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Graduate Music Students

Students Playing Violin

For Our Students

The School of Music and Dance offers a Master of Arts degree in nine distinct areas. This degree provides advanced preparation for careers in performance, conducting, composition, and jazz. The School of Music and Dance also offers an MA in the areas of music education, music history, and music theory, providing greater in-depth education and training in those fields and also serving as preparation for further advanced study. The School of Music and Dance offers a Master of Arts degree in the following areas:

  • Composition
  • Choral Conducting
  • Instrumental Conducting
  • Jazz Studies
  • Music Education
  • Music History
  • Music Systems
  • Instrumental Performance
  • Vocal Performance

San Jose State University School of Music and Dance - Music Online Application

MA - All Degrees

The master’s degree program consists of a two-year, 30-unit course of study that includes four core seminars (research, history, theory, and performance practice), area course work, ensemble participation, and a heavy focus on private lessons and individual study. Each program culminates with a graduate recital for conducting, jazz studies, and performance majors, or a thesis for composition, music education, music history, and music theory majors. MA students at SJSU prepare themselves for careers in academia, performance, and arts administration.

For more questions about any of these degree programs, please contact the graduate adviser, Dr. Gordon Haramaki <link to bio and contact>, and your area specialist.

 

General Requirements

 

A. Undergraduate Degree:

The School of Music and Dance graduate program requires all applicants to have an undergraduate degree in music from an institution accredited by a regional accrediting association and to be in good academic standing at the last college or university attended. Only in rare circumstances are students with other degrees admitted to the program.

B. Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA):

Although SJSU requires only a 2.50 or “C+” minimum GPA to be considered for graduate work, the School of Music and Dance requires a minimum GPA of 3.00 or “B” in the last 60 units of undergraduate coursework.

C. English Language Proficiency:

Students who attended an institution of higher education outside of the U. S. where the primary language of instruction was not English are required to submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or PTE (Pearson Test of English) score. The minimum entrance score for the TOEFL is 590 (paper based), 243 (computer based), or 96 (internet based), with a score of 5 in the Writing Section. The minimum score for the PTE is 68. All test scores must be less than 2 years old. Test scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service office to SJSU (institution code is 4687).

D. GRE:

The School of Music & Dance does not require the GRE.