Graduate Guide

Admission to Candidacy

Application for Admission to Candidacy for the Master’s degree is made only after the student has completed all required review courses and approximately one semester of graduate course work with an overall “B” average in all courses taken for graduate credit.

Admission to Candidacy Forms can be found here.. All Admission to Candidacy forms must be typed into the document.  Handwritten forms will not be accepted.

After the student has completed the Admission to Candidacy form, and secured signatures of their Master’s Committee, they must email the completed form to the Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies. The deadline for the completed form is ONE WEEK before the published deadline by the Graduate School. See the Graduate School deadline here.

The Director of Graduate Studies in Music will then check to determine that all degree requirements have been met. Once it has been approved by Professor Batey, it will be sent to the Graduate School for their approval.  If Professor Batey does not approve, you will be contacted to rectify errors/omissions.

The Admission to Candidacy form must be submitted and accepted by the Graduate School before comprehensive examinations can be scheduled.

All review classes must be successfully completed and the Admission to Candidacy form approved before the recital and comprehensive exams are executed.

Certificate Program Verification

Students enrolled in Certificate Programs must complete a Graduate Certificate Course Verification form.  This should be completed one semester prior to completion of the Certificate Program.   Graduate Certificate Course Verification forms can be found here. In order for the form to be routed correctly, the NetID of the coordinator of the graduate certificate program, Professor Batey, must be used, so the form can be automatically routed correctly.  Please use Professor Batey’s net id for this purpose: abatey.

Special note in correctly completing the Graduate Certificate Verification form:  To complete the Certificate Course Verification form, it will be necessary to group courses taken more than once, e. g. applied lessons, on the same entry.  Enter every term the course has been taken, the number of hours, and the grade.  For Example:  MUPF 5XX; Under Year/Term: F23, Sp24, F24: Sp25; Credit Hours: 2, 2, 2, 2; Grade: A, A, A, A.

After the student has filled the Graduate Certificate Course Verification form with Professor Batey’s net id of abatey, the form will automatically route to Professor Batey for review.  The deadline for the completed form is ONE WEEK before the published deadline by the Graduate School.  The Graduate School deadline may be found here.

The Director of Graduate Studies in Music, Professor Batey, will then check to determine that all certification program requirements have been met. Once it has been approved by Professor Batey, it will be sent to the Graduate School for their approval.  If Professor Batey does not approve, you will be contacted to rectify errors/omissions.

The Graduate Certificate Course Verification form must be submitted and approved by the Graduate School before the recital is executed.

Comprehensive Examinations

The Graduate School requires all candidates to pass a final written and oral examination. The examination is “not merely a test over course work, but a demonstration of the candidate’s ability to integrate materials in the major and related fields” (Graduate Catalog).

In the College of Music, all students must pass a comprehensive written and oral examination as described below. Thesis students must also pass a Thesis Defense.  Students in performance degrees must also pass Graduate Recital.

Scheduling

Written Comprehensive Exams should be completed by October 25 or March 25.  The Oral defense should be scheduled no later than November 1 or April 1.  Students are allowed up to two weeks for revisions and must be complete by November 15 for the fall term or April 20 for the spring term.  All portions of the exam must be completed by these dates including any requested revisions.

A student may choose to take comprehensive exams at any time during the semester, provided that the Music Library is open, and that the oral exam is completed before the Graduate School deadline as published online.

NOTE: All deficiencies in musicology, and music theory must be removed and the Admission to Candidacy form completed and accepted by the graduate school before comprehensive exams are scheduled.

The student and Committee Chair should schedule the exams (written and oral) at a time agreeable to the members of the Master’s Committee. It is the responsibility of the student to submit a completed copy of the form “Recommended Arrangements for Final Examination” to the Graduate Administrative Assistant at least TWO weeks before the exam. On this form, non-thesis students list the date, time, and place of the oral exam; thesis students list the date, time and place of the Thesis Defense. The email from the Graduate School of approved Candidacy Form MUST be submitted with the Recommended Arrangements form.

