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MA Research Project

Guidelines

The MA Research Project will result in a scholarly research paper of approximately 40 pages
(exclusive of bibliography) or an equivalent creative project.

In either form, the MA Research Project is a scholarly inquiry into a particular topic in music
theory situated in relation to a current academic context. The project may emerge from a course
paper, but it should encompass a new research avenue or substantively develop an existing area
of scholarship.

As a creative project, the MA Research Project will typically combine scholarly investigation
with a creative process or production. The creative project must include an essay related to the
project, discussing the conditions of its production and its implications for academic scholarship.
The proportion of the written component in a creative project will be determined in consultation
with the project director.

The project director will be appointed by the Department Chair upon consultation with the
student at the beginning of the program. The MA Research Project will be graded by the project
director, and another faculty music theorist appointed by the Department Chair will also provide
a grade. The average of these two grades will be the final grade for the project.

The MA Research Project must demonstrate the highest scholarly standards of research and
writing. There is no formal defense of the MA Research Project.

Proposal

The proposal for the MA Research Project must be approved by the project director and
submitted to Department chair no later than April 1. The proposal should include the following:

Tentative title for the project
Student's name and the name of the project director
Description of approximately 500 words outlining the main argument, scope, goals, and significance of the project, with a general description of the methods to be used.
Working bibliography.

The project director will respond in a timely manner with one of the following decisions:

The proposal is approved.
The proposal requires revisions, which will be communicated to the student. The proposal should be revised and resubmitted within two weeks.

Deadlines

April 1

Student submits 500-word proposal and bibiliography for MA research project (MRP) to project director for feedback and approval.

Student then sends the approved proposal to the Department Chair and to the Graduate Program Assistant.

May 1

Student submits an outline of the MRP to the project director.

Student meets with the project director to discuss.

June 15

Student submits the full draft of the MRP to the project director for feedback.

August 1

Student submits the final version of the MRP to the project director.

August 15

The project director and the second reader (appointed by Department Chair) each assign a final grade and submit these and the final version of the MRP to the Associate Dean for approval.