 The University of Texas at El Paso's Department of Music offers the Bachelor of Music degree in three major areas: Education, Performance and Theory-and-Composition. The department also offers the Master of Music degree in two major areas: Education and Performance. Many of our graduates are professional performers and educators in the southwestern United States.
Bachelor of Music
All candidates for the Bachelor of Music degree must declare a major instrument or voice as a performing medium. This instrument or voice should be studied for credit each semester in residence (summers excepted). Any standard band or orchestra instrument, keyboard or guitar may be chosen for major emphasis in the instrumental plan. Students in the choral plan may choice voice, keyboard instruments or classical guitar as a major performing area.
Scholarships and Service Awards are available to qualified students from several sources. The student should consult the director of his major ensemble for information about scholarships. Service Awards for performance in major ensembles are renewable, as are scholarships.
The high school applicant who has a "B" average may be eligible for an Academic Scholarship. Student loans and grant funds are administered by the Director of Financial Aid Office.
In some cases out-of-state tuition waivers are available to students with good academic credentials.
Bachelor of Music in General Music with Teacher Certification
The Music Degree with Certification plan leads to professional certification that qualifies graduates to teach in both elementary and secondary public schools in Texas. The major in Music Education may be pursued in two fields: the instrumental plan, designed for those wishing to teach band or orchestral instruments, the choral plan, designed for those wishing to teach voice and choir.
Bachelor of Music in Performance
The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in performance may be pursued in orchestra or band instruments, keyboard instruments, voice, classical guitar or jazz guitar. This degree is intended to prepare for college teaching. If the student's intention is to seek a college teaching position, he or she should anticipate graduate study in the same area and in a closely related area as well. Therefore, entrance requirements and related teaching area for graduate school should be carefully considered.
Since most graduate degrees require one or more languages, it is advisable for the student to include language as an elective course of study for the Bachelor of Music degree. In addition to an applied area, it is also advisable to seek out an academic teaching area such as theory or music history. Private or college teachers usually find great value in knowledge of all instruments in their general area. For example, a clarinet major needs to know all the woodwind instruments. The degree in Performance should be considered only by outstanding soloists, because of the limited opportunities for such professional employment.
Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition
The Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Theory and Composition provides the student with the opportunity to compose and arrange in the electronic medium as well as for acoustic instruments and voices. In addition to extensive study in electronic and acoustic composition, the theory and composition major will study analysis and orchestration, as well as a variety of research topics available in the music theory seminars. These include twentieth-century techniques, counterpoint, film music analysis, Schenkerian analytical concepts and more.
Master of Music
The Department of Music offers two Master's degrees: a Master of Music in Performance and a Master of Music in Music Education. Flexible course requirements allow most graduate students to design a course of study specifically tailored to their interests and goals.
The Music Department does not require GRE scores, but once on-campus there are required placement tests in theory and history before students are fully accepted into the graduate program. It is certainly preferable to have an on-campus audition or interview, however a CD, VHS, or DVD audition is also acceptable in cases where it is impossible for a student to travel to El Paso.
Financial assistance is available to qualified applicants, and within the Music Department there are some Teaching Assistantships [TAs] awarded each year. For most TAs, some sort of personal interview or audition would probably be necessary.
Master of Music in Education
With a degree plan requiring 32 hours, it is possible to complete a master's degree in three semesters, but most full-time students opt for a four-semester [two-year] sequence.
Admission requirements include a Bachelor's degree in music or its equivalent, evidence of satisfactory undergraduate preparation in music, and an interview before a three-member department panel. Applicants are also required to have public school certification or equivalent professional teaching experience.
Master of Music in Performance
The Performance degree includes not only performance specialization in all vocal or instrumental areas, but also conducting, music theory, and composition majors. With degree plans requiring 31 hours, it is possible to complete a master's degree in three semesters, but most full-time students opt for a four-semester [two-year] sequence.
Admission requirements include a Bachelor's degree in music or its equivalent, evidence of satisfactory undergraduate preparation in music, and acceptance into the program via an audition.
Music Minor
A minor in music is available for students majoring in other fields of study. Students may choose an applied music option or an academic music option.
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