Master of Sacred Music (M.S.M.)

Description

The Master of Sacred Music has become the standard first professional degree for persons engaged in parish music ministries. Persons serving in any religious tradition as a cantor, director or minister of music, pastoral musician, pastor of worship, organist, etc., and who possess an undergraduate degree in some area of music, are welcome to apply. The degree includes the traditional interdisciplinary studies of a master’s degree in this field (sacred music foundation, hymnology, liturgy, parish music literature and administration, applied work, and theological study). Study through the Foundation is multi-residential and inter-institutional in nature. Specific area requirements may be acquired by taking a traditional course, by directed study, or through a combination of short-term courses, workshops, master classes, or private instruction at the institutions of the candidate’s choice. The candidate will develop a plan of study and be responsible for documenting his/her progress and achievements. The M.S.M. Project may take the form of a recital, a choral/instrumental performance, the writing of a traditional thesis, the composition and performance of an original work or set of works, or the development of an in-ministry activity based on the student’s particular area of interest and context need.

Time Frame and Tuition

The usual time frame for degree programs is a minimum of eighteen months and a maximum of forty-eight months for completion.

Tuition: $6,250.00
Project Processing: $200.00
Graduation: $100.00

Admission Requirements

Baccalaureate degree or equivalent in some area of music validated by a transcript.
Five years accumulated experience in music ministry.
Completion of the Application Procedure.

Orientation

Residency Candidates complete four Units of Study at approved institutions. A unit may be “built” through a combination of short-term courses of study, directed study, master’s classes, private lessons, workshops, convocations, seminars, institutes, independent readings, etc. Private study and seminar/workshop attendance may include study in organ, voice, piano, choral conducting, hand bell techniques, etc. Each residential unit must equal 40 hours of study with academically qualified faculty and must be sponsored either by a graduate, professional, or denominationally approved institution.

Response Papers

There are four response papers (one for each Unit of Study taken) which are required by the Foundation prior to the submission of the Master's Project. Each paper should reflect the work done for each specific Unit of Study. The response papers must be 1,750-2,500 words (7-10 pages) and be analytically reflective regarding the relevance of the unit’s content to the exercise of the degree candidate's ministry or profession. Each paper is evaluated and a response is sent to the student. If further development of the paper is deemed necessary, the student will be notified. All academic work must be completed by February 1 of the intended year of graduation.

NOTE: Please Click Here for Paper Guidelines.

Project Consultant

Option A: Students may select a faculty member of the Foundation to serve as Project Consultant. This option enables the student to receive helpful and pragmatic evaluative feedback from a member of the faculty in the developmental process of producing the Exit Project. The role of the faculty Project Consultant is responsive and suggestive rather than “supervisory” as is the case with academic thesis writing. The faculty person is encouraged to limit feedback to pragmatically helpful hints and suggestions and not to attempt any censorship of the project. The exercise of discretion with respect to time demands is very important for both the student and faculty member. The faculty Project Consultant must give final approval of the student’s work by submitting the Project Consultant’s Report Form. The assessment from the Project Consultant is due by February 1 of the intended year of graduation.

Selection of Faculty Consultant and Nomination Procedure:

The student peruses the Faculty Details page and makes a selection.
The student completes the Faculty Project Consultant Nomination Form 107 (Forms).
Student Services provides the nominated faculty member with Form 107.
The selected faculty member notifies Student Services of acceptance of student nomination.
Student Services informs the student and faculty member of relationship approval and contact information is provided.

Option B: Students are at liberty to select a Project Consultant who is not on the faculty of the Foundation. In that event, the Project Consultant must hold a comparable degree to that being pursued by the student. The student must nominate the Project Consultant by submitting a letter of nomination to the Foundation along with a C.V. of the nominee. The student is notified upon approval of the Project Consultant by the Academic Affairs Committee. The Project Consultant must give final approval of the student’s work by submitting the Project Consultant’s Report Form. The assessment from the Project Consultant is due by February 1 of the intended year of graduation. Master’s Project The M.S.M. project may take the form of a recital or lecture-recital, a choral/instrumental performance, the writing of a traditional thesis, the composition and performance of an original work or set of works, or the development of an in-ministry activity based on the student’s particular area of interest and context need. The concept and format of the project can adhere to one of three distinct project formats as delineated below. The final draft of the project must be submitted to the Foundation by February 1 prior to graduation. 68 Graduate Theological Foundation Academic Project: The M.S.M. project in its final form, if a thesis style, must be 25,000-30,000 words (100-120 pages) in length and must have a table of contents as well as a bibliography of a minimum of 35 sources. It is also recommended that the project have annotations for the 10-12 most important sources for the project.

Performance Project: Recording or video of recital, lecture-recital, the composition of an original work or set of works, or conducting performance.

Administrative / Ministerial Project: The project should reflect the student’s particular interests and/or context needs, such as the teaching of a series of classes on hymnody, the development and execution of a series of workshops, etc. The project must include a written component and may include recordings or video if applicable.

Graduation Requirements

Viewing of the Foundation's instructional Orientation video.
Completion of four Units of Study at any approved educational institution.
Submission of four response papers of 1,750-2,500 words (7-10 pages) on topics related to the units completed.
Completion of the M.S.M. project and submission of one copy including the Project Consultant’s evaluation forms. All academic requirements must be met by February 1 prior to graduation.
Attendance at the Convocation/Graduation. (Non-US residents are exempt from this requirement.)

Professional Associations in Sacred Music

American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
The American Guild of Organists (AGO)
Association of Canadian Choral Conductors (ACCC)
Church Music Association of America
The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada
National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM)
Royal School of Church Music (RSCM)
Royal School of Church Music in America
Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO)
Royal College of Organists (RCO)