The Pre-Examination Meeting

When the Admission to Candidacy form has been approved, the Master’s committee chair should schedule a pre-comprehensive exam meeting to review the student’s career goals and plan of study. The committee’s goals for this meeting can also be shared by other means (e.g. email) and can occur through virtual means.   Several weeks prior to this meeting, it is recommended the student prepare a Statement of Career Goals and share it with the faculty committee. This document, usually one page in length, can be used by the committee to formulate comprehensive exam questions pertinent to the student’s career aspirations.

Each of the three Master’s committee members must submit a question for a minimum of three questions on the examination.  Each essay question integrates and assimilates the knowledge and skills gained in course work taken for credit toward the master’s degree.

The student will not be given the questions in advance of the exam date. Questions from each member of the committee are due to the Chair by Friday, 12:00 p.m. of the week before the exam commences the following Monday. The Committee Chair will then email the questions to the Graduate Studies Administrative Assistant by 5:00 p.m. Friday of the week before the exam.

The Written Exam

The comprehensive written exam takes the form of a minimum of three essay questions that integrate and assimilate the knowledge and skills gained in course work taken for credit toward the master’s degree.

The student receives the questions via email from the Graduate Studies Administrative Assistant a Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. and has until the following Monday at 9:00 a.m. to return their answers via email to their committee with a copy to the Graduate Studies Administrative Assistant.

The student is excused from class attendance while researching and writing the exam. 

The Oral Exam

A follow-up oral examination is held for the purpose of defending the written examination. During the oral exam, the Committee may ask the student to explain and expand on their written answers to the questions, or any other related areas. The oral examination should be scheduled no sooner than four days after the written examination completed.

The Pass/Fail Form

Prior to the Oral Defense, the Master’s Committee chair downloads the Pass/Fail form. The Master’s Committee chair is responsible for chain of custody for the Pass/Fail form and must achieve the signatures of all committee members..  The completed form is sent via email to to the Graduate Studies Administrative Assistant. Do not send the form directly to the Graduate School.

Failing the Comprehensive Exam

In case of failure, the candidate may not be re-examined until the following semester. The result of the second examination is final.

Time Limit

Candidates have six calendar years from the time of enrollment in the Graduate School to complete the degree. Students who change degree programs during this six-year period may be granted an extension after review and approval by the Graduate School.

In any event, courses used toward a Master’s degree must have been taken within six calendar years of graduation. 

Applying for Graduation

A student planning to graduate must submit an application for graduation at MYUTK no later than the last day of classes of the term prior to the term they intend to graduate.

To be eligible for graduation, a student must be enrolled for at least one hour of credit during the semester they wish to graduate.  The only exception: Students may graduate without being registered in that semester IF they have not completed the final comprehensive exam and they have paid the “exam” fee.  Contact the Graduate School for questions concerning this.

Final Projects for Non-Thesis Programs

The Graduate Recital or Lecture Recital is given in lieu of a thesis by Master’s degree students with emphasis in performance, pedagogy, and collaborative piano. A Choral or Instrumental Conducting performance is given in lieu of a thesis by students in these programs. 

Students may not schedule comprehensive exams or perform their recital until the Admission to Candidacy form has been completed and accepted by the Graduate School. 

Recitals and/or pre-recital hearings that are cancelled or failed may not be rescheduled until the following semester. 

Pre-recital hearings and/or recitals may be scheduled a maximum of three times during a student’s matriculation. 

A student may attempt a hearing or recital twice.  The result of the second hearing or recital is final.

The Graduate Recital (MUSC 501)

The Graduate Recital consists of the performance of representative repertoire for the student’s instrument or voice, chosen in consultation with the major professor. It includes significant works that represent major areas of compositional style for the instrument/voice.

