Degree requirements

The degree credit requirements are distributed as follows:

music education core (10 credit hours)
musicianship core (10 credit hours)
specialization (12 credit hours)

Additional Curriculum Requirements
Completion of diagnostic exams in musicology and music theory is required of all new graduate music students prior to enrollment in the ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre.

Six credit hours may be transferred from another regionally accredited graduate institution. Up to nine credit hours may be taken prior to admission.

As part of the portfolio, students also must participate in an oral review that is monitored internally by the academic unit.

Additional information about degree requirements for all graduate music programs may be found on the check sheets. https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/degree-programs/music/graduate

Admission requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a U.S. bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from an institution in another country that is officially recognized by that country.

Applicants must have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of their first bachelor's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

1. online graduate admission application and application fee
2. School of Music, Dance and Theatre application (including a resume): https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/admissions/music/graduate-steps-to-apply
3. official transcripts
4. three letters of recommendation
5. proof of English proficiency:

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency: https://admission.asu.edu/international/graduate/english-proficiency. The School of Music, Dance and Theatre does not offer conditional admission under any circumstances. In order to meet English proficiency requirements, students should have a TOEFL score of at least 550 (PBT) or 80 (iBT), or an IELTS overall band score of at least 6.5, or a Pearson Test of English score of at least 60.

A bachelor's degree in music is not required for admission to a master's program. However, all applicants without a bachelor's degree in music should contact MDTAdmissions@asu.edu for information on potential remedial courses. Remedial courses may be taken at ASU, another accredited university or a community college before or after admission to this program, but they must be completed prior to starting graduate-level course requirements in music history and music theory.

Applications are accepted until all spaces are filled and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible and should see the program website for more information about application deadlines. To ensure prompt processing of application, applicants should email MDTAdmissions@asu.edu after submitting an application.