Graduate Study
Welcome to the Web pages for the Graduate Program in the Department of Music at California State University East Bay! We offer a Master of Arts degree in Music with areas of emphasis in choral music, composition & theory, music history, performance, and music education.
The aim of our graduate program is to provide a broad and thorough musical training of the highest quality. Students are given the opportunity to increase their musicianship, critical skills, and professional insights in preparation for careers in performing, teaching, composing and arranging, administration, and research.
The graduate curriculum in music is shaped by the faculty's view that a well prepared musician and scholar has a wide base of knowledge in the subdisciplines of music. As such, all students complete coursework in historical, ethnomusicological, and analytical studies as part of their overall graduate requirements.
Students in our program have opportunities to study with leading performers, composers, and scholars and to partake in the musical and cultural richness of the San Francisco Bay Area. Emphasis is placed upon maintaining small class sizes and close student-to-teacher interactions. The program also provides flexibility for students to explore further study in areas relevant to their career goals and aspirations.
Beyond the classroom, the Department of Music boasts a thriving music program that includes three choirs, an opera workshop, string orchestra, wind orchestra, jazz ensemble, new music ensemble, West African drumming ensemble, and numerous classical and jazz chamber ensembles.
A number of graduate assistantships are available for graduate students to help in classroom teaching, ensemble direction, and piano accompanying. Those with a focus in composition are eligible for the Glenn Glasow Graduate Fellowship in Composition, which provides a year of tuition support. Information on all assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and financial aid is available through this link.
General information on graduate requirements is collected in the Music Major's Handbook. You can also peruse the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the program.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Graduate Coordinator:
Peter K. Marsh, petermarsh@csueastbay.edu
Music Department Office:
Telephone: (510) 855-3135
Mailing Address:
Department of Music
Music Building, Room 2571
California State University, East Bay
25800 Carlos Bee Blvd.
Hayward, CA 94542
Choral Music
The M.A. in Choral Music is designed for the conductor and singer with a desire to improve their skills as a leader and contributor to the choral profession. The program is based on two pillars of effective musical leadership, repertoire and communication, and the numbers of students in the program are limited so that accepted students receive ample podium time to refine conducting and rehearsal skills.
Students learn the vast canon of the choral repertoire through classes, seminars, ensembles, guest artists, private lessons, analysis and performance. Students conduct music from all eras and develop vital communication skills including rehearsal techniques, vocal techniques, program planning, and an emphasis is placed on conducting.
Prospective students should have a minimum of 3 years experience as a conductor or professional choral singer, and will leave CSUEB with skills necessary to conduct choruses large and small, amateur and professional. To learn more about the choral program at Cal State East Bay, see our Vocal and Choral Studies page
Composition and Music Theory
The composition and music theory areas of emphasis are designed for students who wish to continue developing toward a professional level as composers or who wish to further their study of music theory. Most students in this program aim toward careers as professional composers, arrangers, and teachers. Some continue into doctoral programs at other universities. Composition students have opportunities to hear their works performed on regularly-scheduled composition recitals as well as occasional opportunities for performance by the department's major ensembles. Composition students are given a sixty-minute lesson each week. The successful completion of a substantial original composition, accompanied by a written analysis, is required for students in this area with a composition emphasis. A standard research thesis is required for students in the area of music theory.
 Graduate student Matthew McLean in a lesson with composer Dr. Jeffrey Miller |
Music History
Music history is a field of study that engages a broad range of disciplines in order to examine music in the context of human experience. While the focus of our curriculum is on art-music music traditions rooted in European history, we also offer courses in American music, popular music, and ethnomusicology. Interconnections between these different fields of research introduce students to a broad range of musical practices and different performance and research methodologies. After receiving training in research principles and techniques, each student in the program will embark on an individual research project on a topic of his or her own choice that will culminate in an original thesis. This area of emphasis is designed to give sufficient academic work and background to students who wish to continue graduate study at the doctoral level and for those wishing to teach at the community college level in the areas of history, literature, ethnomusicology, and music appreciation.
Music Education
The Music Education area of emphasis is designed to help students prepare for the practical aspects of teaching music in the public and private schools. Emphasis is placed on conceptual teaching, rehearsal techniques, conducting skills, organizational procedures, and appropriate pedagogical approaches for all levels of teaching development. Students who adopt this emphasis are expected to have a California Single Subject teaching credential in Music and to provide evidence of successful teaching experience. A standard thesis or project is a requirement in this area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Graduate Record Examination required for admission to the graduate program?
The GRE is not required for admission.
What is the deadline for submitting applications?
We accept applications for admission in the Fall Quarter on a rolling basis throughout the year, but preference will be given to those received by March 1. All application materials must be submitted no later than May 15, 2012
Are there entrance examinations and what are the Graduate Advisory Examinations?
There are no examinations required at the time of applying for the program. Students who are admitted to the program will take Graduate Advisory Examinations just prior to the start of classes. These exams will assess each student’s basic knowledge of music theory and history.
What if I'm coming from a country where English is not the primary language?
If you are a graduate student and your preparatory education was principally in a language other than English, you must demonstrate proficiency in English with one of the following:
- An official transcript showing graduation with a bachelor's degree from a U.S. college or university, or an international college or university where English is the principal language of instruction, or an official letter from the college or university certifying that English was the language of instruction.
- A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (213 computer-based or 79 Internet-based) or above.
- An overall test score from IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam of 6.5 or above for graduate students.
Students who come from foreign universities, conservatories, and institutions must understand that the master's degree at CSUEB requires the ability to write extended term papers in English and participate fluently in class discussions.
What if my transcripts are from an international university?
All foreign degrees are first evaluated by the International Admission Office. Please see International Student Admission for the proper way to submit international school work and degrees.
What is the typical time-to-degree?
Full-time students generally take six quarters (two years). Graduate students have up to five years to complete their degree. A minimum of 32 units must be completed in residency.
Can I transfer graduate units from other institutions?
Yes. You may transfer up to 13 units of the 45 required for the Master's degree, pending the approval of the graduate coordinator, your main advisor, and the University. Transfer units must also have been completed within five years of your application for graduation.
Do I have to be in residency at Cal State East Bay the entire time?
Graduate students are required to complete 32 units in residence. You may take two quarters off, but then you must register for courses in third quarter or risk losing your status.
Do I need to be enrolled in order to graduate?
No. So long as you have completed your required coursework, you do not need to be enrolled in order to graduate.
Can I complete a California teaching credential and a master's degree at the same time?
It is not possible to get a credential and an MA at the same time.
Can I take music lessons even though I am not a performance emphasis?
Yes. Students with an emphasis other than performance may take lessons, but approval must first be attained from the Graduate Coordinator and the Department Chair.
Am I allowed to count ensemble performance towards my graduate degree requirements?
All graduate students are encouraged to participate in the musical life of our department, including joining departmental ensembles and giving recitals. Those receiving a performance scholarship will be required to perform in one of the ensembles. Unfortunately, however, ensemble units cannot be counted toward your graduate requirements.
Graduate student Kai Wen in a lesson with violinist Philip Santos