The recital program should be a minimum of 50 minutes in length, exclusive of pauses and intermission.

Any student performing a graduate recital off-campus must file a professional quality recording of their recital in the main Music Office prior to the end of the semester in which the recital is given, otherwise the recital will be graded “Incomplete.” Recordings of recitals given in the campus concert halls will be submitted automatically by the auditorium manager. A recording fee is required. 

Students are required to enroll in lessons concurrently with MUSC 501 Graduate Recital.  

All graduate recitals should be presented within the greater Knoxville area. All performers that assist in graduate recitals must be approved by the student’s major professor.

Scheduling the Recital

After consultation with the major professor, dates for the Pre-Recital Hearing, the Graduate Recital, and the rehearsal times needed in conjunction with these should be scheduled with the Music Office. In order to execute a recital, Graduate Students must have their Admission to Candidacy form approved by the Graduate School. See the event scheduling guidelines page for more information.

The student should notify in writing all members of his/her committee of these dates. 

The student should consult with the College of Music Office staff at least four weeks in advance of the recital date concerning deadlines for submission of program and publicity material.

The student must fill out the Recital/Concert Program form of his/her program in which acceptable conventions for printed programs are observed. The program must be submitted no later than two weeks before the recital date. 

Words and Music by Helms and Luper provides a useful guide to program design. The following sentence must appear on the program: “This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Music degree with a concentration in __________.”

The Pre-Recital Hearing

The Pre-Recital Hearing must precede the recital by at least two weeks.

All works, including ensemble pieces, must be prepared for performance at the hearing. The area faculty, at the time of the hearing, will select works to be performed.

It is an expectation graduate recitals presented at the University of Tennessee School of Music exhibit informed performance.  Performers should be well-versed in the cultural, historical, and compositional/theoretical information related to pieces performed.

The student passes the Pre-Recital Hearing by a majority vote of the student’s area faculty.

If the student’s area faculty recommends that the recital not be given, the recital must be postponed at least one semester.

The Lecture Recital (MUSC 511)

The Lecture Recital consists of the performance of selected works or movements of larger works illustrating one or more aspects of compositional style for the instrument/voice, plus an oral presentation that focuses attention on one or more details of the performance, such as performance practice, analysis, or historical development.

The Lecture Recital program should consist of 25 minutes of performance and 25 minutes of lecture, exclusive of pauses and intermissions. Scheduling, Pre-Recital Hearing, and Subsequent Procedures for the Lecture Recital are the same as those for the Graduate Recital, with the following exceptions:

The Choral Conducting Project (MUVC 594)

The Choral Conducting Project involves the preparation and performance of a selected body of choral literature with one of the University choral ensembles or with a choir approved for the project.

In addition to the performance, each graduate conducting candidate will prepare a written critical document about the music being performed.

The Instrumental Conducting Project (MUIN 595)

The Instrumental Conducting Performance involves the preparation and performance of selected works for instrumental ensemble(s) with one of the University bands or orchestra or an ensemble approved for the project.

Scheduling of rehearsals and performance(s) will be arranged in consultation with the major professor and conductors of participating ensembles.

The Master’s Thesis (MUSC 500)

A thesis is required of all students working toward a Master’s degree with a concentration in Musicology, Music Theory, or Composition, and is an option for students in the Music Education concentration.

The student must register for MUSC 500 each semester that he/she is working and receiving guidance on the thesis.

The Graduate School requires that master’s thesis students enroll for a minimum of three hours of thesis (MUSC 500) during the semester in which the thesis is submitted.

The Thesis Topic

A Thesis Topic Approval Form must be submitted and accepted by the student’s advisor before the student first registers for Thesis (MUSC 500). This form asks the student to specify the general topic area of the thesis, justification of need for research in this topic area, the research procedure, and a preliminary bibliography. The Approval Form provides places for signatures of the advisor and the area chair.

