音乐文学硕士学位是研究生研究学位，最终以书面论文和公开演讲（演讲或讲座/朗诵）为结尾。论文可能关注的领域包括（但不限于）音乐史，音乐理论，民族音乐学，历史表演实践，音乐技术以及将音乐与其他领域相关的跨学科学科。该课程面向对学术研究有浓厚兴趣的学生，不应视为表演音乐硕士学位的替代品。这样做的好处包括为西方学习后的研究生学习做好了更充分的准备，并为将来的教学职位提供了更多样化的课程。音乐学硕士学位主要是作为5年加速学位课程的一部分，与音乐学士学位相结合，但也可以作为独立的2年研究生学位来完成。
The Master of Arts degree is a graduate research degree culminating in a written thesis and public presentation. Examples of areas of focus can be music history, music theory, ethnomusicology, historical performance practice, or music technology. Interdisciplinary collaboration with subjects related to music is encouraged. The MA may be completed as a stand-alone, two-year masters degree or as part of a 5-year accelerated degree program combined with a bachelor's (BA in Music, BM, BMA, or BS in Multimedia Arts and Technology) degree.<br>While all MA theses must involve a written document of original research and some type of public presentation, there are four options to allow for flexibility in a student's course of study: A) a substantial written thesis with a public lecture presenting some portion of the written thesis, B) an extended composition for instrumental, vocal, and/or computer-implemented media and a significant essay dealing with some aspect of music related to the composition, one or both of which must be presented in a public recital or lecture, C) a full-length lecture recital with accompanying program notes and a significant essay dealing with some aspect of music related to the recital, or D) a substantial creative project (e.g., multimedia project, computer program, recording, or website) and a significant essay dealing with some aspect of music related to the project, one or both of which must be presented in a public lecture.