Overview

The Music History and Literature (MM) at the University of Louisville provides a rigorous academic environment for students to explore the methodologies and content of musical critique. This Master of Music programme is specifically designed for those who wish to investigate the historical and cultural contexts of music through advanced research and scholarly inquiry.

The curriculum is structured to be completed over two years of full-time study. Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to remain in good standing. The programme culminates in a final oral examination and the submission of a formal thesis, ensuring that graduates possess the analytical skills necessary for professional success in the field of musicology.

Why Music History and Literature at University of Louisville?

The School of Music offers a distinctive teaching environment that combines traditional seminars with practical research applications. Students benefit from specialised facilities and a dedicated faculty that supervises individual thesis projects. The programme also emphasises global perspectives through a mandatory foreign language requirement, enhancing the research capabilities of its scholars.

The institution provides comprehensive support through documents such as the Handbook for Graduate Studies in Music. These resources guide students through complex academic requirements and procedural expectations. Furthermore, the university offers opportunities for graduate assistantships, providing valuable experience in research and service within a professional academic setting.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 31108 per year
National fee: USD 31108 per year
Local fee: USD 15304 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

Music History Review
Theory Review
Graduate Oral Exam Preparation
Bibliography and Research Methods
Music History Seminar
Music Theory
Advanced Chromatic Harmony and Analysis
Advanced Post-Tonal Theory and Analysis
Schenkerian Analysis
Advanced Analysis
Ensemble
Thesis
Perspectives and Practices of Ethno/musicology

Careers with Music History and Literature

Graduates from this programme are well-prepared for a variety of professional roles within the arts and academic sectors. Many alumni have successfully established careers as musicologists, conducting deep research into musical traditions and innovations. The analytical and organisational skills gained during the course are also highly valued in other specialised fields.

Common career destinations for former students include roles as music librarians, where they manage extensive archives and collections. Others find success as arts administrators, overseeing the operations of cultural organisations. Additionally, the programme provides a strong foundation for those pursuing work as music critics, contributing to the public discourse on musical performance and history.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Music History Review

Theory Review

Graduate Oral Exam Preparation

Bibliography and Research Methods

Advanced Chromatic Harmony and Analysis

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-08 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-11-01 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-08-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-05-01 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

105

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TOEFL^® IBT

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

36 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Louisville, United States

Disciplines

History Music Literature View 347 other Masters in Literature in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.7

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

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AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Completed graduate application and application fee

Official transcripts for all previous post-secondary course work (all transcripts not in English must be certified as authentic and translated verbatim into English)

At least two letters of recommendation

A minimum TOEFL examination score of 213 on the computer-based test, or 79-80 on the internet-based test; IELTS scores of at least 6.5 overall band score from the academic module exam or official Duolingo overall score of 105.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

31108 USD / year

≈ 31108 USD / year
Out-of-State

31108 USD / year

≈ 31108 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

15304 USD / year

≈ 15304 USD / year

Living costs

Louisville

United States

897 - 1421 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Music History and Literature.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Louisville

Financing

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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