For the concentration in Composition, the thesis takes the form of an extended original composition and a formal expository paper to be bound with the composition. This paper will place the composition in its proper historical position, set forth clearly the compositional procedures used, detail formal organizational structures used, and place the work in the context appropriate to similar genres in the literature.

The Thesis Proposal

The student, having selected a thesis topic and major professor, will submit a Thesis Proposal to each member of their Master’s Committee by the end of the first semester the student is registered for Thesis (MUSC 500).

The Thesis Proposal is a clear statement of the nature and scope of the research to be undertaken.

The Musicology Thesis proposal should include the following elements:

• Introduction  & Statement of Thesis
• Scope, Parameters, & Definition of Terminology
• Discussion of Methodology Employed
• Review of Existing Literature & Need for the Study
• Overview of Thesis Contents & Organization

Once the Thesis Proposal is approved by the student’s Master’s Committee, a copy of the Thesis Proposal and the signed approval form should be emailed to the Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies.

Guidelines and suggestions for writing the thesis proposal and thesis can be obtained from books dealing with thesis writing, such as the following:

• The Chicago Manual of Style. 14th ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1993.
• MLA Style and Guide to Scholarly Publishing. Modern Language Association of America. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1998.
• Holoman, D. Kern. Writing about Music: A Style Sheet from the Editors of 19th- Century Music. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988. 
• Harnack, A. and Kleppinger, E. Online.  A Reference Guide to Using Internet Sources. Bedford/St. Martins, 2000.
• Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1996.

Thesis format

Refer to the graduate school website for formatting the thesis.

Assistance with thesis format is available from the Graduate School thesis consultant. Consultations with the thesis consultant are encouraged while the writing of the thesis is in progress. Theses may be submitted electronically; see information online.

The Thesis Defense

In addition to the written and oral examinations in Music (see Comprehensive Exams below), thesis students must present a one-hour thesis defense. Copies of the thesis, in a form approved by the major professor, should be distributed to the student’s Master’s Committee at least two weeks prior to the thesis defense.

The Thesis must be read and approved by the chair of the Master’s Committee before giving to the committee at large.

Submitting the Thesis

After the defense and upon approval of the thesis, the Thesis Approval Form should be signed by the student’s committee and be submitted to the Graduate School. The final date for submission of theses is published here.

Submitting the final copy of your thesis or dissertation for partial fulfillment of the requirements of a graduate degree is a multi-part process. For all master’s students, the parts of the process are: submitting the final version to Trace in PDF format and delivering a copy of your approval form to the Graduate School. Please follow the instructions found here.

Policies and Procedures

The Faculty Advisor

Each entering student will be assigned a temporary faculty advisor. The student is expected to discuss programs of study with their advisor. As early as is appropriate the student must request a professor in the area of concentration to chair their Master’s Committee. The major professor, student and Master’s Committee chair together select other Master’s Committee members.

For Graduate Faculty and Student Advising Guides in Academic Areas, click here.

For Graduate Faculty and Student Advising Guides in Conducting and Performance Areas, click here.

The Master’s Committee

The Master’s Committee consists of three members of the College of Music faculty: the major professor (who normally serves as chair of the committee) and two other faculty members chosen by the student, one of whom must be a Musicology, Music Education or Music Theory faculty member. All committee members must be at the rank of adjunct assistant professor or above. The Master’s Committee must be chosen before the student plays a Pre-Recital Hearing, submits a Thesis Proposal, or applies for Admission to Candidacy. For the Pre-Recital Hearing and Graduate Recital the Master’s Committee will be expanded to include other faculty from the student’s performance area. The student should keep all committee members informed IN WRITING of all dates pertinent to their program of study, particularly dates for pre-recital hearings, graduate recitals and comprehensive exams.
The student’s Master’s Committee serves several functions during the course of the student’s program of study. For Musicology, Music Education, and Music Theory students the Master’s Committee:

• formulates the examination questions and administers, grades, and evaluates the Comprehensive Written and Oral Examinations;
• approves the Master’s thesis proposal (where applicable) prior to the initiation of research and writing;
• reads and approves the thesis and examines the student on its contents in an oral thesis defense.

