Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the PhD in Composition, applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. 1. Hold a Bachelor’s degree in music from an accredited institution.

   1. Exceptions are rare and require the applicant to seek an Exception to Graduate Admission Policy. Please email admissions@music.utah.edu for more information
2. 2. Have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all previous collegiate work.

3. 3. International applicants must meet university English proficiency requirements. The School of Music requires higher scores on the TOEFL and IELTS exams.

   1. TOEFL: 85 composite score, with a minimum score of 20 in each category
   2. IELTS: 6.5 band score, with a minimum of 6.0 in each category.

Applying

Complete the following steps to apply to the MM:

1. 1. Submit the online Graduate Admissions application. As part of this application MM applicants need to upload:

   1. Transcripts of course work from all schools attended.
   2. Three letters of recommendation from professors, employers, and/or other professionals qualified to judge the applicants ability to successfully complete doctoral studies.
   3. Statement of Purpose, including future goals.
   4. Current CV or resume.
   5. Two to four scores in different genres.

Note: Applicants audition and application will be reviewed by a committee of faculty members within the composition area.

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Required Courses

Academic Courses

A total of 11 hours is required

Bibliography

Musicology

Choose one or two courses from the following, no more than one of which may be at the 6xxx-level:

Music Theory

Choose three from the following:

Area of Specialization

 

Language Requirement

Before the commencement of the thesis, students must demonstrate "Standard proficiency" in any of the modern languages offered by the Department of World Languages and Cultures at the University of Utah. The language must be chosen in consultation with the advisory committee and utilized in the research. Standard Proficiency assumes a reading-comprehension level expected of a student who has completed one year of college foreign-language instruction (1020) or the equivalent. Students may verify standard Proficiency through language Classes or a language test. The Graduate Language Requirement is waived if a student speaks English as a second language. Find detailed information on how to fulfill the Ph.D. language requirements.

Residency Requirement

At least two consecutive semesters (Fall-Spring or Spring-Fall) must be spent in full-time academic work at the University of Utah. Summer semester does not count for this purpose.

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Graduate Placement Exams

Placement examinations in Music History and Music Theory are taken after the student has been accepted by Graduate Admissions. Preparation materials are available on the School of Music website. Placement examinations must be taken prior to registering for Music History and Music Theory courses.

Results of graduate placement exams determine placement in graduate courses and identify areas in which remedial work may be necessary. Students are encouraged to study diligently for these examinations. Poor performance could result in the student being required to take a considerable number of remedial courses. Students recommended for remedial courses must earn a B- or better in recommended courses before advancing to a higher-level course.

Music History

The graduate Music History diagnostic examination covers the breadth of Western art music from the medieval period to the present through a variety of questions evaluating the students knowledge of important composers, works, terms, and concepts.

Music Theory

The graduate Music Theory placement examination assesses the students competence in harmony, voice leading, counterpoint, form, and instrumentation.

Qualifying Examinations

Written qualifying examinations are required of each PhD student. An examination, or parts of an examination, may be repeated only once and only at the discretion of the Supervisory Committee. The qualifying exam must be passed before a student can register for the Thesis.

Prior to taking the qualifying examination the student must have completed all course work in the subject area of the exam and no incompletes may be outstanding. The student must be enrolled in at least one credit hour during the semester of the examination. Summer administration of the examinations is allowed if approved through an Exception to Policy. 

The PhD in Composition qualifying examination will consist of examinations in music theory and music history. The examinations will be compiled by the Music Theory and Musicology Area Heads.

Appointment of Supervisory Committee

Members of the Supervisory Committee consult with the student in planning their degree program, research, and thesis; they also administer the thesis defense. It is the responsibility of the student to approach faculty to request that they serve on the Supervisory Committee. Students should submit the Request for Supervisory Committee form to the Academic Coordinator. The Graduate Studies Committee votes on and approves Supervisory Committees.

The thesis supervisor serves as the Chair of the Supervisory Committee. MM Supervisory Committees consist of three faculty members, the majority of whom must be tenure-line faculty in the School of Music. The Supervisor Committee must be chosen during the first year of study.

Thesis

The thesis consists of 1) a compositional work of major scope, and 2) a research essay that makes an original contribution to theoretical/analytical fields of music research. The candidate may not begin the thesis until all other requirements for the degree have been met and the Supervisory Committee has given approval for work to begin on the composition and the essay. There are rare instances when the Supervisory Committee will consider approving the commencement of the thesis in limited advance of the completion of some non-course related requirements. This exception is subject to the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee.

Thesis Defense

Upon completion of the thesis, each student must successfully complete an oral defense before the Supervisory Committee. A copy of the thesis must be distributed to the Supervisory Committee at least three weeks prior to the defense; the thesis advisor must approve the thesis prior to distribution. Thesis defenses must be held in a neutral location and are open to the public.

All defenses must be held before the last day of classes in the Fall and Spring semesters. Defenses are not to be held during Final Exam or Reading Days or during Summer semester.