Admissions

New Students

In addition to the general undergraduate application and audition procedures for the College of Music, applicants interested in considering composition as a major must meet with the academic advisor during one of the summer orientation sessions prior to admission. Any student accepted to the College of Music may begin studies in the undergraduate composition program through open enrollment in Beginning Composition I-II (MUCP 1180-1190); continuation in the composition program is contingent upon meeting the following requirements:

1. Completion of MUCP 1180-1190 with no grade lower than B.
2. Completion of MUTH 1400-1410 and 1500-1510 with no grade lower than B.
3. Successful completion of the Freshman Barrier Examination.
4. Acceptance at the concentration level on an instrument or voice.
5. Continuous enrollment in a music laboratory.
6. Regular attendance at composition division events, including Music Now.
7. Consent of the composition faculty.

Students who meet all of the above requirements will be considered provisional composition majors until they have successfully completed the undergraduate composition jury at the end of the sophomore year.

Transfer Students

Students transferring from other undergraduate music programs must meet the same requirements as new and continuing composition students in order to qualify for the composition program. Required course work will be determined in consultation with the academic advisor and composition division chair. Transfer students with at least two semesters of college-level composition courses who place into MUTH 2400-2410 or higher may be eligible for Intermediate Composition (MUCP 2180-2190). Consideration for Intermediate Composition is based upon the following criteria:

1. Acceptance to the College of Music at the concentration level on an instrument or voice.
2. Enrollment in MUTH 2400-2410 or higher; no grade lower than B in any transferred theory courses will be accepted.
3. Submission of a composition portfolio that includes:
   
   1. At least three scores demonstrating a variety of compositional approaches and techniques.
   2. Recordings (on CD) of representative works, preferable corresponding to the enclosed scores. MIDI realizations may be submitted in exceptional cases.
   3. A complete list of works: title, medium, date composed, duration, and performance information (dates, locations, and performers) for each work, where applicable.
   4. Letter of recommendation from previous composition instructor.
4. Interview with the composition division chair.
5. Successful completion of the Freshman Barrier Examination.

At the discretion of the composition division chair, students who fulfill requirements 1-4 above but do not pass the Freshman Barrier Examination may enroll in Secondary Composition I (MUCP 2080) and audit the lecture portion of MUCP 1180 and/or 1190.

To be considered for Advanced Composition I (MUCP 3180) or higher, transfer students with significant composition and theory experience who have met the above requirements may, upon recommendation of the composition division chair, petition to take a jury at the beginning of the semester.

NOTE: The graduate application deadline for the 2009-10 academic year has now passed, and we are no longer accepting applications. The deadline for fall 2010 graduate admissions will be 7 December 2009.

Application to the graduate program is a two-part process, including application to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies (or to International Admissions and Programs for international students) and to the composition program in the College of Music. Both parts of the process must be completed by the first Monday in December in order for the application to be evaluated. Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.

Applying to the University and the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies

Current guidelines regarding application to the University may be obtained as follows:

1. U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens-refer to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies website (www.tsgs.unt.edu/newindex.htm).
2. International students-refer to the International Admission and Programs website (www.international.unt.edu).

Applying to the Composition Program and the College of Music

Applicants to any of the graduate programs in composition must submit a completed application form and portfolio to the College of Music Admissions Office by the first Monday in December to be considered for acceptance in the following academic year. The portfolio must include:

1. Scores of three representative works.
2. Recordings of three representative works, at least two of which should correspond with the scores submitted. MIDI realizations may be used in exceptional cases.
3. A current résumé or vita, which includes the following:
   
   1. A list of original compositions, including title, medium, date composed, and duration.
   2. A list of performances of original compositions, including date, location, and performers.
   3. A list of prizes, commissions, grants, or other honors recently received.
4. Complete academic transcripts (photocopies acceptable); note that this is separate from the transcripts sent to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.
5. Official GRE scores (photocopies acceptable); note that this is separate from the GRE scores sent to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies.
6. Letters of recommendation from three persons qualified to evaluate the applicant's accomplishments and merits.
7. Writing samples (e.g., research paper, thesis, etc.).
8. Personal statement that addresses the following:
   
   1. Compositional aesthetics and influences.
   2. Statement of purpose: why are you interested in pursuing graduate studies at the University of North Texas?
   3. Long-range professional goals.

