Music (MA)

Application Deadlines

The Department of Music at Concordia University Chicago recognizes music as a gift of God and means through which all people can participate more fully in the world around them. The department provides all Concordia students a variety of opportunities to study and perform music, enabling their lifelong growth and involvement in the arts, while enriching the larger community. At the graduate level the goal of the department of music is to provide a broad-based musical education with an emphasis on church music and/or general music studies.

Program Objectives

The master of arts in music degree is designed to provide an opportunity for students with an undergraduate degree in music to continue their musical education by implementing an integration of studies in music and other supporting areas designed to broaden the student’s experience and knowledge in music and its application to a variety of professional and personal goals. Students in the master of arts program at Concordia can improve musical skills, enhance their musical education, and earn an advanced degree that may lead to career advancement or further musical study. While the program has some flexibility to allow students to focus on specific areas of interest, it is not a performance degree or a degree in a specific area of music.

Learning Objectives/Competencies

This program will provide opportunities for the student to:

• Deepen experience with and understanding of music.
• Engage in exploration of a broad range of church music topics.
• Extend capacities in musical creativity and performance.
• Broaden understanding of the relationship of music to other disciplines.

Entrance Requirements

Students applying for the Master of Arts degree in music will:

• hold an undergraduate degree in music or its equivalent, with studies in the field of specialty
• show evidence of completing a senior recital, research paper, or composition at undergraduate level
• pass entrance exams in music theory, aural skills, and music history
• demonstrate performance ability by audition in instrument or voice
• demonstrate piano skills equivalent to the intermediate level
• articulate an area of interest in music, such as performance, piano pedagogy, composition or research

Students with undergraduate deficiencies may satisfy the entrance requirements by taking undergraduate level work, any available review courses, or by self‐study and examination. Deficiencies in music theory, music history or aural skills should be removed by re‐examination before the close of the second term of graduate study. Courses taken to satisfy deficiencies may not be counted toward the graduate degree.

Program Requirements

Successful completion of 33 semester hours of coursework including the master’s capstone experience.

The master's program may be completed in four consecutive terms (summer, fall, spring, summer) or five consecutive summer terms.

Graduate Information Office

Staff

Sean Yerkes

Assistant Vice President for Graduate & ADP Admission

• 708-209-3542
• Email me