Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements and Courses

Students must complete a minimum of 32 semester hours of credit in approved 500-level courses. A minimum of 20 semester hours must be completed at the University of South Alabama. Up to 12 hours of USA courses taken while in another program (or non-degree status) may be applied. Only courses not applied to another degree may count. Maximum of 12 hours with grades of "A", "B", or "S" of approved transfer credit is allowed. If the university is non-accredited, the individual USA graduate program will determine if the quality and content of the courses meet the standards of the program.

Grade Requirements

• A minimum of a 3.0 GPA on all work attempted is required for graduation.
• Courses in which a student receives a "D" or below will not be counted toward the degree program.
• A maximum of two courses with a grade of "C" will be counted toward the degree program.
• Students receiving four grades of "C" or below, regardless of the overall GPA will be dismissed from the program.
• A student who receives a failing grade in a course for graduate credit may be dismissed from the program.

Time Limitations

• All degree requirements must be completed within seven calendar years.
• Most students who take nine hours per semester complete the degree within a two-year period.
• The time required for degree completion depends on how many courses a student can take each semester and the ability of that student to complete the recital(s) or final project(s).

Course Load

Six to ten credit hours per semester constitute a full-time course load.

Note: No more than twelve credits in this area are applicable toward a degree.

Performance Degree Course Requirements by Concentration

• All master’s degree students will be advised by the Graduate Music Program Coordinator to ensure timely completion of the curriculum.
• The time required for degree completion depends on how many courses a student can take each semester and the ability of that student to complete the recital(s) or final project(s).
• Select Concentration for specific requirements

Piano Performance Degree Checklist

(14-19 Courses, 32 Hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
MUL 501	Graduate Research in Music	2
MUA 599	Curr, Ped & Instrct Techniques	2
MUS 585	Practicum in Coll Keyboard	2
MUL 585	Grad Piano Literature Survey	2
Complete three hours of ensemble:		3
MUO 5**
Select 12 hours from the following:		12
MUL 535	American Music
MUL 590	Spec Topics in Music History
MUT 512	Intro Analysis of Music Lit
MUT 513	Pedagogy of Theory
Select eight hours from the following:		8
MUA 501	Piano
MUA 502	Piano
MUA 503	Piano
MUA 500	Graduate Recital (Submit form at least 2 weeks prior) 1	1
Total Hours		32

¹

All Recitals: Students are required to write program notes under the supervision of their applied professor. Notes must include biographical information about composer and information about the piece. Cite sources, if used. 

Voice Performance Degree Checklist

(14-19 Courses, 32 Hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
MUL 501	Graduate Research in Music	2
MUE 548	Graduate Vocal Pedagogy	2
MUL 544	Art Song Literature & History	2
MUL 545	Opera Literature and History	2
Complete three hours of ensemble:		3
MUO 5**
Select 12 hours from the following:		12
MUL 535	American Music
MUL 590	Spec Topics in Music History
MUT 512	Intro Analysis of Music Lit
MUT 513	Pedagogy of Theory
Select eight hours from the following:		8
MUA 521	Voice
MUA 522	Voice
MUA 523	Voice
MUA 500	Graduate Recital (Submit form at least 2 weeks prior) 1	1
Total Hours		32

¹

All Recitals: Students are required to write program notes under the supervision of their applied professor. Notes must include biographical information about composer and information about the piece. Cite sources, if used.

Brass Performance Degree Checklist

(13-19 Courses, 32 Hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
MUL 501	Graduate Research in Music	2
MUE 519	Brass Pedagogy	3
MUL 512	Brass Literature	3
Complete three hours of ensemble:		3
MUO 5**
Select 12 hours from the following:		12
MUL 535	American Music
MUL 590	Spec Topics in Music History
MUT 512	Intro Analysis of Music Lit
MUT 513	Pedagogy of Theory
Select eight hours from the following:		8
MUB 551	Trumpet-Cornet
MUB 552	Trumpet-Cornet
MUB 553	Trumpet-Cornet
MUB 561	French Horn
MUB 562	French Horn
MUB 563	French Horn
MUB 571	Trombone
MUB 572	Trombone
MUB 573	Trombone
MUB 581	Baritone Horn
MUB 582	Baritone Horn
MUB 583	Baritone Horn
MUB 586	Tuba
MUB 587	Tuba
MUB 588	Tuba
MUA 500	Graduate Recital (Submit form at least 2 weeks prior) 1	1
Total Hours		32

¹

All Recitals: Students are required to write program notes under the supervision of their applied professor. Notes must include biographical information about composer and information about the piece. Cite sources, if used.

Percussion Performance Degree Checklist

(14-19 Courses, 32 Hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
MUL 501	Graduate Research in Music	2
MUE 587	Percussion Pedagogy	2
MUL 587	Percussion Literature	3
MUS 587	Arranging for Percussion	1
Complete three hours of ensemble:		3
MUO 5**
Select 12 hours from the following:		12
MUL 535	American Music
MUL 590	Spec Topics in Music History
MUT 512	Intro Analysis of Music Lit
MUT 513	Pedagogy of Theory
Select eight hours from the following:		8
MUA 586	Percussion
MUA 587	Percussion
MUA 588	Percussion
MUA 500	Graduate Recital (Submit form at least 2 weeks prior) 1	1
Total Hours		32

¹

All Recitals: Students are required to write program notes under the supervision of their applied professor. Notes must include biographical information about composer and information about the piece. Cite sources, if used.

Woodwinds Performance Degree Checklist

(13-19 Courses, 32 Hours)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
MUL 501	Graduate Research in Music	2
MUE 564	Woodwind Pedagogy	3
MUL 564	Woodwind Literature	3
Complete three hours of ensemble:		3
MUO 5**
Select 12 hours from the following:		12
MUL 535	American Music
MUL 590	Spec Topics in Music History
MUT 512	Intro Analysis of Music Lit
MUT 513	Pedagogy of Theory
Select eight hours from the following:		8
MUB 501	Flute
MUB 502	Flute
MUB 503	Flute
MUB 511	Oboe
MUB 512	Oboe
MUB 513	Oboe
MUB 521	Clarinet
MUB 522	Clarinet
MUB 523	Clarinet
MUB 531	Bassoon
MUB 532	Bassoon
MUB 533	Bassoon
MUB 541	Saxophone
MUB 542	Saxophone
MUB 543	Saxophone
MUA 500	Graduate Recital (Submit form at least 2 weeks prior) 1	1
Total Hours		32

¹

All Recitals: Students are required to write program notes under the supervision of their applied professor. Notes must include biographical information about composer and information about the piece. Cite sources, if used.