Honours Information for 2013

Honours students in programs (Performance, Composition, Musicology and Music Education) will enrol in their fourth year of undergraduate study in four 12 credit point units: Honours A, Honours B (usually semester 1), and Honours C, Honours D (semester 2). The content of these honours units varies according to the specialisation undertaken (see enrolment patterns below).

An Honours year can be a very satisfying addition to your degree, an opening to a world of further academic study, such as a PhD and a career in academia, or it can help you develop an area of expertise that could lead to a chosen career path.

Entry to Honours

To be eligible for admission to Honours in Performance, Composition and Musicology, students will normally have achieved a credit average in all academic units, plus a distinction average in their second and third year Principal Study units. A further prerequisite for entry to Honours is a credit result in MCGY4601 Research Methods.

To be eligible for admission to the Honours program, students will have completed 96 credit points of study, with a WAM of at least 65 in second year units of study and an average of at least 75 in Music Education and Education units, and a demonstration of a proven capacity to write extended essays of quality.

In addition to the above requirements, prospective candidates will need to submit a 500 word proposal outlining the aims of their research, including the relevance of the research question, references to supporting literature and possible ethical considerations. These proposals will be assessed by a committee for the written quality of the work and viability of the research questions.

Entry to Bachelor of Music Studies (Honours)

To qualify to enrol as a Bachelor of Music Studies (Honours) candidate, a student must have qualified for the award of the pass degree of Bachelor of Music Studies from the University of Sydney or comparable three-year degree from another tertiary institution, and have achieved a credit average in years two and three of the pass degree program with a distinction average in Principal Study or area of specialisation in years two and three.

Candidates must also have written permission of the relevant Unit Chair and/or honours coordinator, and submit an honours proposal in the semester before they intend to enrol in the honours year, and have prepared an audition and/or attended an interview.

Application Procedures

1. Interested students should start by discussing their potential project with the Chair of Unit, teachers and/or supervisors
2. Check with Student Admin regarding your eligibility. Contact Cedric Poon (Manager, Student Admin)
   T +61 2 9351 1239
   E
3. Prepare a 500 word minimum Honours proposal
4. Fill in and submit the Honours Application form by Friday 9 November 2012

Award of the Honours Degree

1. The honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the rules specified in the Resolutions of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and a single result is provided as an aggregated mark based on the Honours units of study the student has completed.
2. A candidate who does not meet the requirements for the award of honours and who otherwise has completed the requirements of the Bachelor of Music (Performance) shall graduate with the pass degree.
3. A student with an honours mark of 90 or above may be awarded a university medal. The medal is awarded at the discretion of the faculty to the highest achieving students who in the opinion of the faculty have an outstanding academic record, in accordance with the Coursework Rule.

Enrolment and Content

Performance Honours

All Performance Honours students enrol in the following units of study:

Classes

• One two hour Dissertation Seminar per week in semester 7
• 12 hours of supervision and 24 hours of instrumental lessons across two semesters including performance workshops
• Participation across two semesters in either ensemble, orchestral, vocal diction or chamber music studies as appropriate
• A further unit of free choice for non-orchestral instruments

Assessment

• A concerto-style or equivalent performance (up to 25 mins or 40mins for jazz students) (20%) Honours public recital of 45-50 minutes (30%)
• Critical notes (2,000-2,500 words) (10%)
• 8,000 -10,000 word thesis including Dissertation Seminar (30%)
• Participation in ensemble/performance classes including free choice electives (10%)

Performance Structure

Composition Honours

All composition honours students enrol in the following units of study:

Classes

• One two hour Dissertation Seminar per week in semester 7
• Weekly supervision across both semesters
• CMPN4666 Advanced Analysis
• A further unit of free choice

Assessment

• Submission of a composition portfolio (50%)
• 8,000 to 10,000 word thesis including Dissertation Seminar (30%)
• 12 credit points equivalent in approved units of study (20%)

Composition Structure

Musicology Honours

All musicology honours students enrol in the following units of study:

Classes

• One two hour Dissertation Seminar per week in semester 1
• Weekly supervision across both semesters
• 2hr Musicology Workshop in semesters 1 and 2
• Weekly seminar classes as required for 12 further credit points in advanced analysis and history units of study or other advanced units as approved by the Coordinator

Assessment

• Submission of a written thesis of 15,000 to 18,000 words and a 40-minute public presentation of a paper based on the thesis (60%)
• Musicology Workshop and Dissertation Seminar (20%)
• 12 credit points equivalent in advanced analysis and history units of study or other advanced unit as approved by the Coordinator (20%)

Musicology Structure

Music Education Honours

All music education honours students enrol in the following units of study:

* mandated requirement for the degree, a non-honours unit

Classes

• 2 hour seminar for both MUED3629 and MUED3630
• Weekly supervision across semesters 7 and 8
• Weekly seminar classes as required for 24 cps in designated music education seminars

Assessment

• Oral presentation of research findings and thesis 12,000-15,000 words (46%)
• Music education seminar assessments (54%)

Music Education Structure

Music Studies Honours

All Music Studies honours students enrol in the following units of study:

Classes

• One 2-hour Dissertation Seminar per week in Semester 1,
• Individual lessons and/or supervision as appropriate to the student’s area of study. See Musicology, Performance or Composition (Honours) for full details

Assessment

• Is equivalent to the specialisations as above. See Musicology, Performance or Composition (Honours) for full details