MA in Music in Kalamazoo United States | Western Michigan University

The Master of Arts is an advanced research program that requires a written thesis and public defense. Students can specialize in various fields including music history, theory, ethnomusicology, historical performance, or music technology. The program promotes interdisciplinary work connecting music with related disciplines. This two-year MA can be pursued independently or as part of an accelerated five-year combined bachelor's/master's track (with options including BA in Music, BM, BMA, or BS in Multimedia Arts and Technology).
The MA program offers four flexible thesis formats, all requiring original research documentation and public presentation: A) A comprehensive written thesis with a public lecture component, B) An original musical composition (acoustic or electronic) paired with a scholarly essay, presented in recital or lecture form, C) A lecture-recital with detailed program notes and supporting essay, or D) A creative endeavor (such as multimedia production, software development, audio recording, or web project) accompanied by a relevant academic paper, with public presentation of one or both elements.