All master's students in the Ball State School of Music must take a comprehensive exam during their last semester or term of study. Successful completion of this exam is a requirement for graduation. This exercise, as required by the National Association of Schools of Music, takes the form of an oral exam and is administered by three members of the graduate faculty who are appointed to the examination committee by the graduate coordinator.

Areas or topics covered in the exam include the research/creative project or thesis, the breadth of the student's competence in music including the ability to analyze music, an understanding of representative literature and composers from the major periods of music history (listening or score identification), general bibliographical resources in music, basic research techniques in music, and music technologies.

Passing the Exam

Students may receive a pass, a partial pass, or a failure. If the exam is failed or receives a partial pass, the committee will provide clear written statements regarding the deficiencies and detail what needs to be done to clear the deficiencies. The exam will pass if one committee member fails it. A partial pass means one or two areas were deemed deficient. Only the failed sections will need to be repeated. When an exam is determined to be a failure, the entire exam must be repeated. The exam may be repeated one time.

More Information 

For complete information on program requirements, please consult the Music Graduate Handbook and the Ball State University Graduate Catalog, or contact the coordinator of graduate programs in music.