirement, which can be a paper, performance or project. Every student must present their thesis, but there is no additional defense requirement for the thesis.
There are two parts to entrance exams for those who do not have an undergraduate degree in music:
Part One: Music Theory from the common-practice period
Through a combination of fill-in-the-blanks questions, matching, multiple-choice, and score analysis, applicants will demonstrate a thorough understanding of:
Recommended resources:
Tonal Harmony (chapters 1 through 25 of 8th edition)- by Kostka/Payne/Almen
The Musician’s Guide to Theory and Analysis (chapters 1 through 33 of 3rd edition) by Marvin/Clendinning
Part Two: Music History
Through a combination of fill-in-the-blanks questions, matching, multiple-choice, and score analysis, applicants will:
Recommended resources:
Concise History of Western Music by Barabara Hanning
A History of Western Music by Grout/Palisca/Burkholder.)
Wesleyan College will accept applications from qualified students to serve as graduate assistants (GAs) while pursuing a graduate degree from Wesleyan College. The GA must agree to serve two academic years, regardless of the length of the graduate program.
Applicants must be admitted for admission to the music graduate program before applying to be a graduate assistant and must be qualified to work in the United States (under U.S. law, international students may work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during the regular academic year). Additional expertise may be required. Applications will be reviewed as received.
The MA in Music program at Wesleyan College aims to equip musicians to practice their discipline in an increasingly digital and intersectional world. In keeping with the liberal arts tradition of the MA degree, this program will teach students to adapt to a quickly changing professional landscape, think critically and creatively about music, and develop practical skills in collaboration, teaching and technology use. The program is designed to allow students maximum flexibility due to the mix of online and in-person options offered, up to 100% online. Students may enter the program in fall, spring or summer semester and take courses full- or part-time to complete the 32 hours. Though a standard two-year plan is shown above, students may be able to complete the degree in as little as one year, or take longer as needed. Furthermore, individually scheduled courses (such as Collaborative Musicianship, Applied Lessons, Internship, and Thesis) may be completed in an 8-week Summer Term
Program courses are taught by our experienced, seasoned faculty members with global business experience. The program's small class size allows you to form strong relations with your professors and take full advantage of their expertise and wealth of knowledge.
If your college or university is outside of the United States. We require an official copy of your transcripts translated into English, along with a course-by-course evaluation from a recommended agency or comparable accreditation agency. Agencies recommended by Wesleyan College:
English Language Proficiency: International students where English is not the official language you must take one of the tests below:
*Students meeting a score of 5.5 on the IELTS, 75 on TOEFL or 90 on Duolingo may be provisionally accepted into the M.A. Music program and take one-credit courses offered in the program (Applied Lessons, Collaborative Musicianship, and Practicum). They will be given a three-month window from the date of initial matriculation to improve their English scores, either through independent study or available English language courses. Costs for English language courses are not included in tuition and must be borne by the applicant. Full acceptance to the program will be granted after the applicant has fulfilled minimum English requirements. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Students will examine the nature and relevant methodologies of research in the 21st century, as they relate to the field of music. Traditional musical reference and research materials will be covered, along with more innovative and contemporary methodologies.
This course covers advanced harmonic and structural analyses in various periods of Western music, from antiquity to the contemporary era. Emphasis will be placed upon analysis as a tool to lead to more insightful, informed, and effective practices in performance and/or teaching.
Literacy in video and technology is increasingly becoming a ubiquitous skill in every industry of modern society, and Music is no exception. This course teaches students to use various general and music-specific technologies and apply them to performance and teaching. Students will also learn the intricate processes involved in capturing, editing, and producing effective videos.
Under the guidance of faculty, students will learn to collaborate with others in a musical setting and present a final product or performance of their collaborations. Students may choose an in-person or online option for this course. To that end, students will have the opportunity to design a custom project based on active musical collaboration with others.
Students will examine the nature and relevant methodologies of teaching and learning in the 21st century, as they relate to the field of music. Traditional teaching materials, method books and supplemental materials will be covered, along with more innovative and contemporary methodologies. Emphasis on observation and evaluation of live teaching done by students will be an important component. Content will be tailored to each student’s concentration.
In this course, students will explore several key existential questions related to Music: What is it? Why does it exist? Why does it matter? Students will discuss how humans function and interact with music, and address the value of music as it relates to various historical contexts and stylistic genres.
In this course, students will have intensive, one-on-one meetings with faculty to explore advanced artistic and technical topics through a wide range of repertoire. Students may choose an in-person or online option for this course. In collaboration with faculty, students will have the opportunity to design custom learning goals and present a final product or performance of their efforts at the end of the course.
In the course, students will explore and examine significant works of music literature relevant to their chosen concentration. In addition to a survey of standard repertoire, innovative styles and genres may also be covered. Students will learn to discuss and evaluate literature and repertoire for teaching and performance purposes. Content may vary according to the performance area studied.
This course will give students an opportunity to explore professional and real-life training in a music-related field outside of academic coursework. Under the guidance of faculty, students will be able to select appropriate experience(s) or projects to fulfill this requirement and participate in active reflection during and after the experience.
This course represents the culminating, capstone project in the M.A. program. Students will prepare and present their work in a final performance or product. As part of the project, students will be expected to integrate and demonstrate advanced musical, artistic, and/or technical skills that they have learned as part of the program.
Program Costs:
Please contact us for more information about our graduate programs: graduate@wesleyancollege.edu
Additional specific costs may be considered as an adjacent to cost of attendance, for more information contact the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@wesleyancollege.edu or (478) 757-5205.
