Non-degree Programs and Certificates

The University Graduate Certification in College Teaching (CCT), an initiative of the MSU Graduate School in partnership with MSU colleges, helps graduate students and postdocs organize, develop, and document their teaching experiences. Through professional development activities – workshops or seminars, coursework in disciplinary teaching methods, a mentored teaching project – participants will build and consolidate their preparation for college and university teaching. The program culminates in an e-portfolio that will help participants prepare for academic job interviews and plan for their professional development as early career faculty.

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The Graduate Certificate in Music Theory requires 15 credits.

1. MUS 970 Pedagogy of Music Theory I – 3 cr.
2. One of the following courses – 3 cr.
   • MUS 870 Advanced Modal Counterpoint
   • MUS 871 Advanced Tonal Counterpoint
   • MUS 876 Keyboard Skills and Improvisation
3. One of the following courses – 2 cr.
   • MUS 873 Post-Tonal Techniques
   • MUS 974 Proseminar in Post-Tonal Theory and Analysis
   • MUS 978 Late 20th and 21st Century Techniques
4. 7 credits chosen from the following courses in consultation with the advisor (either the area chairperson of music theory or their designee)
   • MUS 868 Topics in Music Analysis – 3 cr.
   • MUS 869 Graduate Counterpoint – 2 cr.
   • MUS 872 Tonal Forms – 2 cr.
   • MUS 874 Schenkerian Analysis – 2 cr.
   • MUS 875 Analysis of Musical Scores – 3 cr.
   • MUS 879 Tonal Literature and Analysis – 3 cr.
   • MUS 971 Pedagogy of Music Theory II – 3 cr.
   • MUS 972 Advanced Keyboard Skills – 3 cr.
   • MUS 973 Readings in Music Theory – 2 cr.
   • MUS 976 Performance and Analysis – 3 cr.
   • MUS 977 Schenkerian Analysis II – 3 cr.
5. Active participation in music theory area events, including colloquia and guest lectures.
6. 6. A capstone essay approximately 15-20 pages in length. If the student takes MUS 971 and/or MUS 973 to fulfill requirement #4 above, the essay could emerge from the research project undertaken within that course. Alternatively, the essay could reflect synoptically on what the student learned in music theory courses, drawing connections among those courses and between them and other study, performance, and/or scholarly work undertaken as part of the student’s primary degree program. The essay topic will be approved by a member of the music theory faculty, who will advise the project and certify its completion.

Academic Standards for all Music Theory Certificate Students

A graduate student in the College of Music must:
1. Maintain a cumulative grade–point average of at least 3.00.
2. Not accumulate deferred grades (identified by the DF–Deferred marker) in more than 4 credits of coursework.

If at the end of a semester a certificate student fails to meet one or both requirements specified above, the student shall receive a deficiency warning. If the deficiency is not removed within one semester, the graduate student will not be allowed to continue in the program.

A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses that are to be counted toward the certificate. Credit will not be awarded for any course in which the student receives a grade less than 2.0. However, all grades are counted in the calculation of the grade-point average (GPA).

The Graduate Certificate in Musicology, which is administered by the College of Music, is designed for doctoral students in the College of Music who wish to gain additional proficiency in musicology and ethnomusicology. Students in the certificate program develop skills in research, writing, and classroom teaching through coursework, training in pedagogy, and independent research projects.

The certificate is available to students who are enrolled in a doctoral degree program in the College of Music at Michigan State University. The student’s program of study must be approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the College of Music.

To be considered for the Graduate Certificate in Musicology, a student must be enrolled in a doctoral degree program in the College of Music. Students must submit materials to the area chair of musicology by December 1:

Student submit: an 800- to 1000-word personal statement addressing the applicant’s career plans and research/teaching interests, a curriculum vitae that includes all relevant education and professional experience, one transcript from every college or university attended (transcripts may be unofficial), a 10- to 15-page research paper demonstrating research ability, including bibliographic citations and/or fieldwork experience, and, one letter of recommendation (may be sent by recommender directly to the Area Chair of musicology).
Following initial screening, candidates will be invited to interview with the musicology faculty to determine admissibility.
The certificate requires a total of 17-18 credits:

1. Complete the following:
   • MUS 830 Research methods and Materials in Music – 3 cr.
2. Complete 6 credits of musicology at the 800 or 900 level.
3. Complete 6 additional credits of ethnomusicology at the 400, 800 or 900-level. If a 400-level course is
   to be used to satisfy this requirement, the student must enroll concurrently in 1 credit of the corresponding section of MUS 892A Seminar in Music History.
4. Complete one of the following, 2-3 cr.:
   • MUS 964 College Music Teaching – 2 cr.
   • MUS 992 Seminar in Musicology: Musicology Pedagogy – 3 cr.
5. Complete a capstone advised and approved by a committee of at least two of the musicology faculty and consisting of one of the following options:
   • A research paper of 15-20 pages that, in most cases, will grow from a seminar paper or project on a topic substantially different than that of the PhD dissertation, the DMA lecture-recital and scholarly document or either of the two lecture-recitals. Alternative formats appropriate to the project (e.g. a lecture-recital) are possible with the approval of the committee.
   • A teaching portfolio consisting of a teaching philosophy, sample syllabi, and sample teaching videos.

