Music, M.A.

The M.A. in Music program at Wesleyan College equips musicians to practice their discipline in an increasingly digital and intersectional world. In keeping with the liberal arts tradition of the M.A. degree, this program will teach students to adapt to a quickly changing professional landscape, think critically and creatively about music, and develop practical skills in performance, collaboration, teaching, and technology use.

The program is designed to allow students maximum flexibility due to the mix of online and in-person options offered, up to 100% online. Students may enter the program in any of 5 entry points (mid-August, mid-October, mid-January, mid-March and mid-May) and take courses full or part-time to complete the 32 hours. Though a standard two-year plan is shown below, students may be able to complete the degree in as little as one year, or take longer as needed. Furthermore, individually scheduled courses (such as Collaborative Musicianship, Applied Lessons, Practicum/Internship, and Thesis/Recital) may be completed in an 8-week Summer Term.

The following learning outcomes will be assessed regularly:

1. Collaborate effectively with others in a musical context;
2. Demonstrate understanding of the relationship of music to the liberal arts and the place of music in larger social-historical context;
3. Use technology effectively as tools in learning, creating, and teaching within the field of music.

Additionally, our coursework teaches graduates to make artistic and intellectual judgments about music in various contexts, demonstrate a professional level of competence for music instruction, and integrate technical performance skills and musical understanding in chosen area(s) of specialization.