Northern Illinois University is strongly committed toartistry and scholarship in all areas of music. Admission to any graduate program in music is determined by specific criteria, which must be met by all applicants.
Admission is a two-part process. Prospective students must apply for admission to the Graduate School and are subsequently admitted to a graduate program by the School of Music after performing an audition or meeting other entrance requirements.
The School of Music does not require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
Initial requests for information about advanced degrees in music and/or application materials may be made by contacting the School of Music Coordinator of Graduate Studies. Further information about graduate study and music graduate programs can be found in the School of Music Student Handbook and in the Graduate Catalog. Application forms, current costs, and other important information can be found on the web page of the Graduate School.
The Master of Music degree is a 32-semester hour program consisting of 13 semester hours of core requirements plus 19 semester hours taken within one of three specializations: music education, music performance, or individualized study. Individualized studies include music history, music theory, composition, world music, jazz, recording techniqes, and computer music and new media technology, or they may be distinctive cross-disciplinary programs.
A baccalaureate degree in music or a diploma from an accredited conservatory or music school is required for admission to the M.M.program. In some circumstances, applicants whose undergraduate degree is in a field other than music may be considered for admission with special stipulations regarding the completion of undergraduate deficiencies. Other admission requriements will vary, depending upon the specialization that is selected.
Music Education: Applicants are admitted to this specialization only upon recommendation of a committee of the music education faculty after review of application documents. Normally, applicants must have public school teacher certification and teaching experience to be considered for admission.
The School of Music offers a summer graduate program in music education for public school teachers.
Performance: Applicants are admitted to this specialization only upon the recommendation of a committee of the performance faculty after an audition and review of application documents. Candidates should be prepared to perform a full-length program of the undergraduate senior recital caliber or higher for their audition. Where distance precludes an in-person audition, a CD, DVD, or VHS cassette of a full recital program may be submitted.
Individualized: A student may design an individualized specialization with course work selected from existing courses, seminars, independent study, internships, or special projects, offered both on- and off-campus. While this specialization may share some features with published specializations, its thrust should be distinctive. Individualized study may consist in part of interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary courses that combine music study with such areas as anthropology, art, business, computer science, dance, theater, electronics, ethnic studies, mental health, or special education.
In cases where courses in other departments are to be used, the applicant must confirm with that department that the program is feasible.
Typical individualized specializations where the program concentrates entirely on music include music history, music theory, composition, world music, jazz studies, recording techniques, and computer music and new media technology.
Applicants are admitted to this specialization only upon the recommendation of a committee of the music faculty after an in-depth examination for competence in music and/or other applicable fields, and a review of application documents.
The Performer's Certificate is a post-master's certificate program. The purpose of the P.C. is to enable advanced students to attain greater mastery of their chosen fields than they can achieve in formal study through the master's degree level. This 24-semester hour program includes private instruction, research related to performance, and performance experience designed to develop fully-independent professional musicians.
Admission to the Performer's Certificate
Applicants for the P.C. program should consult with the School of Music Coordinator of Graduate Studies. To be eligible for admission, students must normally have completed work equivalent to that required for the M.M. degree at NIU. Applicants are required to perform an audition or submit a recording representative of their performance abiltiy.
In some cases, applicants who demonstrate exceptional performing abilities, equivalent to a Master of Music level or greater, and who have completed a baccalaureate degree or diploma from an accredited institution or conservatory, may be recommended by the faculty for admission directly into the P.C. program. However, persons admitted to the P.C. program in this manner must reapply to the Graduate School if they seek entry into a graduate degree program such as the Master of Music.
Assistantships are awarded in all areas on the basis of merit and School of Music needs. Assistants with full- or half-time appointments will have assigned responsibilities occupying from 10 to 20 hours weekly, including, where relevant, participation in School of Music ensembles.
Assistantships include a monthly stipend for nine months plus a full tuition waiver. These awards do not cover incidental fees, which may be as much as $900 per term.
Northern Illinois University is an AA/EEO employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.
The School of Music has a limited number of tuition waivers for talented graduate students. Recommendations for waivers are made by area faculty after the admission audition. Students who receive waivers are expected to perform in School of Music ensembles, as needed, and to provide other services to the school. Tuition waivers pay the full amount of graduate tuition but do not cover incidental fees, which may be as much as $900 per term.
All newly-admitted Master of Music students must be prepared to take the School of Music Diagnostic Examination at the start of their first term on campus. Depending upon the results of this examination, students may be required to take and pass specific courses to remove deficiencies. Such courses are above and beyond the 32 hours required for graduation. Click here for a study guide. The Diagnostic Examination is not required for Performer's Certificate students. Students undertaking an individualized specialization in Jazz Studies are not required to take the traditional theory and history exams, but must take a jazz diagnostic test, instead. Click here for the jazz study guide.
All graduate students in the Master of Music program must successfully complete the School of Music Comprehensive Examination, usually taken during the final term. TheComprehensive Examination is not required for Performer's Certificate students.
Currently, the Music Education faculty is not accepting any new graduate students who seek concurrent admission to an Illinois teacher certification program.