Master of Arts in Music (Composition)

at University of New Hampshire - Durham Campus USA

The geography major provides undergraduates with a solid foundation in geography by uniting social and biophysical sciences, humanities and technology to examine the factors that make a place or environment unique. Connecting academic inquiry to real-world problem solving, you will develop critical thinking skills and be prepared to transfer classroom and field experience into a wide range of careers. 

With interests ranging from globalization to climate change and sustainability, urbanization to community development at home and abroad, UNH geography graduates have gone on to careers in urban, regional and transportation planning, community development, environmental conservation and natural resources management, sustainability science, geographic information science, market research, locational analysis, population studies, foreign aid, international diplomacy and education. 

The undergraduate major in French offered by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures is centered on the study of the French language and the literatures and cultures of France and the French-speaking world. Students who complete the requirements for the major can expect to become proficient in French at a level that would allow them to communicate with native speakers, to develop an in-depth critical appreciation of French and Francophone cultures and literatures, and to be culturally sensitive members of society.

The program offers courses devoted to authors, works, and literary and cultural movements that span ten centuries and four continents. The curriculum also includes interdisciplinary courses on relations between literature and other areas of study such as history, law, religion, politics and the arts. All courses are conducted in French, and majors are expected to write papers and examinations in that language.

French can be taken either as a primary major or as one of two majors, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Appropriate majors to combine with French might include, but are not limited to, international affairs, political science, English, education, film and media studies, history, music, philosophy, theater studies, women’s studies, business and communication.

The French major may interest students desiring a general humanistic education based on the language and literature of the French-speaking world; students planning to teach French at the elementary or secondary level; students who intend to pursue graduate work in preparation for teaching and research at the college level; and students preparing for careers in such areas as international law, business, journalism, international organizations, and public or government service, which require both training in a major foreign language and/or a general background in a humanistic discipline.

The Latin and Latin Teaching (LLT) option is designed to provide a good foundational liberal arts education centered on Latin and the Roman world, but it also includes specific elements that make it particularly appropriate for students who are considering careers teaching Latin in secondary schools after graduation. This option does not lead directly to state certification, which can be pursued during a fifth year of study in the Department of Education.

The M.A. in music with a conducting option offers both a broad knowledge of music and the opportunity for in-depth study of either instrumental or choral conducting. This master’s program offers graduate musical training and mastery of music history, theory and education, culminating in a conducting recital and/or significant performances with one of the major university orchestral, instrumental or vocal ensembles.

The M.S. in Genetics is an interdisciplinary program made up of faculty from multiple departments and from the Hubbard Center for Genome Studies. The Genetics Program integrates disciplines ranging from molecular and cellular biology to environmental and evolutionary genetics and genomics in microbial, plant, and animal systems. Graduates of the program are equipped for successful careers in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, academic and government research laboratories, and are prepared for doctoral programs, medical school, and health-related professional programs.

The Integrative and Organismal Biology (IOB) option offers a home to students interested in basic organismal biology in all of its diverse aspects (physiology, neurobiology, behavior, cell biology, genetics, evolution, ecology, systematics, etc.), in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Modern biology employs approaches and tools ranging from molecular to ecological levels to gain a deep understanding of organismal functions and adaptations. Students in IOB approach their studies with a focus on organisms, and apply whatever tools are necessary to answer thematic and specific questions. Students interested in combining hands-­on biological projects with research on teaching and learning biology at the post-­secondary level should choose this option. Students completing degrees in IOB will be prepared for a wide range of professional careers in animal and/or plant biology, whether in academia, government, research, or non­profit organizations.

This degree program prepares students for employment and/or graduate study in a variety of fields and research specializations in which mathematics plays a critical role in the solution of important scientific and technological problems.

Students who wish to specialize in any of the various areas of English language and linguistics may design an M.A. program to meet their interests. Specialties include applied linguistics and the teaching of English as a second language as well as the traditional subfields of linguistics. Psycholinguistics courses are offered through the psychology department.

If you’re interested in teaching music in a K-12 setting, our music education degree will start you down the path toward certification. Students demonstrating musical skill and a firm commitment to leading school students to artistic success may qualify for the program. You’ll study music history, theory, analysis and performance, as well as teaching methods and human development. You’ll be able to select an emphasis in vocal or instrumental music. With a degree in music education, you’ll be qualified for your New Hampshire teacher certification in music for grades K-12, which also is accepted in several other states.

The master of arts in composition option offers the opportunity for in-depth study of music composition. Some graduates of the program will go on to earn a doctoral degree in composition or music theory, while others will seek careers as film and theater composers, sound designers, teachers, and freelance writers. The program is responsive to the individual ambitions of its students to prepare them for their professional careers in the best way possible.