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 students) must take the College’s graduate orientation examination in music theory, 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 examination
as outlined above.

Students who score below 70% on the written music theory orientation examination must take MUS 200 (Introduction to
Music Theory) 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) and complete it with a
grade of 2.0 or higher at some point during the student’s degree program.
** MUS 200 and 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.

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. Michael Callahan (mrc@msu.edu). **