Musicology, MA

At WVU, we offer a two-year Master of Arts (MA) in Musicology, in which students develop a broad understanding of the primary methods used in musicological and ethnomusicological research.

Courses and seminars explore a wide range of musical repertories and scholarly debates, and our curriculum encourages students to meaningfully engage with the field through pedagogical training and focused research.

Our graduates have entered leading North American doctoral programs or have found employment in occupations drawing heavily upon the expertise and skills developed through our degree program.

Coursework for the MA program includes foundational courses in research, pedagogy, theory/analysis and current perspectives of the fields of musicology and ethnomusicology, as well as musicology seminars and courses focusing on specific periods, genres or regions. Six elective graduate credits allow students to explore other disciplines and departments as they develop their research, creative and teaching interests.

In recent years, several students enrolled in musicology graduate studies at WVU have also pursued a Master of Music (MM) degree in music performance, earning both degrees in a total of six semesters. A total of 12 credits may be shared between the two degree programs.