Graduate Programs of Interest

Graduate Studies in Music at MTSU (Murfreesboro, TN)

Collaborative Piano allows pianists to expand their skills and knowledge in instrumental and vocal/operatic repertories, leading to careers as accompanists, piano and vocal coaches, chamber musicians, or professional studio musicians. They will have the opportunity to participate in the MTSU Orchestra and Wind Ensemble as they learn to collaborate with vocalists and fellow instrumentalists.

The Conducting Specialization provides advanced instruction in choral or orchestral and wind ensemble conducting and is designed to maximize podium time. The distinguished faculty mentor students toward finding their own artistic voice.

Jazz Studies allows advanced musicians to grow in their improvisational skills and ensemble work while learning more about the history of jazz and participating in a vibrant community. MTSU boasts an annual Jazz Artist Series and the MTSU Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival, allowing students to gain exposure to musicians at the top of their field. 

The Music Composition specialization strengthens graduates' knowledge of music theory and musicology while allowing them to collaborate with other accomplished professionals and cultivate their original portfolio. It is a helpful launching point for a professional position or a PhD program. 

The Music Education (online) program is designed for music teachers working in K-12 settings. By gaining skills in music research, advocacy, and pedagogy, students will become leaders and change-makers in the field of music education. 

Musicology allows for the multidisciplinary learning and exploration of music with a historical and cultural perspective. Students will study why, where, and how people experience music as creators and listeners. Students may direct a large portion of the program toward specialties of interest and typically go on to pursue PhDs in Musicology.

Performance programs prepare trained vocalists and instrumentalists for professional careers as performers or for PhD programs. Students cultivate their skills through solo repertoire, chamber music, orchestra, wind ensemble, choral and operatic literature. Courses in musicology and music theory incorporated into the program, as well.

MA or MFA in Animation & Visual Effects at Academy of Art University (San Francisco, CA)

Summary: Academy of Art University offers one of the best Animation & Visual Effects programs in the country. Courses are taken in StudioX, a professional-level production studio where students can collaborate in team environments that mirror the film industry. The star-studded group of faculty have worked on films like Shrek 2, Finding Nemo, Terminator 2, The Mask, Star Wars: Episode I and more. Student films have won BAFTA awards and been featured in major film festivals, while alumni have secured jobs with Disney, Pixar, Google, Sony and more. 

Creative Writing MFA from Hollins University (Roanoke, VA)

Summary: This two-year program teaches writers to grow in their unique style through an individualized approach. Though small, Hollins’ Jackson Center for Creative Writing boasts an impressive publishing record by alumni who have received Pulitzer Prizes, Guggenheim Fellowships, and other prestigious awards. A new Writer-In-Residence joins the faculty each Spring to work with graduate students. Students will study short fiction, novels, creative nonfiction, film, poetry, and other genres. Students are given opportunities to participate in public readings and writing-based service work.

Hollins also has graduate programs in Children’s Book Writing & Illustration,  Playwriting, and Screenwriting & Film Studies. The Screenwriting & Film Studies program takes place over multiple six-week summer terms, which allow for students to live and work elsewhere for ten months out of the year. 

MFA in Creative Writing from University of Colorado Boulder (Boulder, CO)

Summary: The MFA consists of 45 hours of coursework, including 9 thesis credits. Students will have the opportunity to choose courses and workshops in their concentration of interest and explore multiple genres. The student’s thesis may consist of a book of poems, a novel, a book of nonfiction, a screenplay, play, collection of short stories or other cross-genre work of at least 70 pages. The program is meant to be completed in three years but students are allowed up to four. Many students are offered Teaching Assistantships and Graduate Part-Time Instructorships based on their program application, which provide stipends and tuition discounts.

MA or MFA in Film and Television at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD, Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia)

Summary: SCAD offers one of the nation’s best film and television programs, where students have the opportunity to meet and learn from award-winning professionals in master classes and at yearly film festivals. Savannah, Georgia is considered the best small town location for filmmaking, while Atlanta boasts one of the most profitable entertainment markets in the country. Past students have won Student Emmys and Student Academy Awards while at SCAD and alumni boast numerous Academy Awards and features at Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW. Notable alumni credits include Top Gun: Maverick, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Fabelmans. SCAD operates on a quarter-based schedule (rather than a two-semester schedule) and accepts applications on a rolling basis. 

Graduate Scholarships

The Fulbright Program

The Fulbright program offers scholarships in all academic disciplines, with special Arts Grants to complete graduate studies or creative projects abroad. There are over 140 partner countries where Fulbrighters have worked and studied with the goal of expanding cross-cultural engagement. 

The Harvey Fellows Program

The Harvey Fellows Program provides scholarships for Christians pursuing graduate degrees in fields underrepresented by Christians, including the arts. The purpose of the program is to equip Christians to integrate their faith into their vocation. To qualify, students must be graduating from or planning to attend an institution that is in the top 5 for their field. 

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship was founded by a donation to the University of Cambridge from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It provides full tuition scholarships, travel expenses, and a living stipend for students from many different countries to earn a graduate degree at Cambridge in any program they offer, with the goal of contributing to society. Intellectual ability, leadership potential, and a commitment to impact others are the main criteria for evaluation. Recipients have come from over 100 countries to explore solutions to challenges all over the world. They build a diverse, international network of colleagues throughout the program. Approximately 25 scholarships are given to applicants from the U.S. annually.