Master's Study in Music

Audition Dates for 2023-2024

Application and Audition/Interview Deadline: March 1

  • Saturday, January 20, 2024
    In-Person Audition Day
    (reservation deadline January 5, 2024)
  • Friday, January 26, 2024
    Virtual Audition Day
    (reservation deadline January 5, 2024)
    *virtual audition will take place in
    Eastern Standard Time.  
  • Saturday, February 17, 2024
    In-Person Audition Day
    (reservation deadline February 3, 2024)
  • Saturday, February 24, 2024
    In-Person Audition Day
    *deadline for assistantship consideration
    (reservation deadline February 3, 2024)
  • Saturday, April 13, 2024
    In Person Audition Day
    (reservation deadline March 30, 2024)

Conducting applicants: Audition dates will be emailed to you after you submit the Graduate College Application for admission.

Master of Music Degree Program

The Master of Music degree program, offered by the College of Musical Arts, is designed to prepare musicians to practice their specialization in the changing environment of current American musical culture. The program encompasses eleven fields: collaborative piano, composition, conducting, ethnomusicology, jazz studies music education, music history, music theory, performance, piano pedagogy, and vocal pedagogy.

View areas of study

Materials concerning details about the graduate program in music at Bowling Green State University may be received upon request.

Prerequisites to Graduate Work

Applicants should possess an appropriate undergraduate degree, as well as potential for advanced study as evidenced by musical and intellectual abilities and achievements. In cases where an applicant is deficient in background, the departmental graduate faculty will require additional course work; for example, remedial courses in music history and music theory.

All new graduate students with assistantships are required to attend the Graduate Student Orientation (GSO), during which incoming students participate in seminars related to college teaching.

All new CMA graduate students must attend the departmental orientation sessions, and take music theory and music history entrance exams. There is a study guide for the theory/history exam available online.

Admission Procedure

Applicants seeking admission to the Master of Music program should follow the instructions outlined in the Graduate College Application for Admissions. In addition to the general admission requirements set by the Graduate College, applicants must fulfill the following departmental requirements. Applicants electing the performance or conducting options may either elect a virtual audition or elect to upload a recorded audition into the application (in the portfolio section). However domestic students applying for music performance assistantships must present a virtual audition. Applicants electing music history, ethnomusicology, music theory or composition emphasis must submit examples of their work with their applications. Music education and music theory applicants are required to have an online interview

Graduate Assistantships and Scholarships

A number of graduate assistantships and scholarships are available. A list of available assistantship positions and other information is available on our assistantships and scholarships page.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Doctoral degree, students in the Contemporary Music program are expected to be able to:

  • Demonstrate a high level of competence in the technical aspects of contemporary music and culture.
  • Demonstrate a high level of competence in the aesthetic and philosophical aspects of contemporary music and culture.
  • Practically apply and demonstrate their technical, aesthetic and philosophical knowledge of contemporary music in an internship in a real world non-academic music setting.
  • Analyze the relationships among multiple traditions, histories, and styles of contemporary music, arts, and other disciplines.
  • Using the skills above, conduct original scholarship in the field of contemporary music.

Accreditation and/or Program/Cluster Review
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music program is accredited by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is in good standing.

Professional Licensure (If applicable)
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music program does not lead to professional licensure.

Gainful Employment (If applicable)     
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Upon completion of the graduate degree, students in Music Composition are expected to be able to:

  • Create original musical compositions reflecting the technical skills necessary to realize their ideas. 
  • Assess strengths and weaknesses in their own writing, and revise their work accordingly. 
  • Integrate new ideas into their writing and synthesize them into an original statement. 
  • Relate salient aspects of their own and others’ works to larger historical, formal, stylistic, cultural, and/or aesthetic contexts. 
  • Listen critically to and speak critically of contemporary compositions. 
  • Explain their ideas to performers, colleagues, and audiences. 

Accreditation and/or Program/Cluster Review
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Music Composition program is accredited by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is in good standing.

Professional Licensure (If applicable)
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Music Composition program does not lead to professional licensure.

