- The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Choral Department is proud to offer both Masters of Music and Doctor of Music degrees in Choral Conducting.
While the department does not currently offer an undergraduate major in choral conducting, we do offer an undergraduate minor. The department's primary academic focus is graduate degrees in choral conducting. The department also offers minor field areas for other graduate degreees.
Master of Music Degree (M.M.) in Choral Conducting
Doctor of Music Degree (D.M.) in Choral Conducting
Visit the Graduate Advising & Records Services for more information on graduate degree Requirements.
Master of Music Degree (M.M.) in Choral Conducting
Minimum Credits 30, Minimum GPA 3.000
Major Field Requirements (19 Credits)
Conducting (8 Credits Total)
- G535 Master's Choral Conducting: Renaissance to 1700 (2 cr.)
- G536 Master's Choral Conducting: 1700 to 1900 (2 cr.)
- G537 Master's Choral Conducting: 20th Century to Today (2 cr.)
- G538 Choral Rehearsal Techniques (2 cr.)
Literature and Score Analysis (9 Credits Total)
- M535 Master's Seminar in Choral Literature: Renaissance to 1700 (3 cr.)
- M536 Master's Seminar in Choral Literature: 1700 to 1900 (3 cr.)
- M537 Master's Seminar in Choral Literature: 20th Century to Today (3 cr.)
Technical Preparation (2 Credits Total)
- F531 Graduate Ear Training for Conductors (1 cr.)
- F532 Graduate Score Reading (1 cr.)
Conducting Performances (0 Credits Total)
- G504 Master's Choral Conducting Practicum (0-0-0 cr.)
- G604 Master's Choral Conducting Performance (0 cr.) (taken in the fall semester)
A student may demonstrate proficiency in F531 or F532 without having to substitute other graduate-level courses.
Major Ensemble
X70 University Choral Ensembles (2 cr.) each fall and spring semester.
Music History and Literature Requirement (6 Credits Total)
Choose two courses from the following list:
- M525 Survey of Operatic Literature (3 cr)
- M527 Symphonic Literature (3 cr)
- M528 Chamber Music Literature (3 cr)
- M650 Music in the United States (3 cr)
- M651 Medieval Music (3 cr)
- M652 Renaissance Music (3 cr)
- M653 Baroque Music (3 cr)
- M654 Classic Music (3 cr)
- M655 Romantic Music (3 cr)
- M656 Modern Music (3 cr)
- M657 Music Since 1960 (3 cr)
- M502 Composers: Variable Topics (3 cr)1
- M510 Topics in Music Literature (3 cr)1
1Course topics may not be repeated.
Other Required Credits (6 Credits Total)
6 credit hours, inside or outside the Jacobs School of Music.
- Courses must be at the 500 level or higher, except that courses outside the Jacobs School of Music may be at the 300 or 400 levels, with the approval of the director of graduate studies. For students whose degree requires a language as a tool subject, 200-level courses in that language may be used with the approval of the student’s degree department and the director of graduate studies. V580 Practicum in German for Musicians and its co-requisite GER-V 605 German Grammar and Structure for Musicians may be used toward Other Required Credits only if this course is not being used to fulfill a language proficiency.
- Performance lessons must be at the 800 level and may not include lessons on the student’s major instrument (or on any instrument in the case of degrees in multiple woodwinds).
- Credits may not be used for major ensemble, capstone courses (e.g., thesis, document), recitals, proficiency courses, or tool subjects.
Some majors may restrict how some or all of these credits are allocated. See the individual degree listings.
6 credits taken within a single department outside the student’s major department may become an outside area. An outside area may become a minor if 12 credit hours are taken in that field.
Comprehensive Review
Prior to graduation, all master's degree students must pass an oral or written examination. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the major field department to ascertain the procedures established within that department. This consultation should be accomplished within the first year of residency.
