COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology program at Kent State University provides a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum designed to prepare students for advanced scholarship or professional work in world music. The program requires a total of 32 credit hours, combining core courses, electives, seminars, and a culminating experience. Core courses include MUS 55314 World Music Ensemble, which students take three times for hands-on ensemble experience, MUS 61173 World Music Analysis for developing analytical skills, MUS 62411 Music Bibliography and Research Methods, MUS 62412 Introduction to Ethnomusicology, and MUS 62414 Issues and Trends in Ethnomusicology, which together establish a strong foundation in theory, methods, and current developments in the field.Students also choose 6 credit hours of major electives from courses such as African Music and Cultures, Music of the United States, Folk Music of Europe and North America, Asian Musics, History of Jazz, Popular World Music, or Music from World Cultures, allowing for regional and thematic specialization. A 3-credit seminar elective is required to provide an in-depth, discussion-based study of specific musical traditions, with options including seminars in African, American, Middle Eastern, East Asian, and Southeast Asian musics, or broader music history and literature seminars. To broaden perspectives, students must also complete one 3-credit non-ethnomusicology-focused course.The program culminates in a 6-credit requirement, where students select from MUS 68092 Graduate Internship, MUS 68099 Capstone Project, or MUS 68199 Thesis I, enabling students to apply their knowledge in practical, research, or professional contexts. By combining performance, research, regional study, and methodological rigor, the MA in Ethnomusicology equips graduates with advanced skills in critical analysis, cultural interpretation, and scholarly communication, preparing them for doctoral study, cultural sector careers, or work in international and interdisciplinary music environments. The curriculum balances global coverage with flexible specialization, ensuring that students gain both broad and deep expertise in the study of music as a cultural, historical, and social phenomenon.