Degree requirements

Required Core (6 credit hours)
MTC 523 Advanced Composition (6)

Concentration (18 credit hours)
Arts, Media and Engineering coursework (9)
Music Theory and Music History (9)

Electives (2 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (6 credit hours)
AME or MTC 599 Thesis (6) or
MTC 593 Applied Project (6 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.

Additional information on degree requirements for all graduate music programs may be found on the check sheets at 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 if they have earned a U.S. bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree from an institution in another country and officially recognized by that country.

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

All applicants must submit:

1. graduate admission application and application fee: https://admission.asu.edu/graduate
2. School of Music, Dance and Theatre application, including a resume and personal statement: https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/admissions/music/graduate-steps-to-apply
3. official transcripts
4. prescreening portfolio
5. three letters of recommendation
6. 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.

Although a bachelor's degree in music is not required to be eligible for admission, applicants who do not hold an undergraduate degree in music may wish to take foundational courses in music theory and history as recommended by their advisor.

Students should see the program website for application deadlines. After the School of Music, Dance and Theatre receives the complete application (this includes recommendation letters, transcripts and English proficiency requirements) and it is reviewed by the department, the applicant may be invited for an interview. Information about the interview may be found at https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/degree-programs/music/graduate.