Music Engineering at the University of Miami

The Music Engineering Technology program at the University of Miami encapsulates a multidisciplinary undergraduate Bachelor of Music degree within a more traditional music school setting. The program also offers a Master of Science degree for students with undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering or computer science. The program’s graduates have continued musical and technical pursuits in both industry and academia. Recent major equipment acquisitions and partnerships with industrial collaborators have positioned our program to expand its educational and research stature. 1 History and Overview The University of Miami was the first university to offer a four-year undergraduate curriculum in Music Engineering Technology (MUE) culminating in a Bachelor of Music degree, and it was the first university to offer a two-year graduate curriculum culminating in a Master of Science degree in Music Engineering Technology. Today, the Music Engineering Technology program in the School of Music ranks among the University of Miami’s most prestigious programs. After research into appropriate curricula by Ted Crager, Associate Dean of the School of Music, who determined that a minor degree in Electrical Engineering was appropriate, the undergraduate degree program was first offered in 1975. Then as now, the undergraduate program was intended for musicians who wish to pursue careers in technology. The program has meet the guidelines of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since its inception and indeed set the NASM standard for music engineering technology studies. Majors are enrolled in music lessons and performing ensembles during their four-year study, complete four levels of music theory, and enroll in a strong complement of other music courses. In other words, their specialization in technology areas does not shortchange traditional music studies. Inaugural program director Bill Porter, a preeminent recording engineer, emphasized recording studio skills, and most early graduates pursued careers as recording engineers. The second program director, John Woram, editor of dB Magazine and author, expanded the program’s scope to include professional audio; in addition to employment in recording studios, many graduates pursued careers with audio manufacturers. The MUE program was founded on the premise that it would teach recording technology. With the creation of many similar academic programs also focused on recording technology and the strong demand for audio engineers with more rigorous technical skills, the program expanded its curriculum. The third program director, Ken Pohlmann, thus further emphasized studies in electrical engineering and computer science; career options as hardware and software audio engineers became available. A Master of Science degree was founded in 1986. A minor in Computer Science was added in 1997, and in 2002, this option was modified to provide a double major in Computer Science. Current degree offerings solidify the engineering content in its curriculum while maintaining expertise in contemporary recording skills. Approximately 80 undergraduates each year from the United States and overseas combine the study of music, music engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science in a unique interdisciplinary program. The undergraduate program requires proficiency on a musical instrument or voice and development of performance skills. In addition, students learn engineering theory and practice associated with today’s music and audio industries. The result is a Bachelor of Music degree with either a minor in electrical engineering or a double major in computer science. Approximately ten graduate students from the United States and overseas pursue a Master of Science MUE degree each year. These students must have completed Bachelor of Science degrees in either electrical engineering or computer science to be considered for admission. Their curriculum combines studies in music engineering, sound synthesis, and psychoacoustics with graduate courses in electrical engineering and computer science. No music performance proficiency is required, and music performance studies are not required. This degree program meets the general NASM requirements for a Master of Science degree in music. This program is primarily designed for engineering students who seek careers in digital signal processing and audio software design. International students from China, France, Great Britain, Canada, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, Germany, Austria and other countries have enrolled in the program. The MUE program has experimented with Internet2 and expects to develop distance-learning capability in the future. International applicants must score satisfactorily on the TOEFL and meet other admission requirements established by the University of Miami Office of International Admissions.