COURSE CURRICULUM

Wichita State University's Master of Music in Performance–Voice is a 32-credit-hour graduate program designed to advance students’ vocal technique, artistic interpretation, and professional performance skills through intensive studio instruction, academic coursework, and applied learning experiences. The program requires students to complete core studies in bibliography and research, tonal analysis or music theory pedagogy, along with seven credit hours of musicology and theory electives that may include topics such as form and analysis, music in media, popular music analysis, global musics, and seminar-level music history and theory. Students also complete 10 credit hours of graduate applied voice instruction through repeatable studio courses, supported by additional required coursework in voice pedagogy and voice literature that strengthen both teaching and performance foundations. Electives totaling three credit hours allow further specialization in areas such as opera literature, advanced pedagogy, or opera lab work, enabling students to tailor their study toward career goals in performance or teaching. A major component of the program is the graduate recital, which serves as the culminating performance requirement and must be prepared according to departmental standards and presented in residence, demonstrating a high level of technical mastery, stylistic understanding, and stage readiness. Students are also expected to complete a comprehensive examination that tests both general music theory/musicology knowledge and discipline-specific expertise in voice performance. The program emphasizes applied learning through the terminal recital experience, ensuring that graduates not only gain academic knowledge but also real-world performance competence. Overall, the degree prepares singers for professional careers in opera, concert performance, and teaching, while also providing a strong foundation for continued artistic development and potential doctoral study in music performance or related fields.