Masters Degree

The Second Language Teaching MA uniquely prepares students with second language teaching skills, which are based on sound teaching theories that build on and go beyond the scientific study of language. It assists second- and foreign-language teachers in improving their professional qualifications in second language pedagogy, research, and assessment. This program may serve as either a terminal M.A. program or a springboard to a Ph.D.

The Religious Education MA program is open only to full-time teachers in the LDS Church Seminaries and Institutes System (S&I) who have at least one year of employment in the system. The degree is designed to provide advanced preparation for teaching in the LDS Church Seminaries and Institutes System. The core curriculum focuses primarily on six areas of study: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Latter-day Saint history, and the teaching of religion and scripture.

The full-time MPA program is designed to provide an understanding of the essential body of knowledge and to develop the basic skills needed for professional management. Such essentials include quantitative analysis, managerial economics, organizational behavior, strategy, human resource management, accounting, budget and finance, ethics, and communication. These skills are taught through practical class and field experiences, case studies, formal and computer simulations, and special workshops and seminars. Second-year courses are designed around an individual’s desired sector and skill areas. Sectors include local government, state and federal government, and nonprofit. Skills include resource development, program management, and finance. By selecting a sector and a skill area, students are uniquely prepared for a career where they can effectively administer in government and nonprofit programs.

Application Deadlines Fall: Jan 15

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a masters degree in Physics, with a broad range of possible specialty areas including astronomy, acoustics, physics education, atomic physics, condensed matter physics, optics, bio-physics, computational physics and others. Masters students take courses related to their area of focus and perform original research culminating in a written thesis. Tuition, insurance and stipend are typically provided to each student for 2 – 3 years. See https://physics.byu.edu/graduate for more details.

The application deadline for full consideration in the program is January 15 of each year. Applications may be submitted past this deadline but will only be reviewed after the on-time applications have been completed.

The master of music degree is offered with specializations in Composition, Conducting, Music Education, and Performance.

MM in Composition. The purpose of this specialization is to produce graduates who are prepared to make a significant contribution to the art form, either as composers or as teachers and scholars in composition and theory, and to provide aesthetic enrichment to both the composer and listener.
MM in Conducting. Students develop advanced, personal conducting skills and techniques that are precise and suited to a variety of musical needs. Students will focus on band, choral, or orchestral conducting.
MM in Music Education. This program is for those with an undergraduate degree in Music Education who wish to pursue further academic study as a means to develop professionally. The culminating project is the completion of a professional improvement project.
MM in Performance. The intent of the specialization is to prepare students with outstanding performance potential to be competitive in performance and teaching careers and to be advocates for the arts in their communities.

The master of arts degree is offered with specializations in Music Education and Musicology

MA in Music Education. We ask all interested applicants to initially apply for the MM in Music Education degree (see application requirements for the MM in Music Education degree). Once accepted, students will take Music 501 Research in Music Education and Music 698A Introduction to the Professional Improvement Project in their first semester of coursework. After successfully completing those initial courses students may opt to switch to the MA in Music Education degree (with approval of the Music Education faculty) or continue in the MM in Music Education degree.

MA in Musicology. This program prepares students to be teachers and scholars who will promote musical understanding and appreciation for the arts. Students are expected to add to the body of historical and analytical publication that has increased understanding of the history, practice, sociology, and aesthetics of the cultural heritage of Western (and to a lesser degree non-Western) music. This effort should also increase awareness of cultural and historical diversity represented in concert programs and recordings.

An MS in Microbiology and Molecular Biology prepares the students for a wide variety of employment experiences in the industry. Employment opportunities in research may also be available to qualified MS graduates. Typically starting salaries are slightly higher than those for BS graduates. The MS degree is designed to give the student a solid foundation in Microbiology and Molecular Biology principles and a strong research experience.

The purpose of the MS program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to provide a world-class education to students pursuing a master’s degree, in an atmosphere enlightened by the principles of the gospel.

MS students study mathematics courses in preparation for careers in business, industry, government, or education. Other students use a master’s degree in mathematics in preparation for a doctoral degree in mathematics or a closely related discipline or a discipline where technical competence is appreciated. Master’s students graduate in an average of two years.

The marriage and family therapy program offers the Master of Science degree as a two-year program. The purpose of this degree is to prepare graduate students to engage in marriage and family therapy practice in the areas of: (a) theoretical competence, (b) clinical competence, and (c) research competence, with an understanding of multicultural diversity. More specifically, at the end of their program students will (a) be able to pass the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB) National Licensing Exam, (b) be effective clinicians and employable as interns, and (c) be able to meet the academic and clinical requirements for the associate/intern MFT license in Utah. Our intent is to prepare the students to function in a wide variety of MFT settings. The curriculum is based on state licensure/certification requirements and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

The MS degree in MFHD provides students with a broad-based understanding in family sciences and human development. For some the MS is a terminal graduate degree that enhances professional opportunities. For other students this degree is designed to prepare them for doctoral study.

Application Deadlines Fall: Jan 10

This program is designed to give students a solid foundation in Manufacturing Engineering principles with greater depth in a specified area of research, while also developing skills in analytical thinking, creativity, problem solving, leadership, teamwork, management, and professionalism.

Graduates are prepared for a variety of employment experiences in industry, ranging from process design and management to research and development. For those interested in pursuing a PhD, a MS in Manufacturing Engineering strengthens application criteria and meaningfully enhances the PhD experience through coursework, research publications, and preparation for qualification exams.