Like the M.Mus., the Master of Arts in Composition requires the completion of at least 30 hours of graduate work. The M.A. requires:
- Eight hours of composition
- Eight hours in a field outside music and comprising a minor
- Eight hours in music outside composition
- Submission of a thesis consisting of a short orchestral work composed while in residence.
Note: The main difference between the curriculum for the M.Mus. and the M.A. programs in composition is that the minor for the M.Mus. degree is in a field within music (e.g., performance, musicology, or music theory), while the minor for the M.A. degree is in a field outside of music. While the application process differs for these degrees, the admission criteria are identical, and it is possible to change from one to the other after admission.
