The School of Music offers an Accelerated Degree Path (ADP) program which combines a Bachelor of Music degree (or a Bachelor of Arts in Music) with a Master of Arts in Music. The MA in Music degree is a graduate research degree which culminates with a written thesis and a public presentation (lecture or lecture/recital). Possible areas of focus for the thesis include (but are not limited to) music history, music theory, ethnomusicology, historical performance practice, music technology, and interdisciplinary subjects relating music with other fields. The program is intended for students with a strong interest in scholarly research and should not be considered a substitute for a Master of Music in Performance degree. The benefits include a stronger preparation for graduate studies after Western and a more diverse portfolio for future teaching positions.
To begin the program, qualified undergraduate music students can be admitted into the accelerated degree path and take approved graduate-level coursework in music. These courses count as advanced placement toward the MA degree (up to a maximum of 12 credit hours) and can be used to substitute for Theory/History, Professional Music, General elective requirements in the B.Mus.. In addition, undergraduates admitted to dual-enrollment status with the Graduate College may take additional graduate-level courses for graduate credit only (i.e., counting toward the MA, but not toward the BMus). Following completion of the Bachelor’s degree, the student can apply for final admission into the Master’s program and typically complete the remaining graduate coursework in their fifth year.
Step One:
If you are interested in learning more about how the accelerated degree program works, whether and when you would be eligible, and/or more details about the Master of Arts in Music degree, please submit the form below. This is not an application, it is just to let us know of your interest and allow us to get in touch with you to answer any questions you might have. A link to the formal application appears on the sidebar.
http://www.wmich.edu/mus-theo/adp/adp_gen.html Revised: 06 Apr 2009