College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) offers advanced degrees designed to build professional success in a variety of organizational settings. A Master's degree from Rider will provide real-world learning opportunities resulting in a unique and enriching educational experience.
Graduate Programs in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Graduate Programs in Westminster Choir College
Graduate Programs in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Applied Psychology M.A.
The M.A. in Applied Psychology: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) prepares students to excel in professional careers as scientist-practitioners. By challenging students to use a scientific lens when creating and evaluating clinical interventions, and to use an applied lens when designing research, this program will ensure that students are prepared to achieve success in behavior analytic employment, or to pursue further education upon completion of the program. This program is offered in person or in a hybrid modality.
Graduate Programs in Westminster Choir College
Choral Conducting M.M.
The graduate choral conducting program, generally a two-year program, trains conductors to be marketable and effective musicians. Westminster offers a balance of academic and performance opportunities. Graduate conducting majors take a core of research, literature, conducting, pedagogy and ensemble. Applied study and ensemble conducting offer each candidate the opportunity to work with the conducting faculty. Candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive oral exam before a degree is conferred. Graduate Conducting majors are admitted by audition in order to assure quality conducting experiences and contact with the graduate faculty. This program is offered in person.
Choral Pedagogy M.C.P.
The Master of Choral Pedagogy curriculum includes courses in voice science, choral rehearsal pedagogy, choral literature, and music education. It emphasizes the process of rehearsing, the psychology of learning, and educational philosophy. This program is offered online.
Music Education M.M.E.
The Master of Music Education program is for music teachers who wish to complete graduate study in three to four summers or in two academic years. Students may also combine summer and academic terms to accelerate completion. The degree is for those who hold an undergraduate degree in music education and a teaching certificate. Students do not earn teacher certification through this degree program. This program is offered in person and online.
Sacred Music M.M. or Sacred Music M.M. Practical Pedagogy Track
The graduate sacred music programs provides advanced training for church musicians from a wide variety of educational, professional, and denominational backgrounds. It is expected that applicants for these programs will bring a thorough grounding of musical knowledge and significant experience in full- or part-time music ministry. The curriculum includes general as well as specialized courses in sacred music studies, theology, history, musicology, and applied skills. Sacred Music M.M. is offered in person; the Sacred Music M.M. Practical Pedagogy Track is offered online only.
Voice Pedagogy and Performance M.M.
The voice program seeks to develop the musician by establishing a sound vocal technique and a thorough understanding of the singing voice, its literature and pedagogy. These tools are essential for the study and performance of vocal and choral literature and for training students as solo performers, professional teachers or choral conductors. Capitalizing upon undergraduate work, students continue to build and demonstrate healthy vocal technique while deepening their knowledge of voice literature and pedagogy. Students develop a strong understanding of the complex relationships between music and poetry. This program is offered in person.
Voice Pedagogy M.V.P: Classical Track or Musical Theater Track
Westminster's Master of Voice Pedagogy program is offered entirely online and is specifically designed to serve the needs of professional singers, voice teachers, school music teachers, and voice coaches who want advanced training in the art and science of voice teaching. Both tracks are offered online.
General Policies
Undergraduate Students Taking Graduate Courses
Students who are eligible to take CAS graduate courses during their senior year must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Under most circumstances, up to six credits of graduate courses may be taken as an undergraduate and would be included in the regular, full-time tuition fee. These credits may be applied to the undergraduate degree requirements, including in the calculation of undergraduate GPA. Should the student matriculate into the CAS graduate program, these credits, but not the grades, would be subsequently transferred to the graduate transcript.
Students enrolled in Rider's Accelerated B.A./M.A. in Counseling Services and Accelerated B.A./M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will be allowed to take up to 15 credits of graduate coursework during their senior year that count toward both the bachelor's and master's degrees. These credits, but not the grades, would be subsequently transferred to the graduate transcript. For students in the Accelerated B.A./M.A. in Counseling Services and Accelerated B.A./M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs earning a B.A. degree in Psychology a maximum of 6 graduate credits may be applied to their undergraduate major requirements.
Students in Westminster Choir College who have earned at least 60 credits and hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 may register for 600-level graduate WCC courses upon permission of the instructor and the Associate Dean. Undergraduate students who have earned at least 90 credits and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.8 may enroll in a 700-level graduate WCC course.
Students admitted to the Bachelor of Music Education /Master of Music Education (BM/MME) 4+1 degree program are permitted to take 600-level graduate WCC courses once they attain junior status (60 or more earned credits) and 700-level graduate WCC courses when they reach senior status (90 or more earned credits). Students must maintain an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above in order to take graduate level courses.