Gainful Employment (If applicable)     
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Music Composition program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Upon completion of the graduate degree, students in Ethnomusicology, Musicology, and Theory are expected to be able to:

  • Discuss major works, people, and trends in scholarship within their discipline. 
  • Classify unknown musical works in terms of style, genre, chronology, and geographic origin.  
  • Evaluate and interpret music, musical performances, music’s socio-cultural and historical contexts, and existing music scholarship. 
  • Formulate original research questions and select methodologies and/or analytical techniques appropriate to produce scholarship that is historically, culturally, and theoretically grounded. 
  • Construct presentations that prioritize and effectively communicate key information and integrate emergent pedagogical skills. 

Accreditation and/or Program/Cluster Review
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Ethnomusicology program is accredited by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is in good standing.

Professional Licensure (If applicable)
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Ethnomusicology program does not lead to professional licensure.

Gainful Employment (If applicable)     
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Ethnomusicology program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Upon completion of the graduate degree, students in Music Education are expected to be able to:

  • Through evaluation of contemporary literature and research, music education students will formulate and communicate ideas related to current issues in music education including, but not limited to, assessment,
  • Music education students will examine the role of music and music education in human life and culture and evaluate their role in the field. 
  • Music education students will demonstrate an effective process of instructional delivery and formulate curricular development plans appropriate for students at all levels of development and inclusive of students with special needs.  
  • Music education students will demonstrate skills in locating, understanding, selecting, and organizing extant literature and will construct cogent interpretations of the knowledge base in a given subject area related to music and music teaching. 

Accreditation and/or Program/Cluster Review
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Music Education program is accredited by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is in good standing.

Professional Licensure (If applicable)
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Music Education program requires professional licensure. For more information on licensure, click here.

Gainful Employment (If applicable)     
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Music Education program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Specializations:

  • Comprehensive Music Education
  • Choral Music Education
  • Instrumental Music Education
  • Teaching Artistry

Upon completion of the graduate degree, students are expected to be able to:

  • Develop appropriate technical proficiency and artistry to perform as soloists and in ensembles.
  • Analyze music as a means of enhancing performance skills and developing teaching competency.
  • Demonstrate teaching skills in individual and group settings.
  • Interpret a common body of music literature as appropriate for their performance medium.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use music performance for engagement with the outside world.

Accreditation and/or Program/Cluster Review
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Music Performance program is accredited by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is in good standing.

Professional Licensure (If applicable)
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Music Performance program does not lead to professional licensure.

Gainful Employment (If applicable)     
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Music Performance program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Specializations:

  • Choral Conducting
  • Instrumental Performance
  • Instrumental Specialist in Strings, Woodwinds, and Brass
  • Jazz
  • Orchestral Conducting
  • Piano
  • Voice

Upon completion of the graduate degree, students in Music Theory are expected to be able to:

  • Discuss major works, people, and trends in scholarship within their discipline.
  • Classify unknown musical works in terms of style, genre, chronology, and geographic origin.
  • Evaluate and interpret music, musical performances, music’s socio-cultural and historical contexts, and existing music scholarship.
  • Formulate original research questions and select methodologies and/or analytical techniques appropriate to produce scholarship that is historically, culturally, and theoretically grounded.
  • Construct presentations that prioritize and effectively communicate key information and integrate emergent pedagogical skills.

Accreditation and/or Program/Cluster Review
Bowling Green State University [BGSU] is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.  BGSU has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 01/01/1916. The most recent reaffirmation of accreditation was received in 2012 - 2013. Questions should be directed to the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.

The Music Theory program is accredited by National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and is in good standing.

Professional Licensure (If applicable)
Bowling Green State University programs leading to licensure, certification and/or endorsement, whether delivered online, face-to-face or in a blended format, satisfy the academic requirements for those credentials set forth by the State of Ohio.

Requirements for licensure, certification and/or endorsement eligibility vary greatly from one profession to another and from state to state. The Music Theory program does not lead to professional licensure.

Gainful Employment (If applicable)     
Under the Higher Education Act Title IV disclosure requirements, an institution must provide current and prospective students with information about each of its programs that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

The Music Theory program is not a recognized occupation that requires a Gainful Employment disclosure.

Updated: 05/10/2023 10:38AM