Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Master of Music program in composition with a concentration in interdisciplinary digital media is designed for students who have interests and the creative skills to work within a cross-section of the arts and sciences. This program provides extensive faculty interaction from both the School of Music, Dance and Theatre and the School of Arts, Media and Engineering.

Program Description

The program offers state-of-the-art media facilities, hybrid arts-engineering faculty, and courses in electronic music with relevant resources. Students are encouraged to develop their own compositional voices and focus on their area of interest, regardless of style or aesthetics, while gaining extensive knowledge through coursework and private lessons with the composition faculty.

At a Glance

• College/school: Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree Requirements

The program requires 32 credit hours, including a thesis and a written comprehensive exam, or 32 credit hours including a thesis, a written comprehensive exam, and an oral comprehensive exam, or 32 credit hours including a written comprehensive exam and the required applied project course (MTC 593), or 32 credit hours including a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, and the required applied project course (MTC 593).

Required Core

• MTC 523 Advanced Composition (2-3 credit hours)

Concentration

• Arts, Media and Engineering coursework (9 credit hours)
• Music Theory and Music History (9 credit hours)

Electives

• 2 credit hours

Culminating Experience

• AME or MTC 599 Thesis (6 credit hours) or
• MTC 593 Applied Project (6 credit hours)

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency
• Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of a student's first bachelor's degree program
• Official transcripts
• Prescreening portfolio
• Three letters of recommendation
• Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: December 1 (final deadline)
• Spring: October 1 (final deadline)

Program Learning Outcomes

• Evaluate specific musical products within the context of a specific historic or cultural tradition, including contemporary media
• Create independent musical products or performances using interdisciplinary digital media
• Apply software engineering skills to music, sound, and video

Career Opportunities

The School of Music, Dance and Theatre graduate programs inspire and empower students to become creative leaders who transform society through music. Musicians with expertise in performing, composing, teaching, researching, arts advocacy, and serving as therapists are in high demand across many sectors and industries. Career examples include:

• Arts administrator
• Community arts advocate
• Composer for film, video games, or television
• Performing musician
• Public or community school teacher
• University professor

Additional Information

• Accelerated programs allow students to expedite the completion of their degree
• Concurrent degree programs provide high-achieving undergraduate students the opportunity to complete two distinct but complementary bachelor degrees at the same time
• Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units
• Online programs are offered in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year
• The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify.