Master of Sacred Music

Program of Study: Concentration in Choral-Vocal

Liturgy (15 credits) – from the following courses:

  • Eucharist (THEO 60404)
  • Liturgical Prayer (THEO 60422)
  • Liturgical Year (THEO 60421)
  • Ritual Studies (THEO 60408)
  • Liturgical Theology (THEO 60416)
  • Ritual Music (THEO 60410)

Sacred Music and Choral-Vocal Literature (15 credits)

  • 3 credits: Sacred Music I - Gregorian Chant (MUS 60101)
  • 3 credits: Sacred Music II - Renaissance (MUS 60102)
  • 3 credits: Sacred Music III - Baroque (MUS 60113)
  • 3 credits: Sacred Music IV - 18th -19th Century (MUS 60121)
  • 3 credits: Sacred Music V - 20th Century to the Present (MUS 60122)

Interdisciplinary Colloquia (2 credits - one credit per year)

Each year several colloquia will address issues common to both liturgy and the sacred arts. These mandatory colloquia will ground the interdisciplinary ethos of the programs and draw the faculty and students into on-going dialogue. Students should enroll in THEO 67009.

Liturgical Music Performance (16 credits)

The music faculty will assess the ability and needs of the students and will determine the number of hours for each of the following areas.

  • Choral conducting
  • Voice
  • Keyboard (i.e. organ, piano)
  • Instrument

Applied Music Practices

Remedial courses and workshops will be offered regularly on a non-credit basis. The following list will serve as examples of types of workshops that will enhance the background of the Liturgical Musician:

  • Service Playing and Improvisation
  • Survey of Liturgical Organ Repertoire
  • Survey of Liturgical Choral Repertoire
  • Survey of Liturgical Vocal Repertoire
  • Vocal Pedagogy for Church Musicians
  • Liturgical Performance Practice and Literature for Piano
  • Developing Music Programs for Children and Youth

Graduate Recitals

Two recitals (one each year) or one recital and a 60-minute oral comprehensive exam (to be administered in the final semester). Students should enroll in MUS 78390 each spring semester for 0 credits.

Practicum

Supervised pastoral placement for four semesters (i.e. basilica, parish, dormitory) No credit is given for the practicum but it will show up on the transcript under THEO 67010.

N.B. Since the normal academic load for graduate students in music performance is 9 credits per semester due to the time intensive nature of applied music courses, students may take up to four courses in the summer.

Graduate courses in music typically make use of theoretical applications normally acquired at the undergraduate level. Three times a year examinations will be administered to verify that the students are competent in music theory.