The portfolio may be submitted in one of three ways; electronic submissions (options 1 or 2 below) are preferred:

1. In electronic format (pdf, mp3, aiff, and mov formats only), e-mailed to Administrative Assistant Michelle Hurt. Depending on the size of the files, it may be necessary to send these materials as a ZIP file.
2. Posted on a personal website; the url may be e-mailed to Michelle Hurt.
3. Printed and bound scores, printed documents, and audio/video recordings (CD and/or DVD format only) may be mailed to:

University of North Texas
ATTN: Michelle Hurt
Division of Composition Studies
College of Music
1155 Union Circle #311367
Denton, TX 76203-5017

General Application Information

1. Please note that application to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies is separate from application to the College of Music, and that admission to the Graduate School does not imply acceptance to the composition program.
2. Applications are ordinarily reviewed during the spring semester only; applications received in the fall semester (for admission in the spring) may be considered only in exceptional cases. Review of applications received during the fall semester is typically deferred until the general application review in the spring.
3. Applicants may be interviewed by telephone or asked to audition in person prior to acceptance.
4. Applicants will be notified by early April concerning the status of their applications.
5. Applicants are expected to submit GRE scores at the time of application in order to be considered for graduate studies in composition:
   
   1. In exceptional cases, students may be admitted provisionally pending successful completion of the GRE Analytical Writing exam by the end of the first semester of enrollment. However, all applicants accepted to the program must have at least attempted the GRE Analytical Writing exam prior to enrollment in graduate courses.
   2. The Graduate Preparation Course (GPC), provided for international students by the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI), will not be accepted as a substitute for the GRE requirement.
6. International applicants in composition must be provisionally accepted to the program prior to beginning studies at the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI). Acceptance to and/or studies in IELI in no way ensures acceptance to the composition program.
7. No performance audition is required in order to apply to the graduate program in composition.

Applying to the Composition Program as a Related Field or Concentration

Students in the Master of Music (MM) and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) programs may request composition as a related field, pending approval from the major area; students in the Master of Arts program (MA) in music may request composition as a concentration field of study.

1. The following prerequisites apply for the related field and concentration in composition:
   
   1. A Bachelor's degree in music or the equivalent.
   2. At least two semesters of composition lessons or the equivalent.
   3. Evidence of compositional activity (e.g., performances, awards, etc.).
2. Applicants who do not meet the above criteria may be provisionally accepted as a related field or concentration student in composition at the discretion of the composition faculty, pending completion of recommended deficiency courses.
3. To be considered as a related field or concentration student in composition, applicants must submit a portfolio to the composition division chair that includes the following:
   
   1. Scores of three representative works.
   2. Recordings (CD and/or DVD only) of three representative works, at least two of which should correspond with the scores submitted. MIDI realizations may be used in exceptional cases.
   3. A list of original compositions, including title, medium, date composed, duration, and performance history.
   4. Complete academic transcripts (photocopies acceptable).
   5. Official GRE scores (photocopies acceptable).
   6. Letter of recommendation from a person qualified to evaluate the applicant's accomplishments and merits.
   7. Writing sample (e.g., research paper, thesis, etc.).

Portfolios for related field or concentration will be accepted throughout the academic year. Applicants for the Master of Arts degree in Music must apply to the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies and the College of Music prior to or at the time of submission of the composition portfolio; all posted deadlines must be observed. Applicants should allow at least four weeks for the portfolio to be reviewed by the composition faculty prior to notification.

