Skip to content

Music Theory & Composition

Graduate Studies

The University of Tennessee School of Music offers the following graduate program in Music Theory and Composition:

Master of Music in Music Theory

Master of Music students in Theory take courses in analysis, theory pedagogy, technology, musicology, musical styles and bibliography. The Masters of Music in Theory students an select from two specific tracks:

  1. Theory and analysis track
  2. Theory pedagogy track

The capstone project for the theory and analysis track includes a written thesis on an analytical topic, similar to a scholarly article suitable for a music theory related journal such as the Journal of Music Theory, Theory and Practice, or Music Theory Spectrum. The final thesis for the pedagogy track is a paper similar to one in a more pedagogical journal, such as the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy.

All graduate students take comprehensive written and aural exams.

The flagship campus of the University of Tennessee System and partner in the Tennessee Transfer Pathway.