PRESCREENING AND INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS
Undergraduate
Theory Pre-Screening: Theory applicants must submit a written paper with their application by the December 1st deadline. This paper is reviewed for the purpose of evaluating the applicant’s writing and research skills; a musical subject is preferred, but not strictly required. Save this research paper and upload it within the application on the “Other Documents” page. Applicants are encouraged to upload representative exercises in part-writing, counterpoint, musical analysis, and/or model composition within the application for review as well.
The above materials will be evaluated in the pre-screening process. Applicants who pass pre-screening review will be interviewed by the theory faculty. Interviews will be conducted on campus for applicants auditioning live, and over Zoom for those auditioning remotely.
Applicants for Theory must also follow the specific instrumental repertoire guidelines and instructions given in this section for their primary instrument. (Pianists: Note that there is a specific repertory listing for music theory majors.)
Graduate
Please note: There are no PhD openings for fall 2026, we anticipate openings for fall 2027.
MA Pre-screening Requirement: In addition to the required application materials, applicants to the MA in Music Theory and MA in Pedagogy of Music Theory must submit one research paper on a music-theoretical or music-analytical topic. The paper should be approximately 10 pages in length; excerpts from longer works are acceptable. Applicants are also encouraged to upload supplemental materials that will showcase their abilities as musicians and thinkers—these could include additional papers, compositions, style compositions, or recordings of performances.
PhD Pre-screening Requirement: In addition to the required application materials, applicants to the PhD in Music Theory applicants must submit two research papers, at least one of which should be a music analysis paper. Each paper should be approximately 15–25 pages; excerpts from longer works are acceptable.
MA and PhD interviews: After the application and pre-screening materials have been reviewed, a select number of applicants will be invited for an interview. No performance audition is required for either degree program.
- MA Theory interviews will be conducted on campus for applicants who are scheduled for a performance audition (double degree) and over Zoom during the month of February for all others.
- PhD Theory interviews will be conducted over Zoom in January.