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• Music Entrance Requirements
  • For Bachelor of Music Degree and
    Bachelor of Arts in Music Degree
  • For Master of Music Degree
• Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Grants

Prospective candidates for the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts in Music degrees must pass a Department of Music entrance audition in which they display their technical and artistic proficiency. Auditions for entrance into the CSU music program and for undergraduate talent awards are made by arrangement on an individual basis. Where distance prevents a prospective student from visiting the CSU campus, a taped audition will be accepted.

Music Talent Scholarships are available for qualified undergraduate students regardless of academic major.

For undergraduate instrumental and vocal admission auditions and/or undergraduate talent award auditions please Contact:

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Entrance into the Department of Music Graduate Program: Master of Music Degree.

Application for admission to the Master's Degree program in Music is initially made to the College of Graduate Studies:

In addition to applying for admission to the College of Graduate Studies, the Music Department requires additional procedures.

All applicants for Regular Graduate (degree seeking) Status:

• Performance:
  • Vocal:
    Professor Betsy Burleigh
    (216) 687 3998
    b.burleigh@csuohio.edu
  • Keyboard:
    Dr. Angelin Chang
    (216) 687 2036
    a.chang75@csuohio.edu
  • Instrumental:
    Professor Howard Meeker
    (216) 687 3667
    h.meeker@csuohio.edu
• Composition:
  Dr. Andrew Rindfleisch
  (216) 687 2029
  a.rindfleisch@csuohio.edu
• Music Education:
  Dr. Rita Klinger
  (216) 523 7176
  r.klinger@csuohio.edu
• Music History:
  Dr. Catherine Cole
  (216) 687 2039
  c.cole1@csuohio.edu

Entry Requirements differ for each degree track:

• Performance: An audition is required prior to admission for all students intending to earn the Master of Music in performance. In the audition, which should be fifteen minutes or longer, the student must demonstrate performance proficiency with some stylistic breadth. An audio tape or videotape may be provided in lieu of an in person audition, with prior approval of the head of the appropriate performance area. To arrange for graduate instrumental and vocal admission auditions, please contact the appropriate area head listed above.
• Composition: Students intending to earn the Master of Music degree in composition are required to submit a portfolio of representative works. This portfolio will be reviewed by the composition faculty who will recommend on its merits and on the potential of the applicant to complete graduate work. Submit your portfolio directly to the head of the Composition area.
• Music Education: Students planning to earn the Master of Music degree in music education must provide two letters of recommendation from supervisory personnel who can attest to their teaching ability. For those with teaching experience, this could be a principal, supervisor of music, or other administrator. For those who have not yet taught professionally, letters from university supervisors of student teaching and co op teachers may be substituted.
• Music History: Students intending to earn the Master of Music degree in music history must submit one or more samples of formal writing on a topic in music history. Submissions will be evaluated by the music history faculty on the strength of content and on the use of the English language and appropriate scholarly apparatus.

Formal Notification of Acceptance: After a review of applicants' transcripts and supportive documents relevant to the intended major track, the Music Department makes its recommendation for acceptance to the Graduate Program in Music to the College of Graduate Studies. The Graduate College sends successful applicants the notification of acceptance.

Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Grants: Two types of financial assistance are available to qualified students holding Regular Graduate status and who have earned a minimum of 3.0 for the undergraduate degree (or 3.0 for 12 graduate credits).

• Graduate Assistantship:
  Provides 9 credits of graduate tuition and a stipend each term. Recipients must carry a minimum of 9 graduate credits each term and maintain a 3.0 grade average. Ten hours of service per week per term in the Music Department are required; assignments are made with student interests/strengths in mind. May be renewed for a second year; student must reapply each year.
• Tuition Grant:
  Provides up to 8 credits of graduate tuition (no stipend) a term. Recipients must maintain a 3.0 grade average. Hours of service in the Music Department (1.5 minimum, 10 maximum) determined by number of tuition credits being supported by the award. May be renewed; student must reapply each year.

Please note: To be in the first pool of consideration for a Graduate Assistantship or Tuition Grant, applicants must provide ALL application materials for admission to the College of Graduate Studies AND supportive documents for entrance into the Graduate Program in Music by March 1 for the following academic year.

General preliminary inquiries about the Graduate Program in Music and requests for application forms for Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Grants may be made by requesting information online.

If you have questions after your receive the graduate music program information packet, please contact:

Admission for those wishing to take graduate courses outside the degree program: please consult the current CSU Graduate Bulletin.