Skip to main content
Giving & Alumni
College of Music
Giving & Alumni
College of Music

Oral Certifying Examination (Master’s)

Blank MM Oral Defense Form

Recital AUDIO Recording and program submitted to the College of Music

Music Theory Capstone Requirement page

Music Theory students only

All students in master’s degree programs in the College are required to pass an oral final certifying examination. Oral final certifying examinations are given during Fall and Spring semesters and may be given during a Summer session with the approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and every member of the student’s examining committee.

All deficiencies with regard to orientation examinations or entrance requirements, whether stated in terms of credits, courses, or performance standards, must be removed before the oral final certifying examination is scheduled.

A student must be registered for at least 1 credit during the semester in which they take the oral certifying examination (see Maximum and Minimum Credits). This requirement may be waived if the examination is administered during the Summer session immediately following a spring semester during which the student was registered and/or prior to a fall semester in which the student will be registered.

If the student fails the oral final certifying examination, the student shall be allowed to retake the examination only once, during the next Fall or Spring semester.

Format of Oral Final Certifying Examination

The student is responsible for forming the certifying committee and scheduling the examination. The committee consists of three College of Music faculty members. The make-up of the committee and the format of the examination vary from degree to degree (see below). The examination should be scheduled in a faculty studio for 75 minutes, although the examination itself will typically take only 60 minutes. The student should contact committee members at the beginning of the semester in which they intend to take the certifying examination. This should be in the final semester of required coursework or any semester thereafter.

Protocol for MM orals

Master’s students in collaborative piano, conducting, performance, and piano pedagogy wishing to complete the oral final certifying examination must do the following. (Master’s students in composition, jazz studies, music education, music theory, and musicology do not adhere to these protocols. They should consult their major professor regarding the format of the oral certifying examination. All master’s students [with the exception of music theory] must:
• Assemble their 3-person committee.
• Determine the assigned question or project from each faculty member.
• Schedule the date, time, and place of the exam
• Submit the above information no later than 5 pm of the Friday of Week 7 of the semester through a Google form administered by the Graduate Office, which will be sent to all master’s students from the Graduate Office of the College.

• Students must then Complete the exam by 5 pm Fri of Week 14. To aid in scheduling, students and/or faculty members will be allowed to attend via Zoom, although an in-person exam is preferred. A mix of in-person and virtual attendance is permitted.
• Complete the orals approval form on our website.

It is the student’s responsibility to complete the form as instructed above, to confirm their signatures, and to share it with musgrad@msu.edu.

Instructions
1. CLICK HERE and open the MM Oral Certification Examination Form.
2. Go to “File” and “Make a copy.”
3. Rename your copied file adding your full given name (Last, First).
4. Double-click in each box to edit.
5. Complete the top portion, Committee Names on the left side and the recital information. This is completed just prior to the Oral Exam date.
6. Go to “Share” and add the E-mail address of each Committee member as editor for their signature immediately following the Exam.
7. At the end of your exam ask each Committee member to sign your form electronically.
8. Once you have confirmed that your committee members have signed the form, go to “Share” and add musgrad@msu.edu as an editor.

** You can choose to print a paper copy, take it to your exam and have the committee members sign it. You then submit that to the Graduate Studies Office (116 Music) or musgrad@msu.edu. **

Plan B only: The committee consists of three faculty members: the primary teacher, a second member from the area of the degree, and a member of either the music history or music theory faculty. Each committee member, working with the student, will develop a research question for the student to prepare in advance.

On the day of the examination, the student meets with the committee and makes a presentation of approximately 15 minutes per question. The student can use notes but should not read the answer. In most cases it is suggested that the student prepare, for the committee, a 1-2 page handout or organizational outline for each question. Musical examples (in score or on recordings or live) are recommended. Following the presentation, committee members will ask follow-up questions. Because the format of each question differs slightly, students are urged to ascertain the specific expectations of each committee member upon receipt of the research question.

Plan A only: The examination is a defense of the thesis/composition. The committee consists of three faculty members: the thesis advisor, a member of either the music history or music theory areas, and a third member from any area in the College. (This third member is typically a member of the composition area.) For the format of the defense, consult with your thesis advisor. The completed thesis must be submitted to each member of the committee at least one month prior to the defense.

Plan A: The examination is a defense of the thesis. The committee consists of two faculty members from music education and a third at-large member (usually a faculty member with whom the student has taken course work). The thesis advisor will serve as chair. The completed thesis must be submitted to each member of the committee at least one month prior to the defense.

Plan B: The committee consists of three faculty members: two from music education (one of whom will act as chair) and a third at-large member (usually a faculty member with whom the student has taken course work). Each student will select three question topics and draft questions in conjunction with faculty members (each faculty member oversees creation of a single question). Two questions will relate to core music education courses, and the third will relate to a selected music theory, music history, or conducting/applied course. Students will finalize questions no later than the end of the first full week of classes of the summer session. A bank of sample questions from the past is available to help you get started. Students will then compile resources, read extensively on their topics, and create outlines for the essays. Students must turn in the final drafts of their three essays to the committee via email at least one week before the oral examination occurs.

Essays will follow APA formatting (7th edition) for writing style, parenthetical citations, and reference lists. Each paper should be roughly 8-10 pages in length (double spaced, 12-pt. font). When it comes to finding sources, consult this guide. Sources from the past 10 years are preferred, as are sources from within music education. Pay special attention, too, to whether a source is research-based (the author collected data) or philosophical/idea based.

The oral examination will take place during week 5 or 6 of the summer session, scheduled in conjunction with committee members. last one hour. Committee members will ask questions of the student regarding each comprehensive exam paper.

Plan B only: Please consult with the chair of the music theory area for details about these components and the required form for completion/submission to the Graduate Studies Office.

Plan B only:  The committee consists of three faculty members from jazz studies area. The primary teacher will act as chair. For format information contact the Jazz Studies Office.

The committee consists of three faculty members: two from musicology (one of whom will act as chair) and a third at-large member from within or outside the College (usually a faculty member with whom the student has taken course work). In instances where additional expertise would be beneficial it is recommended that the committee include an additional faculty member from within or outside the College of Music The completed thesis must be submitted to each member of the committee at least one month prior to the defense.