Program Overview
The Wells School of Music offers a wide spectrum of degree opportunities for anyone wishing to expand their careers. With more than 400 undergraduates, 80 graduates, and 50 full and part-time faculty, we strive to provide opportunities and activities to enhance the educational and performance skills for everyone involved – whether as a student of the programs or the community at large. If you are considering obtaining your music education certification, or an advanced degree in music education, conducting, instrumental / vocal performance or music theory and history, the graduate program at the Wells School of Music is your destination
Tracks
Music Education
Welcome to the Music Education degree. Our graduate program provides five concentration track options under the Master of Music Education degree. While all five tracks share the same basic required course work, students can choose to specialize in performance, Orff-Schulwerk, Kodaly, research or music technology. The Orff-Schulwerk and Kodaly tracks offer certification (also available without obtaining the degree). All five tracks are available in a “summers-only” plan (performance track depends on private professor availability).
Music Performance
Depending on your area of concentration, this is perhaps the most diverse master's degree we offer. While every option involves some of the same required course work (music theory, music history), students can craft the degree to meet their needs. Options include Instrumental, Keyboard, Vocal, Piano Pedagogy, Instrumental conducting (wind and orchestral), and Choral conducting.
Music History and Literature
Welcome to the Music History and Literature degree. This degree specializes in the study of and writing about the field of musicology. Students are exposed to a wide array of historical information, composers and compositional styles / trends but are also allowed to focus on one specific historical period or composer.
Music Theory and Composition
Welcome to the Music Theory and Composition degree. Students in this degree program study with our world class faculty composers. Regardless of genre or compositional direction, our diverse faculty are ready to feed and encourage your compositional efforts / knowledge.
Program Highlights
With more than 200 concerts annually, the Wells School of Music provides ample opportunity for graduate students to totally immerse themselves in the fabric of the school. Graduate assistantships / work study opportunities are also available to interested students to help with balance school work with life outside the classroom. We have a the vibrant array of nationally recognized programs of study, and a remarkable scholarly and artistic community within the Wells School of Music at WCU.
What can I do with this degree?
Our graduates enjoy successful careers as educators, performers, composers and musicologists both on a national and international scale. Our programs will prepare you for whatever path you choose (continued study in a doctoral program or professional enhancement). The opportunities are endless for our graduates in the pursuit of a satisfying career in the world of music.
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NEWSWORTHY
Some positions held by graduates:
- Professors at US and International Universities
- Broadway musicians and actors
- Professional Musicians in many of the major cities/markets around the US
- Local public and private school educators
- United States Service Band membership
- Conductors of community, collegiate and professional ensembles
- Composers
- Music Business Industry
- Music Therapy
Some schools attended by our graduates:
- University of Michigan
- Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
- The University of Texas at Austin
- Michigan State University
- The Ohio State University
- University of Miami
- University of Colorado (Boulder)
- The Hartt School
- University of Hartford
- Temple University
- Rutgers University
- University of Delaware
- The University of North Texas
- Ithaca College
- University of Missouri – Kansas City
- Arizona State University
- Northwestern University
- New England Conservatory
- Curtis Institute
- Peabody Conservatory
- Indiana University