Graduate Programs

The department's distinguished artist/teacher faculty has extensive credentials and professional experience in performance, music education, and other specialized areas of work in music. Graduate students receive individualized instruction in a full range of music course offerings including private study in voice, piano, organ, guitar, and all woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments.

For more information, please see the Academic Catalog.

This program is intended for those individuals who seek advanced training in music performance and/or wish to pursue doctoral study and seek teaching positions in higher education.

Career Opportunities

Link to Additional Career Information:
https://www.buzzfile.com/Major/Music External Resource

Program Location

Carrollton Campus

Method of Delivery

Courses are mostly face-to-face. One required class is offered online during the summer semester.

Accreditation

The University of West Georgia is accredited by The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

This program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Credit and transfer

Total semester hours required: 30
Maximum Hours Transferable into program: 6
A transfer credit evaluation will be completed by the UWG Transfer Team (transfer@westga.edu). Course application to a program is subject to review by the department.

Graduate students may be able to reduce their cost through prior learning, previous degrees earned at UWG, or transfer credits. We have created a tool to help students estimate their tuition costs.

This program may be earned entirely face-to-face. However, depending on the courses chosen, a student may choose to take some partially or fully online courses.

Save money

UWG is often ranked as one of the most affordable accredited universities of its kind, regardless of the method of delivery chosen.

Details

Total tuition costs and fees may vary, depending on the instructional method of the courses in which the student chooses to enroll.
The more courses a student takes in a single term, the more they will typically save in fees and total cost.
Face-to-face or partially online courses are charged at the general tuition rate and all mandatory campus fees, based on the student's residency (non-residents are charged at a higher rate).
Fully or entirely online course tuition rates and fees my vary depending on the program. Students enrolled in exclusively online courses do not pay non-Resident rates.
Together this means that GA residents pay about the same if they take all face-to-face or partially online courses as they do if they take only fully online courses exclusively; while non-residents save money by taking fully online courses.
One word of caution: If a student takes a combination of face-to-face and online courses in a single term, he/she will pay both all mandatory campus fees and the higher eTuition rate.
For cost information, as well as payment deadlines, see the Student Accounts and Billing Services website

There are a variety of financial assistance options for students, including scholarships and work study programs. Visit the Office of Financial Aid's website for more information.

Coursework

Electives include studies in music history/literature, music theory, analysis, composition, music technology, music education, performance, pedagogy, and thesis. Up to nine credit hours may be taken in MUSC 6999: Thesis in Music.

General

Program Sheet

No faculty members listed

Guidelines for Admittance

All graduate applicants must complete the online Grad Application. A one-time application fee of $40 is required.
Applicants should also review the Graduate Studies Website for individual program specific requirements and tasks that must be completed prior to admission. See Graduate Studies Application Process.
International applicants are subject to additional requirements and application deadlines. See Procedures for International Students.
Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended are required and should be sent directly to the UWG Graduate Admissions Office.

Program Specific Admittance Guidelines

Departmental Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the university's Admission requirements, the applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree in music or the equivalent. Applicants seeking to enroll in the Master of Music in Music Education program must hold an undergraduate degree in Music Education or professional teacher certification in music. The Master of Music in Music Education program is 100% online. Students may use approved campus-based classes as electives.

Once an applicant has met Regular standards for graduate admission, he/she will be required to meet all departmental admission requirements for a Master of Music degree program. Any graduate courses completed prior to Regular Admission may apply to a Master of Music degree program after a student has successfully met all departmental admission requirements.

One statement of recommendation from an individual who can address the applicant’s academic, personal, and professional suitability for graduate-level work in Performance or Music Education, as appropriate, is required.

All persons who seek departmental admission to a Master of Music degree program must successfully complete the Music Graduate Diagnostic Exam. In addition, all applicants for the Master of Music in Performance must successfully complete the Music Graduate Diagnostic Exam.

Music Graduate Diagnostic Exam

The Music Graduate Diagnostic Exam in music history and music theory is administered to determine whether the applicant meets competency standards for graduate study in music. Competencies are evaluated in:

Music History
Musical Styles (aural identification)
Music Theory/Analysis
Aural Skills

The exam is taken at an approved, proctored testing site, either on the West Georgia campus or at a remote location. Testing fees are the responsibility of the candidate. A minimum score of 60% correct response on each section of the examination is required for passage. It may be taken a maximum of three times.

Vocal Principals seeking the Master of Music degree in Performance are required to write an English translation of one short poem from song texts written in the original French, German, or Italian language. A text in one of the three languages must be translated. The applicant may use a hard copy foreign-language dictionary when taking the examination.

Graduate Applied Performance Evaluation

An Applied Performance Evaluation is administered to determine if the applicant meets minimum performance standards for admission to the Master of Music in Performance program. Minimum standards are evaluated through the applicant's presentation of a 20-30-minute entrance recital for the faculty, prior to the first term of enrollment. Applicants must provide their own accompanists.

Application Deadlines

Specific Graduate Admissions Deadlines are available via the Graduate School

* Application, app fee, and document deadline

See The Scoop for more specific deadlines.

Admission Process Checklist

The Graduate Studies Application Process checklist is available here

One exception: If you will not ever be traveling to a UWG campus or site, you may apply for an Immunization Exemption. Contact the Immunization Clerk with your request.

Contact

Graduate Admissions
678-839-1394
graduate@westga.edu

UWG Graduate Admissions
Mandeville Hall
1601 Maple Street
Carrollton, GA 30118

Department of Music | University of West Georgia

Dr. Elizabeth Kramer
ekramer@westga.edu

Specific dates for Admissions (Undergraduate Only), Financial Aid, Fee Payment, Registration, Start/End of Term Dates, Final Exams, etc. are available in THE SCOOP.