Why Pursue a Master's Degree in Music
UTSA’s Master of Music degree program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The School of Music’s facilities include a 500-seat recital hall, two large rehearsal halls, practice rooms, classrooms, and faculty studios and offices. The music faculty incorporates technology and all levels of instruction, performance, and composition.
Admission & Application Requirements
Applications are submitted through the UTSA Graduate Application. Please upload all required documents (listed below) on your UTSA Graduate Application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure completion and submission of the application, a nonrefundable application fee, and all required supporting documents are on file with UTSA by the appropriate application deadline.
| Music (MM) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Required Degree | Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or have proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution. Applicants are expected to hold a Bachelor of Music degree or Bachelor of Music Education degree with a major in their intended area of graduate emphasis. | |
| Minimum GPA | 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) Departments may consider GPA of last 60 semester credit hours | |
| Coursework | 18 credit hours in an area related to this graduate degree and at least 12 hours must be at the upper-division level. | |
| Transcripts* | Required from all institutions attended; international transcripts must be recorded/translated to English | |
| Credential Evaluation | Required if you have earned university-level credit from foreign institutions. Submit an evaluation of your transcripts from Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) directly from the graduate admission application platform | |
| English Language Proficiency | 550 TOEFL Paper / 79 TOEFL Internet / 6.5 IELTS / Duolingo 100 | |
| Purpose Statement | Required | |
| Letters of Recommendation | 2 academic or professional reference(s) demonstrating your attributes for successful completion of this program (you will request these through the Graduate Admissions Application; let your recommenders know of your deadline to ensure submissions are on time) | |
| Audition | Required | |
| *Unofficial transcripts will be taken into consideration for admissions; however, if admitted into the program, you must submit official transcripts to the University. | ||
Application Deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to have their admission file completed as early as possible. All applications, required documents and letters of recommendation, if applicable, must be submitted by 5:00 PM U.S. Central Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are subject to change.
| Music (MM) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timing on Admission Decision: Completed applications will be reviewed for admission after the posted deadline. Decisions will be made and sent to applicants within a few weeks after the review date. | |||
| Application Deadlines for: | Priority | International | Domestic |
| Spring 2025 | Not Available | November 1 | November 1 |
| Summer 2025 | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
| Fall 2025 | February 1 | May 1 | May 1 |
| Spring 2026 | Not Available | November 1 | November 1 |
| Summer 2026 | Not Available | Not Available | Not Available |
Funding Opportunities
ResourcesCareer Options
UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. The possible careers below is data pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls information from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program.
Choral and Instrumental Conducting
Provide a recent 20-30 minute video (private YouTube link) demonstrating the level of mastery in rehearsal and performance situations. Candidates will be invited to on-campus audition and placement examinations after pre-screening.
Music Education
Submit a 20 minute digital video of classroom teaching (private YouTube link), documentation of teaching experience (résumé or curriculum vita), and a self-composed short essay (1-2 pages) that describes the reasons for becoming a teacher, commitment to music education, and future career goals. Candidates will be invited to campus for music education faculty interview and placement examinations after pre-screening.
Performance
Vocal Performance: Provide a recent video of a minimum of two selections (private YouTube link) demonstrating the level of mastery in the proposed performance medium for pre-screening. Candidates will be invited to on-campus audition and placement examinations after pre-screening.
Instrumental Performance: Prepare 20-30 minutes of music for an in-person audition (or with acceptable justification approved by the auditioning committee, provide a recent high-quality recording via private YouTube link) demonstrating the level of mastery in the proposed performance medium. Some instrumental areas may require candidates to submit a pre-screening video. Candidates will also complete placement examinations on scheduled audition date. Instrumental areas include piano, organ, guitar, strings, woodwinds, percussion, or brass.
Performance and Pedagogy
Instrumental Performance and Pedagogy: Prepare 20-30 minutes of music for an in-person audition (or with acceptable justification approved by the auditioning committee, provide a recent high-quality recording via private YouTube link) demonstrating the level of mastery in the proposed performance medium. Candidates will also complete placement examinations on scheduled audition date.
Piano Performance and Pedagogy: Prepare 20-30 minutes of music for an in-person audition (or with acceptable justification approved by the auditioning committee, provide a recent high-quality recording via private YouTube link) demonstrating the level of mastery in the proposed performance medium. Candidates will also complete placement examinations on scheduled audition date.
Vocal Performance and Pedagogy: Provide a recent video of a minimum of two selections (private YouTube link) demonstrating the level of mastery in the proposed performance medium for pre-screening. Candidates will be invited to on-campus audition and placement examinations after pre-screening.
The Master of Music program at UTSA also offers graduate certificates in Music Theory Pedagogy and Instrumental Performance.
Graduate classes are generally offered in the afternoon from 4 PM to 6:45 PM.
