MA in Music
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Taught Masters
- Code
- F32
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Made up of
- 180 credit points
Description
This degree is for those who want to develop their research and analytical skills and upgrade their qualifications. It will suit anyone with appropriate entry qualifications who has a passion for music and is looking for an intellectual challenge.
Planning your studies
You should normally hold an honours degree or its equivalent to be accepted for the MA in Music programme. Your degree need not be in music but you must have the basic skills expected of a graduate in that area. The foundation course will bring you up to date with the latest ideas and approaches in the subject, but does not offer remedial undergraduate training for those who have an inappropriate bachelors degree and inadequate experience. Before you embark on the dissertation to complete your MA in Music you would be expected to demonstrate skills and knowledge learned on the postgraduate foundation and subject courses and must be able to:
- write clear, concise, grammatically correct and accurately spelt prose
- read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically
- classify evidence precisely and assess its value and reliability
- argue logically, consistently and sceptically
- marshal various sorts of evidence to support a logical argument.
If you are in any doubt about whether you possess these skills, you should consider taking one or two of our undergraduate Level 2 or Level 3 music courses first. If you want help to assess your preparedness please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You must commence your studies towards the MA in Music with the postgraduate foundation course in music and your final course must be the music dissertation.
You must normally complete the required credit for this award within ten years.
You must include at least 60 credit points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU qualification you have been awarded.
Career relevance and employability
If you wish to pursue a career in academia or research, this qualification will provide a route towards a higher level research degree (e.g. Ph.D.), which is an essential prerequisite for such a career. A masters degree can help to enhance your career prospects as a teacher in secondary and higher education. If your aim is to enter professions associated with the media, culture or knowledge industries, or if you already have a career in one of these areas and are seeking a further qualification as a means of career development, then a masters degree, supplemented by relevant skills and experience, can be useful.
For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.
Courses
For this masters degree you require:
180 points from the following compulsory courses:
| Postgraduate compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Jan 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already successfully completed some relevant postgraduate level study in music at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study which you can count towards the MA in Music.
Credit transfer can be awarded towards the subject course of the MA in Music, or if you have successfully completed the Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM) at the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) (awarded from 2000 onwards), then this can exempt you from studying either the subject course, Performances and repertories (A871), or the dissertation course, A877. Credit transfer cannot be awarded towards the foundation course, A870.
You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Credit transfer details for this qualification:
On completion
On successful completion of 180 points' worth of required courses you will be awarded the Master of Arts in Music, entitling you to use the letters MA (Mus) (Open) after your name. You will have the option of being presented at a degree ceremony.
If you leave the programme before you qualify for the MA in Music, you can qualify for a Postgraduate Certificate in Music (C38) after successfully completing Postgraduate foundation module in music (A870) or a Postgraduate Diploma in Music (E01) with Postgraduate foundation module in music (A870) and Performances and repertories (A871).
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- General Award Regulations
- MA in Music
- Schedule B to the Award Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
A postgraduate qualification in Arts and Humanities.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
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Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
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