For Performance and Pedagogy majors the Master’s Committee:

• attends and approves the Pre-Recital Hearing;
• attends and approves the Master’s Degree Recital;
• formulates the examination questions and administers, grades, and evaluates the Comprehensive Written and Oral Examinations.

Course Load

The normal full load for a graduate student is 9 to 12 hours, and the maximum load is 15 hours. Students receiving financial aid should consult with the College/program head concerning appropriate course loads. Courses audited do not count toward minimum graduate hours required for financial assistance. Registration for more than 15 hours during any semester is not permissible without prior approval of the Graduate School, which may allow registration of up to 18 hours if the student has achieved an average of 3.6 or better in at least 9 hours of graduate work. Students may enroll in only one course in a mini-term.

Students are expected to arrive in Knoxville in time to attend the first class of each semester.  Any deviation from this requires prior approval by the Director for Graduate Studies.

The course load of a student holding an assistantship should be reduced in proportion to the assistantship responsibilities. For example, the course load of a student holding a 25% assistantship should be 9-13 credits, and those working 50%, 6-11 credits. Students working more than 50% are expected to register for no more than 6 credits.

PLEASE NOTE:  To utilize University health services, graduate students who register for fewer than 9 credit hours per semester must pay the health portion of the University Program and Services fee in addition to the pro-rated fee assessed. This applies to all graduate students, including 50% GTA’s, who are otherwise considered full-time students with a course load of at least 6 credit hours per semester.  Consult the Graduate Catalog for further information.

Policy For 50% GTAs

GTAs that are appointed at 50% may not work additional hours on campus when classes are in session without prior permission from Dr. Batey. If you are contacted for additional work that occurs on campus during the semester, including performance gigs, you may not accept them without Dr. Batey’s permission before the gig. Please be aware you will not receive pay for any performance gig that is not approved by Dr. Batey PRIOR to the gig.

Procedure For Approval

Before you can be approved, you must complete this form and have it signed by your major professor. This form should be used when making requests for work in excess of 20 hours per week, excluding summer. This includes requests for work done during spring and fall breaks and for work done between semesters. If you are an international student, you must obtain the signature of the Director of the Center for International Education. After those signatures are obtained, email the completed form to Dr. Batey at abatey@utk.edu. She will review it, and if approved, will sign off on it and send the form to the Graduate School for their approval.

Credit Requirements

All Students in the Master of Music curricula are required to complete the following academic courses:

1. Critical Studies in Research Methods and Music Scholarship (MUSC 510, formerly known as Music Bibliography)

2. A minimum of 6 additional credits of 500-level courses in MUCO, MUTH, or MUTC (excluding MUCO 593)

Music Electives, when not otherwise qualified, may include any course offered for graduate credit with the exception of Ensembles, to which the following limitations apply:

1. Ensemble courses may not be counted as Music Electives in concentrations that require 4 hours in Ensemble.

2. In other concentrations, a maximum of 2 hours in Ensemble may be counted as Music Electives. Students in the Wind and Percussion concentration may count 3 hours of Ensemble as Music Electives.

Master’s degree candidates in music must earn 33-34 semester hours of credit acceptable for graduate study and must complete all courses, including deficiencies, specified in their course of study as required by the College of Music and the Graduate School.  A listing of classes acceptable for graduate study may be found in the university’s Graduate Catalog under “Courses of Instruction”.  At least two-thirds of the total hours in a Master’s degree program must be taken at UT in courses numbered at or above the 500 level. Only 6 thesis hours can be counted toward this requirement. Hours accrued in Music General 502 cannot be used on the Admission to Candidacy form to meet degree requirements.
As per the Graduate Catalog, a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required on all graduate course work taken at UT to remain in good standing and to receive any graduate degree from the University. Hours accrued in MUSC 502 Use of Facilities cannot be used on the Admission to Candidacy form to meet degree requirements.

