Admission
The first charter of DePaul University included a statement on nondiscrimination, and the policy has been enforced vigorously for over 114 years. It is the policy of the School of Music to make admission decisions without regard to the race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or handicap of the candidate.
Procedures for Admission
Applicants for graduate admission should submit an application online at www.depaul.edu. The application deadline is December 1. Applicants should submit official college transcripts and three letters of recommendation to support their application. Applicants to the master's degree program for performance and jazz studies must take an entrance audition, usually held in February of each year. Audition requirements are specified in the Admissions section on the School of Music website. Applicants to the master's degree program for music education must interview with the Music Education department. Applicants to the master's degree program for composition must submit a composition portfolio of three pieces. A nonrefundable application fee is required of every student applying for admission to the University as a degree-seeking student. When admission has been approved, the applicant will be notified of the diagnostic examination schedule and new student orientation, which usually take place at the beginning of the academic year.
Certificate in Performance
The School of Music also offers a program leading to the Certificate in Performance. The Certificate in Performance is a post-masters program for classical or jazz musicians who intend to pursue careers as professional performers. Applicants should submit an application online at www.depaul.edu. The application deadline is December 1. Applicants should submit official college transcripts and three letters of recommendation to support their application. Applicants must taken an entrance audition, usually held in February of each year. Audition requirements are specified in the Admissions section on the School of Music website.
Non-Degree Seeking Students
DePaul School of Music does not normally admit applicants as non-degree seeking students. A student who has earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution and does not intend to work for a master’s degree may, on the written recommendation of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, be admitted as a non-degree seeking student. Only the first 12 quarter hours earned as a non-degree-seeking student at DePaul may subsequently be applied toward a degree when the student is accepted as a degree-seeking student.
Student-At-Large
DePaul School of Music does not normally admit applicants as students-at-large. A student completing a graduate program at another accredited institution may, on the written recommendation of the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, be admitted as a student-at-large.
International Students
All international students and any student who has been educated outside of the United States should complete the application requirements for their desired program (see above), submit their educational credentials to a third-party organization for evaluation, and demonstrate a proficiency in English. The application deadline is December 1. For further information on applying to DePaul School of Music as an international graduate student, please refer to the International Students section under Admissions on the School of Music website.
To demonstrate English proficiency, international graduate music students must pass a TOEFL examination with a written score of 550 or an internet-based score of 80, with no section lower than 17. If a student has met all other music admissions criteria and taken a TOEFL examination, but not yet achieved a passing score, they may be considered for admission to the joint English Language Academy-School of Music program. (For further information on this program, students should contact the School of Music Admissions Office.) Those who request student visas also must show evidence of adequate financial support. A formal letter of admission and/or form 1-20 will be issued only after all admission requirements have been fulfilled.
Diagnostic Examinations
Students who have been admitted to the master’s degree program for composition, performance, jazz studies, and music education must take a diagnostic examination in musicianship studies. These examinations, taken during new student orientation, will be used to guide course placement and identify areas for additional studies.