Placement Exams
All students beginning graduate studies in Music Composition are required to take placement examinations in order to determine that their academic preparation in Music is sufficient. See Admissions: Newly Admitted for details.
Music (M.Mus.): Composition (Thesis)
Offered by: Music (Schulich School of Music)
Degree: Master of Music
Program credit weight: 45
Program Description
The M.Mus. in Music; Composition focuses on the development of individual voices through private instruction with some of Canada's most accomplished composers, all of whom have distinguished themselves through high-profile commissions, performances, recordings, and awards. The faculty members' diverse interests ensures a suitable mentor/supervisor.
Students admitted to the M.Mus. in Music; Composition program who have undergraduate degrees other than the B.Mus.; Major in Composition from McGill University, may be required to successfully complete one or more undergraduate course(s) before completion of the Master's program.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please refer to Visual Schedule Builder. A technical issue is causing the "Terms offered" field to incorrectly report "this course is not currently offered" for many courses in the Course Catalogue.
Required Courses (33 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUCO 622D1 | Composition Tutorial. | 3 |
Composition Tutorial. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Individualized guided composition research on an approved topic. | ||
| MUCO 622D2 | Composition Tutorial. | 3 |
Composition Tutorial. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Individualized guided composition research on an approved topic. | ||
Thesis
The thesis is a composition, accompanied by an analytical essay of approximately 20-30 pages.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUGS 684 | Master's Thesis Research 2. | 6 |
Master's Thesis Research 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor. | ||
| MUGS 685 | Master's Thesis Research 3. | 9 |
Master's Thesis Research 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor. | ||
| MUGS 686 | Master's Thesis Research 4. | 12 |
Master's Thesis Research 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor. | ||
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
6 credits from the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUCO 631 | Seminar in Composition 1. | 3 |
Seminar in Composition 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar in composition. Topic varies by year. | ||
| MUCO 632 | Seminar in Composition 2. | 3 |
Seminar in Composition 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar in composition. Topic varies by year. | ||
| MUCO 633 | Seminar in Composition 3. | 3 |
Seminar in Composition 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar in composition. Topic varies by year. | ||
| MUCO 634 | Seminar in Composition 4. | 3 |
Seminar in Composition 4. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar in composition. Topic varies by year. | ||
| MUCO 635 | Seminar in Composition 5. | 3 |
Seminar in Composition 5. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar in composition. Topic varies by year. | ||
| MUCO 636 | Seminar in Composition 6. | 3 |
Seminar in Composition 6. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Seminar in composition. Topic varies by year. | ||
6 credits of seminars, at the 600 level or higher, approved by the Schulich School of Music.