Doctor of Music Degree (D.M.) in Choral Conducting
Minimum Credits 60, minimum GPA 3.000
Major Field Requirements (36 Credits)
Conducting (12 Credits Total)
- G661 Doctoral Choral Conducting: Renaissance to 1700 (3 cr)
- G662 Doctoral Choral Conducting: 1700 to 1900 (3 cr)
- G663 Doctoral Choral Conducting: 20th Century to Today (3 cr)
- G664 Doctoral Choral Conducting: Choral Rehearsal Techniques (3 cr)
Literature (12 Credits Total)
- M661 Doctoral Seminar in Choral Lit: Renaissance to 1700 (3 cr)
- M662 Doctoral Seminar in Choral Lit: 1700 to 1900 (3 cr)
- M663 Doctoral Seminar in Choral Lit: 20th Century to Today (3 cr)
- M664 Doctoral Seminar in Choral Lit: Topics in Choral Literature (3 cr)
Elective (3 Credits Total)
- Course(s) totaling 3 credits approved by the Choral Conducting Chairperson
Technical Preparation (2 Credits Total)
- F531 Graduate Ear Training for Conductors (1 cr)
- F532 Graduate Score Reading (1 cr)
Performances (4 Credits Total)
- G810 Doctoral Choral Conducting Performance I (2 cr)
- G811 Doctoral Choral Conducting Performance II (2 cr)
Final Project (3 Credits Total)
- M620 Doctoral Final Project (3 cr.)
Elective (3 cr.)
Minor and Other Required Credits
Minor field (12 Credits Total)
The Doctor of Music degree requires a minor in music history and literature, music theory, or music education. Certain departments may further restrict the choice of options for the minor field for their majors. For DM students who have completed master’s degrees in one of these three fields, the appropriate department may, with the approval of the director of graduate studies, waive part or all of the doctoral minor coursework and determine an appropriate department involvement in the written and oral qualifying examinations. Students will take additional courses in the major field or in other areas to make up the required 12 credit hours of the first minor.
Other Required Credits (12 Credits Total)
Credit hours may be used toward a second formal minor inside or outside the Jacobs School of Music, towardan individualized minor, or toward general electives taken inside or outside the Jacobs School of Music,including within the major field. The following conditions apply:
- Courses must be at the 500 level or higher, except that up to 6 credit hours outside the Jacobs School of Music may be at the 300 or 400 levels, with the approval of the director of graduate studies.
- Performance lessons must be at the 800 (minor) or 900 (major) level.
- Credits may not be used for MUS-X courses, recitals, or proficiency courses.
- Credits may be used for courses meeting Tool Subject requirements if the courses are at the 500 level or higher. V580 Practicum in German for Musicians and its co-requisite GER-V 605 German Grammar and Structure for Musicians may be used toward Other Required Credits only if this course is not being used to fulfill a language proficiency.
- Credits may be used for capstone courses (e.g., dissertation, document) for all majors except composition.
If all credits are taken in a single field outside the student’s department or on an instrument other than the student's major instrument, a formal minor must be declared. A maximum of 9 credits may be taken in a single department unless a minor is declared.
Language Proficiencies
Knowledge of German, French and Italian grammar equivalent to one semester at the college level in each. With permission of the department and the director of graduate studies, students may replace French or Italian proficiency with proficiency in another language that is relevant to their intended research area.
Proficiency in diction in German, French, and Italian as demonstrated by examination or by passing a Jacobs School of Music diction course. Students must take all three diction examinations in their first semester of enrollment; with voice department permission, they may take specific examinations for a second time in their second semester of enrollment. Diction examinations are given prior to the beginning of each semester. For any examination not passed, students must pass the appropriate Jacobs School of Music diction course.
Tool Subject
Bibliography (2 Credits Total)
- M539 Introduction to Music Bibliography (2 cr)
Qualifying Examinations
Students in a doctoral degree program are not considered candidates for the degree until they have passed the qualifying examinations (major field, first minor field, second minor field [if applicable], and orals). Qualifying examinations are taken after all coursework and proficiencies have been completed.