General Information

Scholarships, teaching assistantships (TAs), and teaching fellowships (TFs) are available in the area of composition; eligibility is specified below. Because such awards and appointments are highly competitive, applicants are strongly encouraged to audition for scholarships in their performance medium as well, or to apply for assistantships and/or fellowships in other areas (e.g., theory, jazz studies), as appropriate. Students are encouraged to pursue all avenues of financial support and to complete any required forms from Student Financial Aid and Scholarships; college work-study, grants, student loans, and university scholarships may also be available. The Toulouse School of Graduate Studies offers several opportunities for graduate financial support, including the Masters and Doctoral (MDF) Fellowship and the Priddy Fellowship in Arts and Music.

Application Procedures

To be considered for a teaching assistantship, teaching fellowship, or an academic scholarship in composition, applicants must submit the appropriate application form along with a composition portfolio.

1. Application forms for TAs, TFs, and scholarships in the composition division must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies in Music (MU 216A) by the first Monday in February each year. Late or incomplete applications may not be considered. Final decisions will be announced in April prior to the year of the appointment/award.
2. For new graduate applicants in composition, the evaluation will be based upon the portfolio included with the graduate school application; undergraduates and continuing graduate students must submit a portfolio that includes:
   
   1. Scores of three representative works.
   2. Recordings (CD and/or DVD) of three representative works, at least two of which should correspond with the enclosed scores. MIDI realizations may be submitted only in exceptional cases.
   3. Complete record of works and performances.
   4. Recommendations or reference information from at least two persons qualified to evaluate the applicant's accomplishments and merits; include name, position, telephone number(s), and e-mail address for each reference.

   Portfolios may be submitted electronically or as printed/recorded media. Undergraduates should submit the composition portfolio to Administrative Assistant Michelle Hurt (MU 245) by the first Monday in February; graduate students will present their portfolios directly to the composition faculty at the annual Graduate Review.

3. Current TAs, TFs, and scholarship holders must reapply by the posted deadline each year to be considered for continued support. Students who do not submit an application by the posted deadline may not be renewed.

Eligibility

1. Recipients of financial assistance are expected to uphold the highest academic standards and participate regularly in composition division activities. Failure to meet these expectations may result in the suspension of future financial support.
2. Students who have been provisionally accepted to the program are not eligible for support through the composition division until all requirements for acceptance have been met.
3. Scholarship recipients and TAs/TFs must maintain full-time enrollment status during the period of support/appointment. Full-time enrollment is a minimum of 12 hours per semester for undergraduates and 9 hours per semester for graduate students; enrollment in 3 hours of dissertation (MUGC 6950) is considered full time for doctoral students who have completed all other required coursework. The following exceptions may be considered:
   
   1. Master’s students in good standing who have not yet reached the maximum amount of support through the composition division may be eligible for one semester of scholarship or TA/TF support with less than full-time enrollment.
   2. Doctoral students in good standing who have not yet reached the maximum amount of support through the composition division may be eligible for up to two semesters of scholarship or TA/TF support with less than full-time enrollment.

   Students must petition for this exception through the composition division chair. Approval is granted at the discretion of the composition faculty and is based upon availability of funds, the student's past contribution to the program, and (in the case of TAs/TFs) the instructional needs of the division.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for graduate composition majors and undergraduate students who have passed the undergraduate composition jury. Composition scholarship awards are based on proven academic achievement, demonstrated (or potential) success, contribution to the program, and quality of compositional work. The following scholarships are available in composition, recipients to be determined each year by the composition faculty:

