For *all* research, this is very important: to determine if your research project needs oversight by the Institutional Review Board (IRB), you must fill out a “UCM Determination of Research” (DOR) for all research projects.
This is a quick process, do not be deterred: the form will just take a few minutes to complete. Do not put it off as it is required and should be completed PRIOR to starting your research project: UCM Determination of Research
After DOR, the IRB will email if you need oversight or not. For most humanities projects, you will be given an exemption, a quick and easy process that must be completed before beginning your research. If you are doing interviews and research involving people, you may also need to work with our university research advisors at Human Subjects (IRB) to develop protocols, release forms, et cetera.
MUS 5050 - Research Problems (Required Course)
Please note: You must have completed a minimum of 10 units of graduate credit before taking Music 5050.
MUS 5050 is a required course for all MA students. MUS 5050 is supervised by a single faculty member that you choose. The final product is determined by you and that faculty member and may be a research paper, an annotated bibliography, a musical composition or arrangement, or some other product that demonstrates extensive involvement in a given subject matter. If you are doing an elective Thesis (MUS 5051) or an elective Graduate Recital (MUS 5052), MUS 5050 is used to develop the research that will be the foundation of those courses.
Be sure to check the syllabi from your supervising faculty member for specific details for your project.
The supporting document for MUS 5050 is treated like a thesis, it differs in that it is supervised by a single faculty member. It is recommended that you read the most recent thesis manual found online at Thesis and Writing Resources. The writing should conform to the guidelines in the thesis manual issued by Graduate Education and Research. The final product is submitted to Graduate Education and Research.
MUS 5051 - Thesis (Elective)
The thesis, a work of original scholarship, will be written under the supervision of a faculty member that you choose. Choose faculty that you have developed a relationship with and that are willing to invest the time and effort necessary to oversee your research and writing. You will also need to select two other faculty—in conversation with your supervisor—to advise you on your research and writing, as well as assist you with editing the document.
You should enroll in Music 5051 (Thesis) when you begin writing your thesis. The thesis requirement should be completed toward the end of your program, after taking MUS 5050.
It is recommended that you read the most recent thesis manual found online at Thesis and Writing Resources. The writing should conform to the guidelines in the thesis manual issued by Graduate Education and Research (GER).
Forms for the following are available here: Thesis and Writing Resources
Responsibilities before conducting research:
Student - Prospectus (submitted to GER after approval of your thesis chair)
Student - DOR/IRB/IACUC Approval (submitted to Thesis Chair and GER)
Responsibilities before defense:
Student - Defense Thesis - This should be a completed document ready for defense. Formatting, citations, all should be completed properly according to the thesis manual. To be clear, this is not a rough draft, but will be closely read by your committee and GER.
Responsibilities after defense:
Student - Final Thesis and Library Publication Agreement. You are responsible for submitting the Transmittal Form and the Library Electronic Thesis / Research Paper (ETRP) Release Form agreements to Graduate Education and Research. This is all done via the form.
Faculty / Thesis Chair - Sign approval
After approval, the document is deposited electronically in the JCKL Digital Repository.
MUS 5052 - Graduate Recital (Elective)
A graduate student may present a public recital/program with the permission of their applied instructor. MUS 5052 requires you to present a public recital or program (such as a lecture recital) toward the end of the degree. The event should be supervised by your primary applied instructor. During the semester in which the program is to be presented, you should enroll in Music 5052 (Graduate Recital) and it is also recommended that you are concurrently enrolled in Music 5050 (Research Problems). If you choose a recital, it is recommended that you write a supporting paper of that recital in fulfillment of MUS 5050.
The recital or program will be approximately 60 minutes in length. The content of the program is determined by you and your applied teacher.
Three faculty members, including your primary applied teacher, will attend and grade the graduate recital/program. The primary applied instructor will reconcile the grades for the recital/program (each committee member’s grade is weighted 33.3%) and inform the graduate coordinator by email.
The graduate recital program should include the following statement: “This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Music.”