MA in Composition (Music)

Entry Requirements

Pre-sessional English (3 semesters) Extended IPP (3 semesters)

• TOEFL (iBT) 40
• IELTS 4.0
• Pearson (PTE) Not Accepted
• Pearson Versant 37-40
• Duolingo 55
• Gao Kao English Not accepted
• GPA: 2.5 for International pathway program
• Barney School of Business will consider 2.5 GPA if GMAT is submitted with score 450 or interview 3 years full-time work experience after completion of Bachelor’s degree.
• Up to 15 credits towards degree

Pre-sessional English (2 semesters) Extended IPP (3 semesters)

• TOEFL (iBT) 45
• IELTS 4.5
• Pearson (PTE) 30-35
• Pearson Versant 41-42
• Duolingo 65
• Gao Kao English Not Accepted
• GPA: 2.5 for International pathway program
• Barney School of Business will consider 2.5 GPA if GMAT is submitted with score 450 or interview 3 years full-time work experience after completion of Bachelor’s degree.
• Up to 15 credits towards degree

Pre-sessional English (1 semester) Extended IPP (3 semesters)

• TOEFL (iBT) 55-59
• IELTS 5.0
• Pearson (PTE) 36-41
• Pearson Versant 43-47
• Duolingo 75
• Gao Kao English Not Accepted
• GPA: 2.5 for International pathway program
• Barney School of Business will consider 2.5 GPA if GMAT is submitted with score 450 or interview 3 years full-time work experience after completion of Bachelor’s degree.
• Up to 15 credits towards degree

Extended IPP (3 semesters)

• TOEFL (iBT) 60-69
• IELTS 5.5
• Pearson (PTE) 42-49
• Pearson Versant 48-54
• Duolingo 85
• Gao Kao English Not accepted
• GPA: 2.5 for International pathway program
• Barney School of Business will consider 2.5 GPA if GMAT is submitted with score 450 or interview 3 years full-time work experience after completion of Bachelor’s degree.
• Up to 15 credits towards degree

Extended Plus IPP (2 semesters)

• TOEFL (iBT) 70-79
• IELTS 6.0
• Pearson (PTE) 50-57
• Pearson Versant 55-63
• Duolingo 95
• Gao Kao English Not Accepted
• GPA: 2.5 for International pathway program
• Barney School of Business will consider 2.5 GPA if GMAT is submitted with score 450 or interview 3 years full-time work experience after completion of Bachelor’s degree.
• Up to 15 credits towards degree

Direct Admission

• TOEFL (iBT) 80
• IELTS 6.5
• Pearson (PTE) 58
• Pearson Versant 64 (spring 2021 only)
• Duolingo 105 score (retest on arrival); 120 score (no test on arrival)
• Gao Kao English Not accepted
• GPA: 3.00 for Direct admission
• Barney School of Business will consider 2.5 GPA if GMAT is submitted with score 450 or interview 3 years full-time work experience after completion of Bachelor’s degree.
• Up to 15 credits towards degree

Required Credits: 141
First Year
Semester 1 (18.25 credits)

Instrumental/vocal study 2 credit(s)
APC 122 - Piano Keyboard Class 2 credit(s) 1
COM 110P - First Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 461 - Music Technology I 3 credit(s)
COM 470 - Composers’ Seminar .25 credit(s)
WRT 110W - Academic Writing I 3 credit(s)
TH 111 - Diatonic Harmony 2 credit(s) 2
TH 120P - Elementary Ear Training I 2 credit(s)
HLM 020 - Information Literacy in the Performing Arts 0 credit(s)
Performing Organization 1 credit(s) 3

Semester 2 (18.25 credits)
Instrumental/vocal study 2 credit(s)
APC 123 - Piano Keyboard Class 2 credit(s) 1
COM 111P - First Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 471 - Composers’ Seminar .25 credit(s)
WRT 111W - Academic Writing II 3 credit(s)
TH 112 - Chromatic Harmony 2 credit(s)
TH 121P - Elementary Ear Training II 2 credit(s)
UIS - University Interdisciplinary Studies 3 credit(s)
Performing Organization 1 credit(s) 3

