Pictured | Jessica T. Carter | Master of Music, Composition | Bachelor of Arts in Music Music, Bethel College, 2016 | South Bend, Indiana (hometown)

Entrance Requirements

The Master of Music degree is a flexible program intended for students holding a bachelor’s degree in music (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, etc.). In some cases, a student with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than music may become a candidate for the Master of Music degree either by demonstrating competence in performance and academic music subjects at the level of the bachelor’s degree in music, or by completing any undergraduate music courses in performance or academic subjects that may be required by the music faculty.

International students must apply for admission to this program through the Office of International Student Services at IU South Bend. As a preliminary audition a video recording of a recent performance, either a DVD or a standard high-quality digital or online video format must be submitted with this application. Composition applicants may submit an audio recording of their works. A formal audition will be required after the student arrives in South Bend. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based) or 79 (internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination is required for admission to the program, although students with scores at or just above these minimum scores should expect to take remedial English courses at the beginning of their master’s degree program. Credit hours earned in remedial English courses do not count towards the total credit hours required for the degree

Audition

Students must complete an audition in their chosen area of specialization: piano, voice, orchestral instrument or composition. Contact the director of graduate studies for specific audition requirements.

Additional requirements for composition:

• Undergraduate paper on theory/composition
• Portfolio of four to six works for different ensembles, including at least one for orchestra
• Recordings on CD or in a standard high-quality digital or online audio format
• Interview with the faculty

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation from former private instructors and/or professors familiar with the student’s work. Letters of recommendation must be sealed and forwarded directly from the recommender, or delivered using the online graduate application system.

Writing Competency

Applicants must submit a written paper on a music history or music theory topic, including footnotes and bibliography, that demonstrates the student’s ability to write about music in a cogent, scholarly fashion, exhibiting a high standard of academic English.

Minimum Passing Course Grade, GPA, and Dismissal GPA for Master of Music

Graduate music students whose CGPA falls below 3.0 are placed on academic probation for one semester. If one’s GPA is not raised to the 3.0 level, the student may be placed on additional probation, or dismissed from the program. Any time a student's GPA falls below 2.0, automatic dismissal takes place. Master of Music students will maintain a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher; and no grade under "C" will be accepted for graduate credit..