See UCLA's minimum requirements for all graduate program applicants.

In addition to the University's minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose and sample of work as described below.

M.A.: Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Music. Other fields of study are accepted if applicants have the musical training and musicianship necessary to pursue graduate work. Transcripts must show an average grade of at least B in the basic areas that normally constitute the undergraduate core curriculum in music (harmony, counterpoint, music history, analysis, and musicianship).

Applicants for the M.A. in music are required to: (1) submit a statement of purpose including background of study and reasons for wishing to pursue graduate studies in music at UCLA; (2) submit, as samples of work, 3 written musical scores that show a breadth of instrumentation and genre, and a recording of a performance of at least one of these; (3) be available for an interview (applicant semi-finalists); and (4) take the departmental Assessment Examination (applicant semi-finalists).

Assessment Examination. The assessment examination for the M.A. is administered annually at Schoenberg Hall on the UCLA campus. Semi-finalists who are applying from outside the southern California area and who find it impossible to take the examination on campus can make arrangements with the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management to take the examination in absentia. Information on, and registration for, the examination, as well as the absentia process, is available on the department's web site. The Assessment Examination is approximately five hours long and covers music theory, history and analysis, and musicianship skills.

The dossier and Assessment Examination are reviewed by the composition faculty to assess the applicant's potential as a graduate student.

M.M.: Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Music. Other fields of study are accepted if applicants have the musical training and musicianship necessary to pursue graduate work. Transcripts must show an average grade of at least B in the basic areas that normally constitute the undergraduate core curriculum in music (harmony, counterpoint, music history, analysis, and musicianship).

Applicants applying for the M.M. are required to (1) submit a statement of purpose which also includes a description of their background of study; (2) submit three letters of recommendation from former instructors and/or professionals with whom the applicants have worked; (3) submit a repertoire list and summary of recent performances covering the last three years; and (4) perform an audition. Selected programs require a pre-screening audition recording. Applicants to the M.M. in jazz performance receive consideration on a biennial basis (even-numbered years). Detailed information is available on the department web site.

Ph.D.: Master's degree in Music (or the equivalent degree). The degree normally will have been taken in the same field of concentration as the proposed doctorate. If applicants wish to obtain a doctorate in a field other than that of the M.A., additional coursework, as prescribed by the area, may be required. Applicants are required to: (1) submit a statement of purpose including background of study and reasons for wishing to pursue graduate studies in music; (2) submit three letters of recommendation; (3) submit, as samples of work, five written musical scores that show a breadth of instrumentation and genre and a recording of a performance of at least one of these; applicants should submit their M.A. thesis or composition, if possible; and (4) be available for an interview and to take the departmental Assessment Examination (applicant semi-finalists).

No application can be considered until the Assessment Examination has been taken and all of the required materials have been received.

Assessment Examination. The assessment examination for the Ph.D. is administered annually at Schoenberg Hall on the UCLA campus. Semi-finalists who are applying from outside the Southern California area and find it impossible to take the examination on campus can make arrangements with the Office of Student Services and Enrollment Management to take the examination in absentia. Information on, and registration for, the examination, as well as the absentia process, is available on the department's web site. The Assessment Examination is approximately five hours long and covers music theory, history and analysis, and musicianship skills.

The dossier and assessment examination are reviewed by the composition faculty to assess the applicant's potential as a doctoral student.

D.M.A.: Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) program are expected to hold a master's degree, or equivalent, in music. Other fields of study are accepted if the applicant has the musical training and musicianship necessary to pursue doctoral work. Transcripts must show an average grade of at least B in the basic areas that normally constitute the undergraduate core curriculum in music (harmony, counterpoint, music history, analysis, and musicianship) as well as all graduate study. Applicants are required to (1) submit a statement of purpose which also includes a description of the their background of study; (2) submit three letters of recommendation from former instructors and/or professionals with whom the applicant has worked; (3) a repertoire list and summary of recent performances covering the last three years; (4) a sample seminar or research paper; and (5) perform an audition. Selected programs require a pre-screening audition recording. Detailed information is available on the departmental website.

No application can be considered until the audition has been taken and all of the required materials have been received.