To be considered for the graduate certificate in music cognition, a student must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at Michigan State University. Admission to the certificate in music cognition requires an application consisting of a personal statement, transcripts of previous college or university coursework, 3 letters of recommendation, a scholarly writing sample, and an optional portfolio of work. Following initial screening, finalists will be invited to interview with the affiliated faculty to determine admission.

The certificate requires a total of 11-14 credits.

1. Complete the following:
   • MUS 973 Music Cognition – 2 cr.
   • PSY 802 Basic Cognitive Processes – 3 cr.
2. Complete one of the following, 2-3 cr.:
   • MUS 868 Topics in Music Analysis – 3 cr.
   • MUS 872 Tonal Forms – 2 cr.
   • MUS 879 Tonal Literature and Analysis – 3 cr.
3. Complete one of the following Psychology courses, 3 cr.:
   • PSY 801 Sensation and Perception
   • PSY 803 Higher Order Cognitive Processes
   • PSY 867 Nature and Practice of Cognitive Science
   • PSY 992 Computer Programming for Behavioral Scientists
4. 4. Active participation in relevant music theory area events, including colloquia and guest lectures, and active participation in the Timing, Attention and Perception lab (TAP lab) and relevant events in the Psychology/Cognitive Science program.
5. Research requirement (1-3 credits):
   A capstone research essay approximately 15-20 pages in length and a public presentation in the model of a conference presentation. The topic could emerge from the research project undertaken within MUS 973 or could come from research conducted in conjunction with the TAP lab. Alternatively, the topic could draw connections between what the student has learned in other courses undertaken as part of the student’s primary degree program. The topic will be approved by a member of the faculty of the theory area within the College of Music or from the Department of Psychology, who will advise the project and certify its completion, and the student will register for 1-3 credits of MUS 898 or PSY 891 with the faculty advisor. An alternative independent research course may be substituted if deemed appropriate by the faculty advisor.

The Graduate Certificate in Music Career Development increases students’ awareness of the diversity of careers and roles in the music field, and supports students developing varied interests during their program, encouraging heterogeneity of thought and artistic development. The certificate is available to masters or doctoral students in the College of Music at Michigan State University. Students who wish to complete the certificate must consult with the Director of Career Services and Music Entrepreneurship prior to beginning course work in the program..

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Music Career Development.
Complete a minimum of 9 credits as specified below:

1. Complete two of the following, 3-4 credits:
   • MUS 496 Your Music Business – 1-2 cr.
   • MUS 893 Topics in Music Entrepreneurship – 2 cr.
2. Complete one of the following, 1-2 cr.:
   • MUS 865 Capstone in Music Career Development – 1-2 cr.
   • MUS 866 Internship in Music – 1-2 cr.
3. Complete two of the following, 4-6 cr:
   • ACM 461 Strategies of Arts/Cultural Management
   • ACM 462 Promo & e-commerce in Arts & Cultural Mgmt
   • ACM 463 Event Production & Planning for Arts & Culture
   • ACM 801 Introduction to Arts and Cultural Management
   • MUS 442 sec. 002 | Film Scoring
   • MUS 487 Music Preparation & Presentation
   • MUS 494 Musician’s Health and Wellness
   • MUS 830 Research Methods and Materials in Music
   • MUS 844-48 Secondary Special Emphasis – Instrumental
   • MUS 877 Scoring for Orchestra and Band
   • MUS 893 Topics in Entrepreneurism
   • MUS 964 College Music Teaching
   • MUS 896 (Master’s) Recital Performance
   • MUS 996 (Doctoral) Recital Performance

4. Attend 6 Running Start workshops sponsored by the College of Music’s Office of Career Services and Music Entrepreneurship. The Career Services Office will track/verify attendance for your program.

The Performance Diploma Program is an intensive four-semester (two-year) course of study for musicians who have already achieved a high level of performance and wish to focus on developing their performing skills through further study. Admission to the program is by a 30-minute live audition on campus for the faculty of the area of study. There is no English language proficiency requirement.

