Be heard. Choose your path and earn your advanced degree in music at USD.
Let your passion become your career. Our program offers you affordability and flexibility with several specialization choices and multiple thesis/non-thesis tracks to customize your plan of study. USD offers the only master's of music degrees in the state, and our program has been accredited though NASM since 1956 and and by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
We provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to become a professional musician, whether you work as a performer, educator, scholar or a lifelong learner. We award over $240,000 each year in scholarships and opportunities for graduate assistantships, musical development, leadership growth and personal enrichment through mentored performances, classroom study, individual instruction and guided research.
This master’s degree provides several paths of specialization allowing you to dive deep into your area of interest. Whether you choose music history, conducting, collaborative piano or performance, it offers opportunities for musical performances, concerts, marching band competitions, festivals and recitals. The online music education specialization requires one three-day summer workshop.
This online program prepares students for an advanced level of K-12 teaching or for doctoral degree work in music education. The program requires 30 credit hours and includes both a thesis/non-thesis path in the areas of instrumental music education or vocal/choral music education. This flexible format offers all but one class online to meet the needs of the working public school teacher and the post-undergraduate looking for an advanced degree. The Summer Directors' Institute is part of the curriculum, allowing you to complete the program within two years.
Advance your vocal or instrumental skills as a musician through one-on-one mentorship. Pursue a variety of careers in the music industry, from teaching music theory and technique to developing your own solo repertoire and performance. This 30-credit hour program of study includes vocal music performance or instrumental music performance (woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings and keyboard).
Increase your knowledge of music in the western world from classical antiquity to the present. The music history specialization provides graduate-level training in the six style periods and introduction to world music, preparing you for further doctoral study or for a career as a music historian, college professor or music librarian. The program requires a thesis, 30 credit hours and proficiency in one foreign language.
The master of music degree with a specialization in history of musical instruments is designed to meet the needs of students with a wide variety of backgrounds, training and interests. Work in the National Music Museum, one of the greatest institutions of its kind in the world, and choose to focus on conservation, research, cataloging and others that best suit your interests.
The master of music degree with a specialization in collaborative piano allows skilled pianists to complete lesson, coursework and performance requirements in vocal and instrumental duo, small chamber ensemble, choral ensemble and opera/musical theater. This selective, nurturing program provides extensive repertoire development, musical growth opportunities and preparation for further academic and professional work in the field of collaborative piano.
Increase your technical skills and gain the advanced theoretical knowledge necessary for a career in the conducting field with a master's degree in conducting. You will have the option to focus on conducting specifically in the choral or instrumental realm, or take a mixture of both concentrations. This program prepares students for advanced level K–12 ensemble teaching or for doctoral work in various musical areas.
Program Details
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Complete Audition (Performance, Collaborative Piano, & Conducting), Interview (Music Education) or submit a writing sample (History & Musical Instruments) as required by your chosen program of study.
For additional information on these requirements, please contact Dr. Moskowitz or reach out directly to the major professor in your area.
Gain valuable real-world, professional experience while enjoying paid employment and discounted tuition rates as a graduate student at USD. The affordability you gain through graduate assistantships and fellowships will equip you with valuable, professional-level skills that will set you apart after graduation.
Teaching and research assistantships are awarded by individual departments. If you do not receive an assistantship within your department, you are eligible for an assistantship outside of your academic program or within support offices (non-academic units) at USD. Further inquiries should be directed to the graduate chair of the department.
USD is home to more than 170 student organizations, including several that are housed in the Department of Music. You may be interested in inspiring and strengthening music in local communities or sharing your passion for music with others to make friends, develop new skills and explore your interests.
Inspire, uplift, and strengthen local communities through music performances in locations where citizens’ access to music might be limited, such as community centers, assisted living facilities, hospitals, homeless shelters, and group homes.
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National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
Engage with guest speakers and activities that promote music teaching and learning, such as the annual USD Field Marching Competition, USD Coyote Jazz Festival events, Dakota Days and more.
Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA)
Join your fellow graduate and professional students at USD. We aim to build a sense of community between graduate and professional students. Build your resume, network with others and gain experience and the unique opportunity to represent the interests of graduate students to the greater campus and community.
At USD, our graduate students are actively pursuing unique research and presenting work at local, national and world-wide venues. Additional research and grant opportunities include:
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition provides the opportunity to communicate the significance and impact of your research project in just three minutes.
Each semester, students may apply for grants through the USD Graduate School. Faculty and students pursue research in virtually all academic departments on campus and, in many cases, it is a required portion of a graduate degree program.
IdeaFest is an annual event celebrating student research, creative scholarship and academic engagement. Undergraduate and graduate students in all disciplines present their work through oral and poster presentations, live performances, readings, exhibits and displays.
Develop the skills necessary to be successful in your musical career while gaining lifelong friends and mentors. Whether you are interested in teaching, music performance or music history — or some combination of the three — the Department of Music will provide you with real-world experiences and connections to help you succeed.
Courses are offered online and you can start anytime. The required on-campus Directors' Institute is offered over the summer, enabling you to finish the program in the shortest amount of time.
Learn more about tuition and fees for undergraduate students and see how your out-of-pocket costs at USD compare to those at other colleges and universities. Visit the Graduate Tuition & Costs Detailed page for program specific costs and fees.
Navigating options for how to pay for college can be challenging, but you are not alone. The Office of Financial Aid will work with you and your family to explore how you can make your college education even more affordable.
USD offers opportunities for grad students to earn a reduced tuition rate in exchange for their teaching, research and service efforts to the university.
Everyone is warm and welcoming at USD. Students can grow both as musicians and human beings. I am both a piano performance student and graduate assistant. What amazes me the most is not only the great level of expertise all members of the faculty have, but their continuous dedication, passion and support they give their students.
Eva Nikolaidou
