Master's Programs Double Major and Double Degree Options
With permission, master's students may choose to complete a degree with two majors (one diploma, with two majors listed on the transcript) or to complete double degrees (two diplomas) with a small overlap of requirements. The student must be admitted (by audition for performance majors) to each major. The two degrees in a double degree must be awarded simultaneously; it is not possible to complete one degree and then to add a second.
Double Major (for two music majors, both MM)
Master's degree with a double major (one diploma, two majors listed on transcript). A student must
- complete all requirements for each major
- satisfy all proficiencies and tool subjects for each major
- complete the music history & literature requirement (2 music history courses)
- enroll in ensemble each semester
- perform all required recitals for each major
- pass comprehensive exams for each major
The 6 credits of the Other Required Credits requirement is usually not required; its place is taken by the second major. If one of the majors is Historical Performance, however, then the Other Required Credits requirement for the Historical Performance major is required but the Other Required Credits requirement for the second major is not.
The double major is only possible for two Master of Music majors (not for a Master of Music major and a Master of Arts major, for example).
Double Degree (for two music degrees)
Master's double degrees (two diplomas; must be awarded simultaneously). A student must
- complete all requirements for each major
- satisfy all proficiencies and tool subjects for each major
- complete two music history & literature requirements (4 music history courses)
- enroll in ensemble each semester
- perform all required recitals for each major
- pass comprehensive exams for each major
The 6 credits of the Other Required Credits requirement is usually not required; its place is taken by the second major. If one of the degrees is MM Historical Performance, however, then the Other Required Credits requirement for the Historical Performance degree is required but the Other Required Credits requirement for the second degree is not.
The double degree is an option for two Master of Music programs, two Master of Arts programs, a combination of one Master of Music program and one Master of Arts program, a Master of Music program and a Master of Music Education program, a Master of Music program and a Master of Science in Music Education program, or a Master of Arts program and a Master of Music Education program (for example).
Double Degree (for one music degree and one non-music degree)
Master's double degrees that consist of one music degree and one degree outside of music (the student receives two diplomas). The degrees must be awarded simultaneously. For the music half of the double degree, the student must
- complete all requirements for the master's degree in music except for Other Required Credits
- enroll in ensemble each semester until the ensemble requirement is complete
- pick 6 credits of graduate level classes with letter grades (not pass/fail) from the second degree to fulfill the Other Required Credits requirement. Those credits hours are still available to fulfill requirements in the second degree. This is not an option for the MM Historical Performance however, for that degree the Other Required Credits requirement for the MM Historical Performance is still required.
- complete any requirements required for the second degree (consult with the department that administers the second degree area directly for that information)
- apply for graduation for both programs (with each department) in the same semester
Students register each semester through a single school, even if they are taking courses in more than one school within the university. The school through which the student registers is determined by the student’s term activation. The term activation determines the tuition rate the student pays in a given semester. For a student with a double degree in music and a non-music subject, the student will be term activated as a music major (and pay music tuition and fees) for the first two semesters of the double degree. For the third and fourth semesters, the student will be term activated in the department of their second major. If the degrees are not completed by the end of the fourth semester, the term activation will alternate each semester between music and the second major.