Music Composition, MM
Composer, arts, audio, composing, electronic, theory
Expand your knowledge, advance your skill set as a music composer and work with our renowned faculty with diverse musical specialties.
The MM in music with a concentration in music composition is a comprehensive professional degree program for outstanding students of acoustic, electronic and multimedia composition. Students develop their own compositional voices and focus on their area of interest, regardless of style or aesthetics, while gaining extensive knowledge through coursework and private lessons with faculty.
Composers have multiple performance opportunities, including readings by the Symphony Orchestra and visiting ensembles, yearlong residencies with the ASU Wind Ensembles and Philharmonia Orchestra, commissions for the PRISMS contemporary music festival, and collaborations with student performers, animators, filmmakers and dancers.
The program provides extensive faculty interaction and opportunities to develop advanced skills in compositional techniques from a wide variety of styles and traditions, with emphasis on fostering students' personal approach to composition. Collaborations with music scholars, theorists, performers, educators and other composers provide students with a broad and well-rounded foundation for advanced careers in music.
- College/school:
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- Location: Tempe
32 credit hours including a thesis and a written comprehensive exam, or
32 credit hours including a thesis, a written comprehensive exam and an oral comprehensive exam, or
32 hours including a written comprehensive exam and the required applied project course (MTC 593), or
32 hours including a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam and the required applied project course (MTC 593)
The credit hour requirements for the degree are distributed as follows: composition (9 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Requirements Additional information on degree requirements for this degree is available on the curriculum check sheet located at the bottom of the school's degree page.
electives (8 credit hours)
music theory and music history (9 credit hours)
thesis or applied project (6 credit hours)
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.
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:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- School of Music, Dance and Theatre application, including a resume and personal statement
- official transcripts
- prescreening portfolio
- three letters of recommendation
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. To meet English proficiency requirements, students must have a TOEFL iBT score of at least 80; an IELTS overall band score of at least 6.5; or a Pearson Test of English score of at least 60.
The School of Music, Dance and Theatre does not offer conditional admission under any circumstances.
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.
Applicants should see the program website for application deadlines. After receipt of complete application materials, including recommendation letters, transcripts and English proficiency, and review of prescreening materials, an applicant may be invited for an interview. Information about the interview can be found on the school's admissions website.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Final |
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 10/01 | Final |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:
- Critique compositions in a variety of styles, applying theoretical understanding of compositional techniques.
- Create an original portfolio that synthesizes principles of composition.
- Interpret specific musical products within the context of a specific historic or cultural tradition.
The School of Music, Dance and Theatre graduate programs inspire and empower students to become creative leaders who transform society through music.
Musicians with expertise in performing, composing, teaching and researching, and arts advocacy are in high demand across many sectors and industries, including performing arts organizations, educational institutions, entertainment companies, health and wellness industries, and community arts organizations. Skills such as creativity, collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as the focused discipline needed for success as a musician, are all highly valued by a wide range of companies and professions.
Career examples include:
- arts administrator
- community arts advocate
- composer for film, video games or television
- performing musician
- public or community school teacher
- university professor
School of Music, Dance and Theatre
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MUSIC E167
mdtadmissions@asu.edu
480-965-5069
Admission deadlines
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
