Congratulations!

Congratulations on your admission to the College of Music. We are pleased that you have decided to pursue graduate studies at the University of North Texas. As an incoming graduate student, you will attend the New Student Orientation on the Tuesday and Wednesday before classes begin. To view a detailed orientation schedule, see the "Orientation" page found in the navigation menu and quick link section below.

During New Student Orientation you will become more familiar with the College of Music, meet various faculty and staff who will be involved in your education, and take a variety of exams that will ensure that you are prepared for your particular course of study. Orientation is required for all new graduate students. If you are unable to attend for whatever reason, please contact a Graduate Counselor. 

How to Communicate with Us

Upon your arrival at UNT, you must use your EagleConnect account for all UNT-related correspondence. Over the course of the summer, the Graduate Studies Office will send periodic announcements to your EagleConnect account. We encourage you to start using this account as soon as possible.

Correspondence from the Graduate Studies Office will come from music.grad@unt.edu. Please ensure that this address is not blocked by your email's spam filter. 

Exams Taken During Orientation

Graduate Placement Exam (GPE)

Most incoming students are required to take the Graduate Placement Exams (GPE) in Music History and Music Theory; however, some are exempt from one or more of these exams based on their academic record. Over the summer the Graduate Studies Office will send you an email specifying which exams you are required to take.

Area-Specific Exams

Incoming students in Composition, Jazz, Piano, and Voice will take area-specific exams. For more information on these exams, please see the "Orientation" page.

Planning Your First Semester - How to Register for Lessons

During orientation week, you'll create your first-semester course schedule and begin developing your degree plan. This process should be done in consultation with your major professor (if assigned) and one of our two Graduate Academic Counselors, Dr. Colleen Conlon or Dr. Caden Ridge. We strongly recommend meeting with one or both of them before finalizing your schedule.

Before your advising meeting, review the degree requirements in the Graduate Catalog. Graduate-level courses are numbered 5xxx or 6xxx. Be sure to register using the 4- or 5-digit class number, not just the course prefix and number.

If you already know your applied instructor, you may be able to register for lessons before orientation. Master and doctoral students may register for 3 or 4 credit hours of lessons each semester.

For assistance, please contact the appropriate administrative coordinator:

Note for international students: You must clear all UNT International holds before registering for any courses, including lessons.

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