Music Composition MA

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The Department of Music has-for decades-enjoyed a reputation as one of a handful of departments in North America dedicated to contemporary musical creation at the highest level. Composition at the University at Buffalo flourishes today, by providing a wide range of stimulating musical and intellectual experiences, within a program that allows students the space to develop and mature. In an atmosphere that encourages musical and technological experiment, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the development of authentic creative character, graduate composers at UB take advantage of a number of resources and opportunities.

Required Core (36 credits)

Composition (12 credits)

Select from the following courses for a total of 2-4 semesters:

MUS 627TUT - Composition Credits: 4
MUS 628TUT - Composition Credits: 4
MUS 627SEM - Composition Seminar Credits: 2
MUS 628SEM - Composition Seminar Credits: 2

Orchestration / Contemporary / Electronic Music (8 credits)

Select from the following courses for a total of 2 semesters and 8 credits:

MUS 619LEC - Advanced Orchestration Credits: 4
MUS 620LEC - Advanced Orchestration Credits: 4
MUS 607LEC - Contem Music Materials Credits: 4
MUS 608LEC - Contem Music Materials Credits: 4
MUS 511LEC - Electronic Music Credits: 4
MUS 512LEC - Electronic Music Credits: 4

Music History (4 credits)

Select 1 from:

MUS 625LEC - Notation Credits: 4
MUS 525SEM - Popular Music Studies Credits: 4
MUS 526SEM - Studies in Music History Credits: 4
MUS 527SEM - Music and Modernity Credits: 4
MUS 528SEM - Media, Memory, and Notation Credits: 4
MUS 529LEC - Studies in US Music Credits: 4
MUS 530LEC - Experimental Music Credits: 4

Music History 2 (4 credits)

Select 1 from:

MUS 515SEM - Music and Queer Studies Credits: 4
MUS 517SEM - Music, Gender, and Sexuality Credits: 4

Music Theory (4 credits)

Select 1 from:

MUS 554LEC - Studies in Music Theory Credits: 4
MUS 555LEC - Studies in Music Theory Credits: 4
MUS 621SEM - Topics in Tonal Theory and Analysis Credits: 4
MUS 629SEM - Analyzing Twentieth- and Twenty-First Century Music Credits: 4

Culminating Experience: Exam, Project or Thesis (0 credits)

Total Credit Hours: 36

3.0 Degree GPA required

Instruction Method

In Person (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Full Time

Credits Required

36 Hours

Time-To-Degree

2 Years

Application Fee

$75

Program Contact

Maria Portera
380 Academic Center
Buffalo, NY 14261
Email: mportera@buffalo.edu
Phone: 716-645-6242
Fax: 716-645-3808

SED Statement

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.