The program provides for concentrated study in appropriate literature with a master teacher, without being enrolled in a degree program. The program features private study as well as chamber music and ensemble experience within the College of Music. In addition, Diploma students are required to perform one recital during each of the two years of enrollment, with only 4 hours of dress rehearsal for either of their recitals.

During their time of study, Performance Diploma students concentrate almost exclusively on developing their performing skills. This program recognizes accomplishment but does not carry the privileges of a college degree. Instead, students would likely be preparing for auditions, competitions, or career entry positions.

All applicants in classical voice, saxophone, percussion, flute and piano must submit a prescreening recording. This recording must be received no later than December 1 (fall applicants). Separate committees from the piano and vocal arts areas will review recordings beginning the week following the December 1 deadline. You will be notified via email as to whether or not you have been invited for a live audition. The recording quality must be sufficient for us to make a reasonable judgment of your ability. Specific prescreening requirements can be found within the audition section of this website.

The program requires 16 credits of MUS 896 Master’s Performance taken over four semesters. These credits of MUS 896 must include at least 8 credits of instruction in the applied instrument (2 credits for each of four semesters), 4 credits of instruction in chamber music (1 credit for each of four semesters) and 4 credits of instruction in major ensemble (1 credit for each of four semesters). (Voice students may substitute MUS 435 Opera Workshop for the chamber music requirement.) .

Two recitals ^^ are required (1 each year) and must be approved in advance, according to the College of Music policy for graduate recitals. Additional requirements will be determined in consultation with the major teacher. Students must provide a program and an AUDIO recording of their performances. (Please see #5 of Section XII. Miscellaneous Information for details about Recitals.)

* Credits from the Performance Diploma Program may be used toward a Master’s or Doctoral degree at MSU after consultation with the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.
* Courses from another university, college, or music school may not be transferred into the Performance Diploma Program.
^^ Mock Audition in Lieu of Solo Recital

Effective Fall 2021, students pursuing a DMA or Performance Diploma may substitute one required solo recital with a Mock Audition, using the procedure outlined below. This option is available to those studying all orchestral and wind ensemble instruments with the
approval their primary teacher and area chair. The student will prepare in full a repertoire list from recent or current audition materials of an ICSOM orchestra (member of International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians) or a premiere military band. The repertoire must include the complete list of all required excerpts and solos.

A hearing is required with at least three area faculty members present. At this hearing, the student will perform a selection of the repertoire as determined by the committee, either a previously assigned ’audition round’ or excerpts called from the list spontaneously. Solos that appear on the audition list may also be included in the hearing. Either prior to or following the hearing (at the discretion of the major teacher) the student will submit a recording consisting of all the repertoire on the audition list, which they must record at a near-
professional quality. The successful mock audition will substitute for one solo recital. Faculty should use the pre-recital hearing form to indicate the results of the mock audition. Student must submit an AUDIO recording and ‘program’ to the Graduate Studies Office via FileDepot.

Academic Standards for all Performance Diploma Students

Performance Diploma students must:

1. Maintain a cumulative grade–point average of at least 3.00.
2. Not accumulate deferred grades (identified by the DF–Deferred marker.

If at the end of a semester a performance diploma student fails to meet one or both requirements specified above, the student shall receive a deficiency warning. If the deficiency is not removed within one semester, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program. A student may accumulate no more than 6 credits with a grade below 3.0 in courses that are to be counted toward the certificate. Credit will not be awarded for any course in which the student receives a grade less than 2.0. However, all grades are counted in the calculation of the grade-point average (GPA). Students in the program will enroll through Lifelong Graduate Education and will be responsible for the cost of 4 credits of tuition each semester at the Lifelong Graduate rate. There is no additional fee for the program. The College of Music does not offer financial assistance (scholarships, fellowships, or graduate assistantships) for participants in the Diploma Program.

Performance Diploma students are subject to all the rules and regulations of the College of Music and the University. Prospective students should contact the College of Music Admissions Office for information on admission procedures to the Diploma Program in Performance. Students must complete a graduate application to the College of Music and pass the audition before a decision can be made on acceptance into the program.

** International students are issued an I-20 so that they may apply for an F-1Visa. **

The program is administered by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research of the College of Music. All students in the program are required to meet with the Associate Dean for advising prior to the beginning of each semester. Contact the Graduate Office to set up an appointment. [116 Music Building, musgrad@msu.edu]

Enrollment Procedure:
Students should contact the professor they wish to work with to discuss their studio availability. After admission, further questions and concerns can be brought to the attention of the Graduate Office (116 Music Building) or by e-mailing musgrad@msu.edu.

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