Theory Area Graduate Course Offerings

Below is a list of graduate theory course offerings for the upcoming academic year.

A few important points to keep in mind:

Every student admitted to a graduate degree program in the College of Music (other than Music Education PhD or Jazz Studies) must take the College of Music Graduate Orientation Examination in Music Theory. This is a two-part examination covering written music theory and aural skills, before the first day of classes of the student’s first semester of enrollment in the degree. The examination is given before the first day of classes in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. The lowest passing score for each part is 70%.

* Music Education PhD students who desire to take graduate theory courses must first take and pass the orientation examination as outlined above.

Students who score below 70% on the written music theory orientation examination must take MUS 200 (Music Theory Review) and complete it with a grade of 2.0 or higher before enrolling in any 800 or 900-level music theory course.

Students who score below 70% on the aural skills examination must take MUS 201 (Aural Skills Review) and complete it with a grade of 2.0 or higher at some point during the student’s degree program.

**MUS 200/ MUS 201 may not be used to meet the course or credit requirements of any College of Music degree program.

Most graduate students will take tier-1 courses. These assume the theory knowledge gained in an undergraduate sequence of theory courses. Tier-2 courses assume further knowledge and mastery of skills, and are designed primarily for students in the Master’s Degree or Graduate Certificate in Music Theory. This tiered structure has been designed to help graduate students and their faculty advisers plan a sequence of courses appropriate to a student’s background, interests, and professional aspirations. It also allows theory faculty to design courses with a more accurate sense of the level of experience and technical skill that can be assumed of students enrolled in those classes.

In addition to the two required orientation exams in basic written theory and aural skills, there are also two optional orientation exams in counterpoint and instrumentation/ orchestration. A score of 70% or better on the counterpoint exam removes the prerequisite that attaches to MUS 869. For example, students passing the counterpoint exam would not have to take 869 before enrolling in 870, 871, or 874. Likewise, a score of 70% or better on the instrumentation/ orchestration exam removes the prerequisite that attaches to MUS 877. That is, students passing the orchestration exam would not have to take 877 before enrolling in 878.

Effective 2021-22
MUS 869 = FALL every year only MUS 871 = SPRING of EVEN years only
MUS 873 = FALL every year only MUS 874 = FALL of ODD years only

Anyone with questions about course offerings in music theory is welcome to contact the area chairperson of music theory, Dr. Cara Stroud (cstroud@msu.edu).

Every course marked with an asterisk(*) will have a corresponding question on the DMA comprehensive exam.

Notes
MUS 878 does not have a separate question on the comprehensive exam. There is a single question on orchestration, intended to be answerable by students who have taken either MUS 877 or MUS 878.

MUS 971 does not have a separate question on the comprehensive exam. There is a single question on music theory pedagogy, intended to be answerable by students who have taken either MUS 970 or MUS 971.

Effective 2021-22
MUS 869 = FALL every year only MUS 871 = SPRING of EVEN years only
MUS 873 = FALL every year only MUS 874 = FALL of ODD years only

Anyone with questions about course offerings in music theory is welcome to contact the area chairperson of music theory, Dr. Cara Stroud (cstroud@msu.edu).