MA Music Theory

The graduate programs in music theory offer comprehensive professional training in one of the nation’s largest colleges of music. Advanced classroom and online instruction in theory and analysis along with one-on-one advising and a multitude of teaching opportunities prepares students for careers as scholars and professors.

You'll be taught by faculty members who've garnered national and international recognition for their research. Our comprehensive curriculum exposes you to:

• Analytical techniques covering the entire history of Western music practice.
• Applied studies in contrapuntal composition.
• History of music theory with direct study of treatises.
• Music theory pedagogy with on-site involvement in class instruction.
• Special focus seminars on music and psychoanalysis, semiotics, transformational theory, post-tonal theory and others.

 

You'll be mentored to present research at conferences (local, national and international) and publish essays in scholarly journals. The division publishes three refereed scholarly journals:

• Theoria: Historical Aspects of Music Theory — the only international journal devoted to the history of music theory.
• Journal of Schenkerian Studies — representing an international level of research and analysis.
• Harmonia — a publication run by and featuring the work of our graduate students.