Graduate Programs

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STUDIO features

Graduate degrees are granted in performance, composition, jazz studies and music education. All Masters of Music students enroll in core studies in music history, theory, and research, along with courses in the students' area of specialization. A minimum of 44 quarter hours of graduate credit, taken over a two-year period, is required to complete the Master of Music degree.

Performance (Master of Music)   

A Masters of Music in performance consists of applied lessons, ensemble work and core music courses.  Graduate performance students train with DePaul faculty who are themselves highly accomplished musicians.  The collegial and supportive environment at DePaul allows serious musicians to further their talents while making music in its highest form.

Performance Curricula

Composition (Master of Music)   

The Master of Music in composition program offers students one-on-one instruction with DePaul’s distinguished faculty of active composers as well as many seminars with guest composers and performers from Chicago and across the country.  Graduate composition majors have their compositions performed during DePaul Composers Forum, a quarterly student composition concert, and submit works to be read and possibly performed by the Student Contemporary Music Ensemble, DePaul Wind Ensemble, University Singers and DePaul Symphony Orchestra.  DePaul also offers two assistantships to graduate composition students.

Composition curriculum

Jazz Studies (Master of Music)   

Graduate level jazz studies students choose a specialization within the discipline of jazz studies.  Students may focus on the specific area of jazz composition or jazz performance.  Coursework for all graduate jazz studies students includes Graduate Jazz Styles and Analysis and Graduate Jazz History.  All Master of Music jazz performance students perform with jazz combos and big bands every quarter.  All jazz combos travel to a professional recording studio in Chicago and complete a CD recording, every quarter, resulting in each graduate student having at least six professional recordings upon completion of the degree.

Jazz Studies curriculum

Music Education (Master of Music)   

The graduate music education program offers practicing music teachers (teachers with at least one year of teaching experience) the opportunity to earn a masters degree in a little over two years with courses in the evening over the summer. Educational theory and practice merge throughout course work and students have a great deal of flexibility in choosing elective areas of study. The program culminates with a final paper or project, allowing the students the chance to research an area of special interest.

Music Education curricula