Graduate Certificate in Conducting

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School of Music, Theatre and Dance
207 Varner Hall (map)
(248) 370-2030 • Fax (248) 370-2041
www.oakland.edu/mtd

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Coordinator:
Jessica Payette
306 Varner Hall
(248) 370-3148
payette@oakland.edu

Program description

The Graduate Certificate in Conducting is a professional program designed to meet the needs of music teachers and other music professionals who are interested in developing high-level skills and understanding in instrumental and/or choral conducting. The program consists of 16 credits of conducting and related courses.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

July 15 for fall semester
November 15 for winter semester
March 15 for summer semester
International applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements
Additional department application requirements

Applicants must have earned a baccalaureate degree in music from a regionally accredited institution or proof of a U.S. equivalent degree for foreign educated applicants.
Applicants must schedule and perform a successful audition that shows an appropriate level of prior experience and potential for success in the program.
For choral conducting, contact Professor Michael Mitchell (mmitchel@oakland.edu).
For instrumental conducting, contact Professor Gregory Cunningham (cunningh@oakland.edu).

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to the Graduate Certificate in Conducting program, the department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, writing sample, letters of recommendation, audition and any other admission requirement established by the academic program.

Music theory placement

Students applying to the Graduate Certificate in Conducting program should contact Professor Jessica Payette, coordinator of the master’s program at payette@oakland.edu, to determine whether a theory placement is required.

Certificate requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Conducting is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 16 credits in an approved program of study.

Course requirements (16 credits)

MUS 5581 - Advanced Choral Interpretation and Conducting Techniques (2 credits)
MUS 5582 - Advanced Instrumental Interpretation and Conducting Techniques (2 credits)
MUA 6020 - Conducting Apprenticeship (2 credits) (2 semesters) (4 credits)
Choose two courses (4 credits) from the following:
MUS 5235 - Analytical Techniques in Tonal Music (2 credits)
MUS 5236 - Analysis of post-1900 Music (2 credits)
MUS 5237 - Theories of Rhythm and Meter (2 credits)
Electives, chosen in consultation with adviser (4 credits)

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements: A minimum grade of 3.0 is required in all courses. In any course where a student earns a final grade lower than 3.0, the student must seek approval to repeat the course by submitting a Petition to Repeat a Course form OR seek approval to substitute a different course, appropriate to the degree requirements, by submitting a Petition for Course Waiver/Substitution.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information

Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.

Transfer to Master of Music

Graduate certificate students who wish to transfer to the Master of Music degree program must apply to the master’s program prior to enrolling in the last certificate course.