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The Bulldog - For the SWOSU Family

Entrance Advisory Examinations

All graduate music students must take the Entrance Advisory Examinations in Music Theory and Music History. These examinations are scheduled on the first weekend of each new semester. Specific dates will be posted in the bulletin board outside the Music Office in the Fine Arts building. Exceptions to the dates of the examinations cannot be made. Students who fail to take the Entrance Advisory Examination in the beginning of their first semester of enrollment will be allowed to take applied and ensemble credits only. Upon completion of the examinations and in consultation with their entrance committee, the student will then be allowed to enroll in degree course work. 

The Entrance Advisory examinations are designed to determine the presence of any deficiencies in the areas of music history and music theory that might hinder a student’s progress in their graduate work. The results of these examinations are given to the student’s entry committee. The committee and the student determine the course(s) that will be required to remediate any deficiencies in the areas that may have been identified on the examinations. The student must remove all deficiencies identified by advisory examinations. 

There are currently two (2) courses available to remediate deficiencies the areas of music theory and music history:  Music Theory Practicum (MUSIC 4372) and Music History Survey (MUSIC 4362). Because these are remedial courses, the credit hours earned for either of these two courses cannot be used to fulfill degree requirements.

Admission to Candidacy Forms

After completing 24 credit hours, graduate students may submit their candidacy form, and form a graduate committee. Forming the committee should be in consultation with the Graduate Advisor and should consist of at least three faculty members.

Final Comprehensive Examinations (MUSIC 5100)

All music graduate students must take the Comprehensive Examinations near the end of their degree program. The members of student’s Graduate Committee will give the student questions in the areas of Music Theory, Music History and Pedagogy/Literature. Master of Music in Music Education students may receive questions in the practices of music education in lieu of Pedagogy.

The Graduate Comprehensive Examinations are administered once each semester including summer session. In the Fall semester, the exams are given on the weekend before Fall break. In the Spring Semester, the exams are given on the weekend before spring break. During summer sessions the exams are given during the third full week of classes.