Second Year
Semester 1 (18.25 credits)
Instrumental/vocal study 2 credit(s)
APC 222 - Piano Keyboard Class 2 credit(s) 1
COM 210P - Second Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 340 - Orchestration 3 credit(s)
COM 470 - Composers’ Seminar .25 credit(s)
HLM 212 - Perspectives on Music History 3 credit(s)
TH 210W - Tonal Form and Analysis 2 credit(s)
TH 220P - Intermediate Ear Training I 2 credit(s)
Performing Organization 1 credit(s) 3

Semester 2 (18.25 credits)
Instrumental/vocal study 2 credit(s)
APC 223 - Piano Keyboard Class 2 credit(s) 1
COM 211P - Second Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 471 - Composers’ Seminar .25 credit(s)
TH 211W - Post-Tonal Form and Analysis 2 credit(s)
HLM 213 - Classicism to the Present 3 credit(s)
TH 221P - Intermediate Ear Training II 2 credit(s)
UIS - University Interdisciplinary Studies 3 credit(s)
Performing Organization 1 credit(s) 3

Third Year
Semester 1 (18.75 credits)
COM 310P - Third Course Composition 3 credit(s)
HLM 316 - Medieval through Baroque 3 credit(s)
Foreign language 3 credit(s)
COM 470 - Composers’ Seminar .25 credit(s)
Theory or composition elective 3 credit(s)
COM 462 - Music Technology II 3 credit(s)
COM 472 - Composers’ Ensemble 0.5 credit(s)
UIS - University Interdisciplinary Studies 3 credit(s)

Semester 2 (17.75 credits)
COM 311P - Third Course Composition 3 credit(s)
CON 314 - Conducting Fundamentals 2 credit(s)
Foreign language 3 credit(s)
COM 471 - Composers’ Seminar .25 credit(s)
Theory or composition elective 3 credit(s)
COM 463 - Music Technology III or COM 466 - Introduction to Computer Music or COM 468 - Scoring for Film, TV, and Video 3 credit(s)
COM 473 - Composers’ Ensemble 0.5 credit(s)
UIS - University Interdisciplinary Studies 3 credit(s)

Fourth Year
Semester 1 (15.75 credits)

COM 410P - Fourth Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 470 - Composers’ Seminar .25 credit(s)
COM 472 - Composers’ Ensemble 0.5 credit(s)
ES 262 - Introduction to Acoustics 3 credit(s)
Theory or composition electives 6 credit(s)
Math Elective 3 credit(s) (M 114 or M 116)

Semester 2 (15.75 credits)
COM 411P - Fourth Course Composition 3 credit(s)
COM 471 - Composers’ Seminar .25 credit(s)
TH 441W - Music since 1950 3 credit(s)
Theory or composition electives 3 credit(s)
Academic elective 3 credit(s)
Music history elective 3 credit(s)
COM 473 - Composers’ Ensemble 0.5 credit(s)
Note(s):

1Exempted students take private instrumental/vocal study.
2Enrollment dependent on placement exam.
3Major choral or instrumental performing organization, four semesters. Composers’ ensemble, four semesters. Other approved performing organizations may be substituted.
Students with a major in composition must have the equivalent of one evening’s performance of their music before graduation. Programs of performances must be submitted at least four months before the anticipated date of graduation.
Composition majors should refer to the Hartt Undergraduate Handbook for departmental grade requirements.
Students wishing to specialize in composition for electronic and digital instruments should include the following courses in their elective choices: COM 462 - Music Technology II, COM 463 - Music Technology III, COM 466 - Introduction to Computer Music, COM 468 - Scoring for Film, TV, and Video, MPT 450 - Sound Technology I, MPT 451 - Sound Technology II.
Students wishing to specialize in composition using more traditional musical materials should include the following courses in their elective choices: TH 330 - Keyboard Harmony, TH 333 - Score Reading, TH 420 - Modal Counterpoint, TH 421 - Tonal Counterpoint.