Master of Music in Conducting FAQ's

For whom is the program designed?

Messiah College’s Master of Music in Conducting program is designed for:

• Those who have graduated from an accredited undergraduate institution with a degree in music;
• Current professional teachers, who wish to obtain a master’s degree to further their studies, refine their teaching skills and enhance their effectiveness as musicians, teachers and conductors;  
• Teachers who wish to acquire Act 48 credits without pursuing a graduate degree; [Act 48 credit can be given for any college class whether or not it is part of a degree program.]
• Those who already have a post-baccalaureate degree but want to acquire specific skills in certain areas of pedagogy without pursuing an additional graduate degree.

How do I determine which track is best for me?

The degree allows candidates to pursue three tracks:  wind conducting, orchestral conducting, or choral conducting to accommodate teachers from different areas within the teaching profession. If you are a graduate candidate pursuing a degree, you should choose the track which best fits your professional situation and career goals. If you are taking graduate courses for enrichment purposes (and not towards a degree), you may elect to take a mixture of classes that suits your needs and preferences. 

How/when will I be notified of my acceptance into the program?

Once your file is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. The Graduate Coordinator in Music, Dr. Bradley Genevro, will contact you personally regarding acceptance and/or any other issues surrounding the application process. The processing of applications typically requires between two –four weeks. 

What is the cost of the program?

• Tuition for the master’s in conducting program is $536 per credit hour.  
• Please visit our tuition page for more details.

Is financial aid available for graduate students at Messiah College?

Yes; in addition to the deferred billing for employer reimbursement option, there are two federal loan programs available through our Financial Aid Office.  Click here for more details.

Do I have to declare an intended timeline for completion of program when I apply? 

In consultation with your academic advisor, you will develop a degree plan which will outline a sequence of study for your degree. Messiah’s graduate program was designed specifically to help make it accessible to those who have full-time employment and family responsibilities. The degree plan you develop with your advisor will help you set goals for completion, but can be altered at any time to fit your changing needs or circumstances. 

How long do I have to complete the degree? 

The College has developed the program with a six-year limitation on completion of the degree (30 credits). However, it is possible to file for an extension in light of extenuating circumstances.

May I transfer course credits into Messiah’s graduate program?

Yes.  Up to twenty percent of the total number of credits required for the degree may be accepted as transfer credits provided that the credits were:

• taken at an accredited college or university;
• completed at the graduate level;
• earned with the minimum grade of “B;”
• taken within the last seven years;
• not among those that must be taken at Messiah.

For the master of music in conducting, the following courses must be taken at Messiah College and may not be counted as incoming transfer credits;

• MUAP 501-503  Applied Conducting Lessons
• MUAP 504  Advanced Conducting Project

Who teaches Messiah’s graduate courses in conducting?

• All of the courses, whether online or in the classroom are taught by experienced Messiah College faculty from the Department of Music.
• Visit our Faculty Profile Page to learn more about the individual professors.

What will the intensive one-week summer course be like?

Classes will typically meet approximately eight hours per day with a mixture of lecture, discussion, group work, videos, and applied exercises. 

Is housing available for students during the intensive one-week summer classes?

Yes, students may either apply to stay on campus in Messiah’s residence halls during their summer residency or choose to stay off campus in local hotels. 

 Is there free parking on campus? Places to eat?

Graduate students may obtain a commuter student parking permit free of charge. In order to obtain the permit, students need to register their vehicles at the Card Services/Vehicle Registration Office on the second floor of the Eisenhower Campus Center (#12 on the campus parking map), open between 8:00AM-4:00PM. Students should be sure to inform the Department of Safety staff that they are graduate students. Once the paperwork is complete, they will be issued a commuter parking permit and be able to park in the Starry Field Parking Lot, designated in yellow at the bottom right corner of the campus parking map. After 5:00PM, students with commuter permits may park in the lot around Murray Library (#26 on the campus parking map), but must remove their vehicles from this area by the time the library closes in the evening. Commuter parking permits are valid from July 1 - June 30.

Graduate students attending the one-week intensive summer course are permitted to park on campus without obtaining a parking sticker/hang tag. Students should not park in designated employee parking areas or in areas specifically marked for service vehicles. Students may park behind Boyer Hall, in the spaces running parallel to the railroad tracks, or in the Starry Field Parking Lot. These areas are designated in yellow on the summer campus parking map. Graduate students attending the one-week intensive courses in January must obtain a parking permit as described above.

Students who are on campus for the day may pick up a day pass from the Dispatch Office located in the Eisenhower Campus Center (#12 on the campus parking map).

Any questions concerning Parking can be directed to Amy Lynne Davis at aldavis@messiah.edu or 717-691-6005, ext. 7147.

Messiah’s campus offers students a variety of dining options ranging from a full dining room to more informal snack shop and café venues.

What are the online courses like?

Messiah's online courses are conducted as a personal, interactive learning community. Interaction among students and faculty is foundational to all courses taken at Messiah, and communication and facilitation of class assignments between you, the professor, and other students will take place through an online learning management system (LMS) called Sakai.

Specific procedures will vary depending on the individual course, and will be communicated to you and your classmates by the faculty member facilitating the online course. For example, some classes may require you to engage in synchronous (live) online communication for the course, but this would be outlined in advance in the course syllabus.

The method of delivering tests and exams will vary from course to course, but many will be administered electronically through Sakai. Online courses will have the same letter grading scale as traditional classroom courses; and the specific grading criteria for each course will be outlined in the course syllabus.

Visit our demonstration of the Sakai online classroom.