Graduate Program in Composition

Application procedures
It is important to be aware that application to the graduate program is a two-part process, including application to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies (or to International Admissions and Programs for international students) and to the composition program in the College of Music.  Both parts of the process must be completed by the first Monday in February in order for the application to be evaluated.  Late or incomplete applications may not be considered. 

Applying to the University and the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies
Current guidelines regarding application to the University may be obtained as follows:

1. U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens—refer to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies website (www.tsgs.unt.edu/newindex.htm).
2. International students—refer to the International Admission and Programs website (www.international.unt.edu).

Applying to the Composition Program and the College of Music
Applicants to any of the graduate programs in composition must submit a portfolio to the College of Music Admissions Office by the first Monday in February to be considered for acceptance in the following academic year.  The portfolio must include:

1. Scores of three representative works.
2. Recordings (CD, VHS video, and/or DVD only) of three representative works, at least two of which should correspond with the scores submitted; if VHS videos are submitted, please include only one work per tape. MIDI realizations may be used in exceptional cases.
3. A current résumé or vita, which includes the following:
   a.   A list of original compositions, including title, medium, date composed, and duration.
   b.   A list of performances of original compositions, including date, location, and performers.
   c.   A list of prizes, commissions, grants, or other honors recently received.
4. Complete academic transcripts (photocopies acceptable); note that this is separate from the transcripts sent to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.
5. Official GRE scores (photocopies acceptable); note that this is separate from the GRE scores sent to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.
6. Letters of recommendation from three persons qualified to evaluate the applicant's accomplishments and merits.
7. Writing samples (e.g., research paper, thesis, etc.).
8. Personal statement that addresses the following:
   a. Compositional aesthetics and influences.
   b. Statement of purpose: why are you interested in pursuing graduate studies at the University of North Texas?
   c. Long-range professional goals.
   

General Application Information

1. Please note that application to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies is separate from application to the College of Music, and that admission to the Graduate School does not imply acceptance to the composition program.
2. Applications are ordinarily reviewed during the spring semester only; applications received in the fall semester (for admission in the spring) may be considered only in exceptional cases.  In most cases, applications received during the fall semester will be deferred until the application review in the spring.
3. Applicants may be interviewed by telephone or asked to audition in person prior to acceptance.
4. Applicants will be notified by early April concerning the status of their applications.
5. Applicants are expected to submit GRE scores at the time of application in order to be considered for graduate studies in composition:
   a. In exceptional cases, students may be admitted provisionally pending successful completion of the GRE Analytical Writing exam by the end of the first semester of enrollment.  However, all applicants accepted to the program must have at least attempted the GRE Analytical Writing exam prior to enrollment in graduate courses. 
   b. The Graduate Preparation Course (GPC), provided for international students by the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI), will not be accepted as a substitute for the GRE requirement.
6. International applicants in composition must be provisionally accepted to the program prior to beginning studies at the Intensive English Language Institute.  Acceptance to and/or studies in IELI in no way implies acceptance to the composition program.
7. No performance audition is required in order to apply to the graduate program in composition.

Applying to the Composition Program as a Related Field or Concentration
Students in the Master of Music (MM) and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) programs may request composition as a related field; students in the Master of Arts program (MA) in music may request composition as a concentration field of study.

1. The following prerequisites apply for the related field and concentration in composition:
   a. A Bachelor's degree in music or the equivalent.
   b. At least two semesters of composition lessons or the equivalent.
   c. Evidence of compositional activity (e.g., performances, awards, etc.).
2. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be provisionally accepted as a related field or concentration student in composition at the discretion of the composition faculty, pending completion of recommended deficiency courses.
3. To be considered as a related field or concentration student in composition, applicants must submit a portfolio to the composition division chair that includes the following:
   a. Scores of three representative works.
   b. Recordings (CD, VHS video, and/or DVD only) of three representative works, at least two of which should correspond with the scores submitted; if VHS videos are submitted, please include only one work per tape.
   c.   A list of original compositions, including title, medium, date composed, duration, and performance history.
   d. Complete academic transcripts (photocopies acceptable).
   e. Official GRE scores (photocopies acceptable).
   f. Letter of recommendation from a person qualified to evaluate the applicant's accomplishments and merits.
   g. Writing sample (e.g., research paper, thesis, etc.).
   Portfolios for related field or concentration will be accepted throughout the academic year; however, applicants should allow at least four weeks for the materials to be reviewed by the composition faculty prior to notification of the results.

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