SPECIAL NOTE:  The course requirements listed in the College of Music Graduate Guide AT THE TIME OF A STUDENT’S GRADUATION are the minimum requirements for the degree, NOT the course requirements in effect at the student’s entrance into the degree program.  ANY DEVIATIONS from the course requirements require approval from the Director of Graduate Studies.

Transfer Credits for Graduate Students

If approved by the appropriate College of Music academic area and/or Director of Graduate Studies, as much as one-third of the total hours required for a Master’s degree (generally, 11 hours) may be transferred from other institutions. Transferred courses must have been completed within the six-year period prior to receipt of the degree and can not have been used to satisfy requirements for another degree. They will be placed on the student’s UT transcript only after admission to candidacy.  For consideration of musicology courses, contact Dr. Rachel Golden, Area Coordinator.  For consideration of music theory or music technology courses, contact Dr. Andrew Sigler, Area Coordinator.  For consideration of all other courses, contact Dr. Angela Batey, Director of Graduate Studies.

Language Requirements (Musicology concentration only)

Students pursuing the Master of Music degree in Musicology must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one foreign language by passing a language proficiency examination. The examinations are given by the language departments each semester. Application to take the examination must be made through the College of Music Graduate Studies Administrative Assistant. Language requirements should be satisfied early in the student’s course of study, and must be completed before a student can be admitted to candidacy.

Students who pass either the sequence of French 301 and French 302, or German 331 and German 332 fulfill the language requirement in lieu of the language exam, as per Graduate School policy.  Graduate students do not receive graduate credit for these courses.  The courses are open to all graduate students regardless of previous foreign language experience.

Ensemble Participation

The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) recommends that candidates for Master’s degrees participate in conducted or coached ensembles. All graduate music students are expected to participate in such ensembles whether required in their respective curricula or not.

Students majoring in conducting, vocal performance, wind, string, and percussion instruments must be enrolled in a major ensemble, as assigned by College of Music faculty, during each semester in which they are registered for applied music. This requirement must be met even if the ensemble credit is not needed for degree requirements. 

Independent Study and Special Topics Courses

The purpose of an Independent Study or Special Topics course is to allow concentration on a particular topic in music. Topics that significantly overlap courses offered by the College of Music or that seem to be an effort to circumvent curricular requirements will not be approved. A document which presents the results of the study will be required. A copy of this document must be placed in the student’s permanent file upon completion of the study. An Agendum for Special Topics (MUSC 521) and Independent Study (MUSC 593) form must be completed by the student and submitted to the major professor with whom the independent study will be taken, the student’s advisor, and the Director of Graduate Studies for approval now later than one week before the published Drop/Add deadline.

As a general policy, Independent Study and Special Topics courses will be approved only after the student has undertaken a significant amount of course work in the University of Tennessee College of Music. Both MUSC 521 and MUSC 593 are restricted courses.  Once the Agendum has been approved,  students will be registered for the appropriate course by the Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies.  

Changing Degree Programs and Concentrations

A student who wishes to change from one concentration to another within a degree program must have the written approval of the coordinator of the new concentration and the Director of Graduate Studies. The student’s original application for admission will be reviewed as a part of this approval process.

Academic Termination

Graduate education requires continuous evaluation of the student. This evaluation includes not only periodic objective evaluations such as the cumulative grade-point average; performance on comprehensive examinations; and acceptance of the thesis, recital, or performance project; but also subjective appraisal by the faculty of the student’s progress and potential. Continuation in a program is determined by the consideration of all these points by the faculty and the Director of Graduate Studies.

Areas and programs may have requirements for continuation or graduation in addition to the minimum requirements set forth in the Graduate Catalog. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the special requirements of their area or program.