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College of Creative Arts and Media: School of Music

Music Theory, MA

The MA in Music Theory is intended for performers and music educators who desire advanced training in the analysis of Western art music and preparation for teaching basic musicianship in either a high school or college setting.

It is recommended that those considering this degree have above average keyboard skills; specifically the student should be able to play select Bach Two-Part Inventions and be able to sight read a hymn or chorale.

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Your Degree Plan

Intro

Aerial view of Martin and Woodburn Halls

This program is intended for performers and music educators who desire advanced training in the analysis of Western art music and preparation for teaching basic musicianship in either a high school or college setting.

Students who earn the Master of Arts in Music Theory will be able to:

  • Analyze works from all periods of music using advanced techniques and communicate clearly about them in both written and oral formats.
  • Demonstrate knowledge and skills in one or more fields of music outside the major such as history and literature, composition, musicology and ethnomusicology, and performance
  • Design and implement an undergraduate music theory class and demonstrate instructional delivery and management skills.

Take advantage of special options related to this major:

  • Honors

    Expand your curiosity — and enhance your curriculum — through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations for first- and second-year students and Honors EXCEL for third- and fourth-year students.

    Explore Honors

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Places and Spaces

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Program Facility - Creative Arts Center

Canady Creative Arts Center

The Loulie, Valerie and William Canady Creative Arts center boasts 4 exhibition spaces, 5 performance spaces, 33 individual practice rooms and 50 classrooms and studios with plenty of space to create. The loading dock at the rear of the building is a wonderful open-air space with stunning acoustics.

Explore the Canady Creative Arts Center
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Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission into a graduate program at WVU an applicant must submit official, bachelor's degree transcripts from a regionally accredited institution and hold a GPA of at least 2.75. WVU operates decentralized admissions. Decentralized admissions allows each graduate program to set its own application requirements in addition to the University requirements.

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