Department of Music College of Arts and Humanities Central Washington University

Central Washington University Offers Graduate Studies in Music

Central Washington University (CWU) is a public university located in Ellensburg, Washington. The Department of Music at Central Washington University is considered the Northwest's premier music program. Situated within the School of Arts and Humanities, it is recognized regionally and nationally for opera, jazz, symphonic, band, and choral studies. Its Jerilyn S. McIntyre Music Building has received 4 national awards for outstanding acoustics and design.

Accredited by the National Association of Music Schools, the department is dedicated to preparing students for careers in music, giving them opportunities to become literate, skilled, knowledgeable, and confident music educators, performers, and practitioners who influence and enrich the communities they serve. The Department of Music at Central Washington University awards undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Graduate Program in Music

The Master of Music (MM) curriculum offers in-depth specialization study opportunities in students' selected areas of focus to increase professional competence in teaching and performance, and to prepare students for continued self-directed study or advanced graduate study. Candidates for the 45-credit program must have bachelor's degrees in music from accredited colleges with majors in music or their equivalent.

The MM degree is awarded in the following majors: composition, conducting, performance, performance-pedagogy, and music education. Each field has its own curriculum requirements. Secondary areas of study (cognates) are available in composition, conducting, jazz pedagogy, performance, performance-pedagogy, music education, music history, and music theory.

Acceptance into a major field requires an evaluation by faculty members of a candidate's ability in the major field and approval by the Music Department Graduate Committee and/or the Department Chair. Students must pass comprehensive final oral examinations or combined written and oral examinations based on students' coursework and theses.

Master of Music in Composition

Admission to the Master of Music in Composition program is based on faculty member evaluations of appropriate compositions submitted by the student. Major courses include "Canon and Fugue," "Advanced Orchestration," "Advanced Composition," "Seminar," and "Graduate Seminar in Music: Music Theory and Composition."

Students may select from other courses for a minimum of 3 credits each in theory and history/literature. An original composition and a paper covering each student's composition is also required for successful completion of the composition major.

Master of Music in Conducting

Admission to the Master of Music in Conducting degree program requires faculty member evaluation of evidence of an appropriate level of musicianship, satisfied by one of the following: a performance or conducting audition; a videotape of a performance directed by the applicant; and other evidence deemed appropriate by the evaluating committee. The program requires a 1-year residency prior to graduation.

Candidates work under the direct supervision of one of the 3 conductors of the major performance ensembles (orchestra, wind ensemble, choir) during each quarter in residence. Students are encouraged to work in all 3 areas.

Major courses include "Analytical Techniques II," "Advanced Conducting," "Seminar," and "Graduate Seminar in Music: Conducting." Students may select from other courses for a minimum of 3 credits each in theory and history/literature. As a thesis each student must conduct a public performance and submit a covering paper on the works conducted.

Master of Music in Performance

Admission to the Master of Music in Performance degree program is based on an evaluation of an audition equivalent in scope to at least one-half of a full baccalaureate recital.

A minimum of 12 credits of major applied instruction, in addition to the 6 credits of thesis study, are required of each student. Vocal performance majors must also have 1 year each of college level French and German. Other courses include "Opera Workshop," "Accompanying Practicum," and "Graduate Seminar in Music: Performance."

For their theses, students must present full public recitals and submit covering papers on the works presented in the recitals.

Master of Music in Performance-Pedagogy

Admission to the Master of Music in Performance-Pedagogy degree program is based on a faculty evaluation of an audition equivalent in scope to at least one-half of a full baccalaureate recital, and an evaluation of a paper written for an undergraduate class in the field of music instruction.

Vocal performance majors must also have 1 year each of college level French and German study. As a thesis, each student chooses from 3 options: a demonstration project, a research paper, or a covering paper based on the project and one-half of a public recital.

Master of Music in Music Education

Admission to the Master of Music in Music Education degree program is based on the following: evaluation of an undergraduate paper in the field of music education; completion of at least 1 year of successful public school music instruction; and evidence of an appropriate level of musicianship, satisfied by a performance audition, performance videotape, videotape of a music lesson taught by the applicant, or other evidence deemed appropriate by the evaluating committee.

Major courses include "Studio Pedagogy," "Methods of Teaching Theory," "Seminar," and "Graduate Seminar in Music: Music Education." Thesis options consist of research theses or demonstrations; analytical or creative projects; and covering papers based on the projects.

Region's Top Music Educators

The Department of Music at Central Washington University is a community of artists, scholars, and educators dedicated to achieving the highest standards of musical knowledge, performance, and teaching. Faculty members are recognized as the region's top music educators and conductors and are dedicated to the success of their students.

Campus and Surroundings

Central Washington University is located in the heart of the scenic Kittias Valley, about 30 miles north of Yakima, Washington, on Interstate 82, and 110 miles east-southeast of Seattle, Washington, on Interstate 90. The 380-acre rural campus is a short walk from historic downtown Ellensburg, which offers eclectic shops and restaurants and a farmers market.

• Degrees Offered
• Major Degree Levels Offered
• Master of Music (MM)

• Degrees Awarded
• Master's Degrees 11
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported
• * Shows the number of degrees awarded for the last academic year that data was reported.

• Earning Your Degree
• Part-time study available? No
• Evening/weekend programs available? No
• Distance learning programs available? No
• Terminal master's degree available? Not reported

• Degree Requirements
• Master's Degrees Alternate accepted
• Doctoral Degrees Not reported
• First Professional Degrees Not reported
• Other Advanced Degrees Not reported

• Acceptance Rate
• Applied15
• Accepted13
• Acceptance Rate86%
• Enrolled13
• Applying
• Application Fee - Domestic $50
• Application Fee - International $50
• Electronic applications accepted? Yes
• Applications processed on a rolling basis? Yes
• Application Deadlines
• Type Domestic International Priority Date
• Fall deadline February 1st Not Reported Yes
• Winter deadline October 1st Not Reported Not Reported
• Spring deadline January 1st Not Reported Not Reported
• Entrance Requirements
• Master's Degreesminimum GPA of 3.0
• Doctoral's DegreesNot Reported
• First-Professional's DegreesNot Reported
• Other Advanced DegreesNot Reported
• International DegreesTOEFL (minimum score 550 paper-based; 79 iBT) or IELTS (minimum score 6.5)

• Tuition & Fees
• In-state tuition *$8,517
• Out-of-state tuition *$18,972
• International student tuitionNot Reported
• * Tuition for full-time graduate student per academic year
• Fees
• Per-academic year fees$978.00
• Per-term feesNot Reported
• One-time feeNot Reported
• * Fees for full-time graduate students
• Financial Support
• Financial award applicants must submitFAFSA
• Application deadlines for financial awardsMarch 1
• Types of financial support availableTeaching Assistantships, Federal Work-Study, Health Care Benefits, Graduate Assistantships

• Gender
• Total Graduate Students18
• Female Percentage44%
• Male Percentage56%
• Participation
• Total Graduate Students18
• Part-time Percentage0%
• Full-time Percentage100%
• Ethnicity
• Hispanic / Latino0%
• Black / African American11%
• White / Caucasian72%
• American Indian / Alaskan Native0%
• Asian6%
• Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander0%
• Two or more races6%
• Unknown5%

• Faculty Breakout
• Total Faculty20
• Full-time Percentage100%
• Part-time Percentage0%
• Female Percentage20%
• Male Percentage80%