Checklist for the Master’s of Music

The KSU Graduate School website referenced in this checklist is http://www.ksu.edu/grad

Semester 1: August

Review the following on the Graduate School website:

 

Review the Music Departmental handbook http://www.k-state.edu/grad/gscurrent/catalog/music.htm outlining specific program requirements.

 

Complete Theory, History, and Piano Skills test in August. If required, complete the prerequisite/deficiency requirements, MUSIC614 Grad Theory Review or MUSIC618 Grad History Review or MUSIC641 Sec Performance Area (piano) as soon as possible.

 

Semester 1: September

Meet with Dr. Burrack, Director of Graduate Studies, to select a major professor and plan Program of Study.

 

Semester 1: October

Prepare a program of study in consultation with Dr. Burrack. Review “Preparing a Master’s Program of Study” on the Graduate School website. The program of study form can be downloaded from this website. Choose one of the following program options (subject to the approval of your department or program):

(a)   Thesis: a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit including a maximum of 6 to 8 hours of master’s thesis research credit.

(b)  Report: a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit including a maximum of 2 hours of master’s report credit.

(c)   Non-thesis / non-report: a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit in course work only, but including evidence of scholarly effort, such as term papers or production of creative work.

NOTE: See the Master of Music website master’s for guidelines on number of required hours and course work requirements.

 

Semester 2: January

Select research topic in consultation with the major professor if completing the thesis or report option.

 

Select a supervisory committee. A minimum of three graduate faculty serve as the supervisory committee consisting of Major Professor as chair, the Director of Graduate Studies in Music, and at least one other faculty member. If a faculty member from another University is appointed, a vita is required.

 

Semester 2: February or March

Schedule meeting with your major professor to discuss program of study and applicable research and recital requirements. Obtain supervisory committee’s signature on the approved program of study.

 

Submit to the Graduate School the original and 4 copies of the approved Program of Study signed by all members of the supervisory committee, the major professor, Dr. Mortenson: the department head, and Dr. Burrack: graduate program director, and you: the student. The program of study should be submitted after completing 9 hours of graduate credit and no later than the semester prior to graduation.

 

 

Semester 2: April or May

Approval of Proposal for a thesis, report, and/or recital as required by your requirements for individual area of specialization.

 http://www.k-state.edu/grad/gscurrent/catalog/music.htm

Discuss with your major professor departmental guidelines for preparation and presentation of your thesis, report, and/or recital. Follow departmental timelines for setting concert dates, reserving concert hall, printing of programs, etc.

 

Obtain approval for performance rights if applicable.  If research thesis is selected, complete the approval form from Institutional Review for Use of Human Subjects and/or Animals, or other compliance requirements, if applicable, prior to collecting data. Please Note: If using human subjects or animals, complete the Training and Educational Modules for Researchers NOTE: This is mandatory for IRB approval. Please go to http://www.ksu.edu/research/comply for more information and to complete the training modules. This applies to all research projects.

 

 

Semester 3

Write thesis or the report, if applicable, following departmental guidelines and formatting specified by ETDR Graduate School. Review “Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines” on the Graduate School website http://www.k-state.edu/grad/etdr/index.htm

 

Semester 4: End of March or Early April

Reserve Graduation regalia at the K-State Union Bookstore.

 

Submit the “Approval to Schedule Final Examination” form signed by the major professor, department head, director of graduate studies, and all committee members to the Graduate School 10 working days prior to the examination. This form must be turned in to the Graduate Office by the end of March or early April if your want your name in the graduation program. Note: Deadlines to graduate are published for each semester on the Graduate School website. You must be enrolled the semester you take your final examination and graduate. The number of hours needed for enrollment will depend upon your employment status with the University. The Graduate School will send an email to you whether or not the degree requirements have been satisfied.

 

If applicable, provide members of the supervisory committee a copy of the thesis or report, a minimum of 10 working days prior to the scheduled defense (lecture recital).

 

The Final examination: All candidates for the master of music degree are required to an oral defense of their master’s recital/report/thesis. The total time of the examination is approximately one hour. The purpose of the defense is to expose required learnings from your graduate program of study and should include questions from the three general areas: the candidate’s major field, history-literature, and theory. Although focused on the program of study, the candidate will be expected to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge in the field of music beyond that covered in course work, as well as the ability to relate his or her special area to other areas. The responsibility for evaluating the examination lies with the candidate’s supervisory committee.

 

Submit the final examination ballot to the Graduate School after the supervisory committee has signed. Retain one copy for personal file and give the major professor and director of graduate studies each one copy.

 

 

Semester 4: May 1

Submit Diploma Information online to confirm name on diploma and address where diploma should be sent. https://www.ksu.edu/grad/forms/sec/diploma.html

 

Submit a final copy of thesis or report, with abstract and abstract title page as required by the graduate school.

 

You will be charged a fee for processing the ETDR. This fee will be posted to your university account when the Approval to Schedule Final Examination form is submitted to the Graduate School.  Payment must be mailed or delivered to the Cashiers Office, 212 Anderson Hall anytime before the due date posted on the bill. All financial obligations to the University must be cleared before a transcript or diploma will be released.

 

Semester 4: May

Attend commencement. Deadlines to be met and information about commencement are available on the Graduate School website.

 

All Students who are graduating are asked to complete an exit survey to provide feedback on the quality of graduate education at K-State. This exit survey is available online at http://www.k-state.edu/grad/forms/exsurvey.htm.

 


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