1. Merrill Ellis Memorial Composition Scholarship: named for composer Merrill Ellis (1916-1981) who served on the North Texas composition faculty from 1962 until his death in 1981, during which time he founded the Electronic Music Center (later the Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia) and was a pioneer in electronic music and intermedia.
2. David M. Schimmel Memorial Composition Scholarship: named for composer/conductor David M. Schimmel (1948-1984), a doctoral composition student and teaching fellow at North Texas at the time of his death. In addition to serving on the faculty of Mountain View College, Mr. Schimmel also taught at Southern Methodist University and Florida State University.
3. Martin Mailman Memorial Composition Scholarship: named for composer/conductor Martin Mailman (1932-2000), Regents Professor of composition at North Texas who served from 1966 until his death in 2000. Dr. Mailman was particularly distinguished as a composer of music for wind ensembles and dedicated much of his teaching to undergraduate students.
4. Richard and Candace Faulk Composition Scholarship: donor Richard Faulk received a BM degree in composition from North Texas in 1974, and a JD in Law from Southern Methodist University 1977. He currently lives in Houston with his wife, Candace, and practices law as an environmental attorney for the firm of Gardere, Wynne, and Sewell, LLP.
5. Richard Dufallo Memorial Composition Scholarship: named in honor of distinguished conductor and contemporary music advocate Richard Dufallo (1933-2000). In addition to his various conducting positions over the years with Juilliard, the Aspen Festival, the Buffalo Philharmonic (as associate conductor under Lukas Foss), and the New York Philharmonic (as assistant conductor under Leonard Bernstein), Mr. Dufallo was the author of a collection of interviews with 20th-century composers titled Trackings.
6. Paul Loomis Composition Scholarship: donor Paul Loomis received his BM degree in composition from North Texas in 1979 and is the President/CEO of The Loomis Corporation and Luminous Sound Studios, a Dallas-based music production company and post-production facility. Loomis is active as a composer, conductor, songwriter, music producer, arranger, orchestrator, and keyboard artist.

Additional College of Music scholarships may also be available through the composition division.

Teaching Fellowships and Teaching Assistantships

Full and partial teaching assistantships and teaching fellowships are available for graduate students in composition.

1. While enrolled in the masters degree program in composition, a student may receive an appointment for a maximum of two years. While enrolled in the doctoral degree program in composition, a student may receive an appointment for two or three years, determined as follows:
   
   1. Two years maximum for students who held an appointment for more than one year while enrolled in the masters degree program in composition at UNT;
   2. Three years maximum for students who did not hold an appointment while enrolled in the masters degree program in composition at UNT, or who held such an appointment for one year or less.
2. An "appointment" is considered to be a full fellowship, assistantship, or a combination thereof in any area of the UNT College of Music (20 hours per week). An exception to this policy may be made if the instructional needs of the composition division require the extension of a given appointment. Partial TA/TF appointments are prorated; e.g., a half appointment for one year is equivalent to a full appointment for one semester.
3. TF/TA responsibilities may include teaching and/or assisting in the instruction of composition courses and lessons and assisting with administrative, production, and technical duties associated with CEMI. In addition to these assigned duties, TAs/TFs are expected to assist with the following:
   
   1. Composition TAs/TFs:
      • Assistance with sophomore composition seminars
      • Coordination of composition reading workshops (including recording)
      • Coordination of Beginning/Class Composition reading sessions (including recording)
      • Coordination of SPECTRUM programs
      • Non-technical assistance with weekly MUSIC NOW meetings (setting up chairs, piano, stands, etc.)
      • Maintaining attendance records for composition division events and preparation of final attendance report
      • Preparing MUCP 2190 students for composition jury
      • Assistance with orchestra readings
      • Non-technical assistance with division events (including CEMI and NOVA programs)
      • General assistance with guest composers/artists
      • Distributing flyers for composition division events
   2. CEMI TAs/TFs:
      • Regular maintenance of CEMI facilities
      • Maintenance of composition division and CEMI websites
      • Instructor assistance with computer music courses
      • Recording of selected composition division events (CEMI concerts, orchestra readings, etc.)
      • Technical assistance for MUSIC NOW, NOVA, and SPECTRUM events
      • Coordinating performers for division events (including CEMI and NOVA programs)
      • Designing flyers for composition division events

   Regardless of the apparent separation of responsibilities, composition TA/TFs and CEMI TA/TFs will be expected to work together in all composition division activities. The success of the composition program depends upon collaboration between both areas within the division.

4. All TA/TF appointments begin the week prior to classes, during which time all new and returning TAs/TFs are required to attend a College of Music orientation as well as a meeting with the composition faculty mentor(s).
5. Details of TA/TF appointments (including teaching assignments, supervision, and mentoring) are available here. Further information concerning policies for teaching assistantships and teaching fellowships is available in the Office of Graduate Studies in Music.