Full Description

The Master of Music degree in Conducting is designed for current teachers of middle, junior and senior high school music ensemble programs; for professional church musicians; and for pre-professionals, including students continuing after completing undergraduate degrees. The program prepares post-undergraduate students for such paths as high school or college teaching, conducting positions and doctorates in conducting.

The M.M. degree in Conducting emphasizes development of skills, knowledge and background in the following areas: literature and repertoire; conducting technique; rehearsal technique; score study; choral and/or instrumental performance pedagogy; historical performance practices; interpretation and expression.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé
• Goal statement(s)
• Three letters of recommendation
• Audition
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Recognize, identify, interpret and conduct representative literature from different historical periods, countries and composers.
2. Demonstrate and apply advanced conducting techniques, including baton technique, use of hands/arms, facial expressions and body language.
3. Plan and execute an efficient and productive rehearsal, including managing time, setting achievable goals, detecting and correcting errors and providing motivation and inspiration for expressive performance and focused work ethic.
4. Utilize and discuss score study techniques such as keyboard score reading, transposition of instruments, instrumental/vocal score order, compositional structure, analysis of chord and melodic structures and audiation skills.
5. Identify, explain and utilize performance pedagogy appropriate to the specific vocal or instrumental area of study.
6. Identify, associate, differentiate and utilize performance practices appropriate to the literature of the various stylistic periods.
7. Display interpretation and expression in music through discussion in conducting lessons, explanation in rehearsals and demonstration in rehearsal and performance settings through conducting gestures and the resulting musical product.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

Students who elect the Choral Concentration must enroll for a minimum of 4 credit hours of major choral ensemble, to include a minimum of two semesters of MUS 55141.

²

Specific course numbers vary depending on concentration.

³

Selection of music theory course is based on students' result from the theory placement exam. In the case of the exam results placing a student into MUS 51011 and/or MUS 51012, these courses will not count towards the M.M. degree and must be taken in addition to the music theory requirements.

⁴

Students must select at least two 60000-level music theory or music history courses, overall, for the program. Substitutions can be considered with advisor approval.

Choral Conducting Concentration Requirements

Orchestra Conducting Concentration Requirements

¹

Students selecting elective MUS 61331 will need to select a 1 credit hour music (MUS) elective with advisor approval to meet minimum 6 credit hours for the concentration.

Graduation Requirements

• No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
• Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

National Association of Schools of Music

Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• MUS 11110 , MUS 11111, MUS 16914 and MUS 16915 will not count as credit for graduation in this program. 

• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
• Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus
  • Stark Campus

Full Description

The Fashion Media minor is for students studying either fashion merchandising or a major in the school of media and journalism.

Fashion merchandising students take the Media Track to learn about the fashion media and better prepare them to understand this industry. The track includes a trip to New York City as a requirement.

Media and Journalism students take the Fashion Track to learn about the fashion publishing industry to better prepare them for work in this business. The track includes the possibility of a trip to New York City to study fashion media.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the minor is selective, open only to students declared in the Fashion Merchandising major or in a major in the School of Media and Journalism.

To declare the Fashion Media minor, students must have a minimum 2.000 overall Kent State University GPA. No Kent State University GPA is required if the student is a first-semester freshman or transfer student admitted in good standing.

Program Learning Outcomes

For fashion merchandising students, the minor better prepares them to understand their industry from the media perspective. For media and journalism, the minor exposes them to the fashion publishing industry to better prepare them for work in this business.

Program Requirements

Minor Requirements

¹

FDM 35080 must be taken in New York City only.

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
• Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
• Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at Kent State (in residence).

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Merchandising allows for students to acquire a thorough background in the business aspects of the fashion industry, whereby they develop competencies in fashion theory, retail operations, management and buying, fashion forecasting and promotion, the merchandising for apparel manufacturing and the development and marketing of fashion goods.

Students participate in a study abroad/away experience, which includes opportunities to study for a semester in New York City; Florence, Italy; and Paris, France, as well as through collaborative partnership programs with universities in Hong Kong, South Korea and London.

In addition, students in the Fashion Merchandising major have the opportunity to enroll in the combined degree program with the Master of Business Administration degree. The combined B.S./M.B.A. degree program allows high-achieving undergraduate students early admission into graduate school. Students enrolled in the combined degree program complete a maximum of 9 credit hours of graduate-level coursework for the M.B.A. degree during their senior year. This allows a student to accelerate their completion of the M.B.A degree after being awarded their undergraduate degree. Students complete a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 representing the B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising and at least an additional 30 representing the M.B.A. degree). To be eligible for the combined degree program, students must first complete a minimum of 90 credit hours in the Fashion Merchandising major with at least a 3.300 overall grade point average. Upon achieving these requirements, students submit an admissions application to the M.B.A. program by the set application deadline. Students need to satisfy all requirements for the graduate admissions application.

Students in the Fashion Merchandising major can also pursue the B.S. Fashion Merchandising to Juris Doctor (JD) 3+3 degree pathway through Kent State University’s partnership with three Northeast Ohio law schools (Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland State University College of Law and the University of Akron School of Law). Interested students follow a three-year set degree plan and work closely with Kent State University’s Pre-Law Center. During the first three years, students complete almost all their general education and major requirements. During year four, students begin their first year of law school courses. Upon successful completion of the first year of law school courses, these credit hours are transferred back to Kent State University to complete the bachelor’s degree. After graduating, students complete their last two years of law school to earn their Juris Doctor.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Freshman Students: Admission to the Fashion Merchandising major is selective. Prospective applicants must have a minimum 3.000 overall grade point average (on a 4.000 scale).

Transfer Students: Admission to the Fashion Merchandising major requires a minimum 2.750 overall GPA based on minimum 24 credit hours of college-level coursework at an accredited institution. Those students meeting this GPA requirement but with fewer than 24 credit hours will be evaluated as new freshmen.

Students who do not meet the criteria for admission to the Fashion Merchandising major may be eligible for admission to the Pre-Fashion Design and Merchandising non-degree major. In addition, students who do not meet the admission criteria may initiate the process for declaring the B.S. degree in Fashion Merchandising after completing minimum 12 credit hours of non-developmental coursework at Kent State University and earning a minimum 2.750 overall GPA.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Understand the fashion industry, fashion markets, fashion products and services.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills of the fashion industry through reflective experiential learning.
3. Apply integration of the key knowledge of various segments of industry from fiber to finished product, products/services, consumer markets and technology in relation to the fashion industry.
4. Articulate conceptual and critical thinking applicable to the fashion industry.
5. Employ research processes and practices employed in the fashion industry.
6. Demonstrate their professionalism and communication skills required in the fashion industry through visual, oral and written forms.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

¹

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

²

Students are required to participate in a study away opportunity. Students must have a minimum 2.500 overall GPA to participate in this study away requirement. Choose from the following: FDM 35070; FDM 35080; FDM 35589; FDM 35689; FDM 35789; FDM 35889; FDM 35989; FDM 45392; FDM 45590; FDM 45589; OGE 10095.

³

Maximum 6 credit hours of FDM 45093 can be used as an Additional Major Elective. Maximum 6 credit hours from each non-Fashion Design and Merchandising (FDM) subject area can be used as an Additional Major Elective.

⁴

Students are required to declare and complete a minor as part of the fashion merchandising program. Students may select any minor available at Kent State, but it should be aligned with the student's overall educational and career goals. Number of credit hours depends on the minor selected.

Graduation Requirements

• Participation in a study abroad/away experience
• Minimum 2.500 overall GPA required for study away
• Minimum 2.500 overall GPA required for internship

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus