Program Admissions Requirements
Performance DMA
Performance DMA applicants must submit a
- video prescreening recording through Acceptd, and
- scholarly writing sample through Acceptd.
All application materials, including the video recording and writing sample, are due by December 1. Learn more about the audition requirements.
*We are not accepting applications to the DMA Piano program for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Dance PhD
Students must:
- submit a scholarly writing sample.
- We will contact you to schedule an online interview time after receiving your application materials. The interview date will be December 7. If you miss the December interview date, a second interview date will be held on March 15.
Music PhD in Composition, Music Studies, Music Theory or Musicology
Composition
Applicants must submit the following materials.
- Composition: Submit evidence of compositional activity through Acceptd. If an applicant has enrolled in the Seminar in Composition course prior to his or her application for formal admission to the program in Composition, the work accomplished there may serve to meet this entrance requirement, if satisfactory.
- Scholarly Paper: Submit a research paper no fewer than 12 pages through Acceptd.
- Personal Statement: Write a personal statement up to three pages in length that discusses your scholarly or compositional interests. Your statement should include the reason(s) why you have chosen the Boyer College of Music and Dance to pursue your education.
Following the review of your materials, the Music Studies Department will contact you to set up a phone or Zoom interview.
Music Studies, Music Theory, Musicology
Applicants must submit the following materials.
- Scholarly Papers: Submit two research papers on contrasting topics, no fewer than 12 pages each.
- Personal Statement: Write a personal statement up to three pages in length that discusses your scholarly or compositional interests. Your statement should include the reason(s) why you have chosen the Boyer College of Music and Dance to pursue your education.
Following the review of your materials, the Music Studies Department will contact you to set up a phone or Zoom interview.
Music Education PhD
We encourage you to contact Chair, Dr. Alison M. Reynolds (Alison.Reynolds@temple.edu), prior to applying for the PhD in music education.
Applicants should fulfill the following requirements:
- Education: Applicants must have a master's degree in Music Education.
- Certification: Applicants must be certified to teach by at least one state in the United States. A copy of the teaching certificate must be submitted with the application.
- Teaching Experience: Applicants must have a minimum of three years of full-time (or the equivalent) of elementary or secondary teaching experience.
- Statement of Goals: Provide a written statement no more than 3-5 double-spaced pages in response to the following four prompts. Copy the prompt and paste it above each response.
- Detail your purpose in enrolling in a music education PhD program and how completing the degree will assist your intended career trajectory.
- Describe your strengths as a teacher and learner and what you offer to a PhD program in music education. What do you hope to give and what do you hope to get from your experience?
- Envision yourself as a PhD student in music education. How would you like to use the time related to your studies within the degree program? Based on what you know about faculty in music education at Temple University, who would you like to study with and why?
- Please share, as applicable, your choices for using AI when developing your application materials. How are you using AI in your roles as musician and teacher?
- Education: Applicants must have at least an undergraduate degree in music education, or a master’s degree in music education that included your route to certification.
- Copy of your teaching certificate: Applicants must be certified to teach music in at least one state in the US, or by the country if certified in a country other than the US.
- Academic and Musical Profile (AMP):
- Academic: One academic paper completed during your master’s degree you believe best represents your best thinking and writing.
- Musical: One digital video—maximum 15 minutes—that features at least one teaching example best representing you and your students engaged in active music making. Please be sure to secure all necessary permissions prior to videotaping. SUBMIT MY AMP VIA ACCEPTD – Music Teaching Example
- Additional Materials: Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit any additional files that will help the faculty in the admission decision, such as recordings of your compositions, arrangements, or performances (soloist); or additional scholarly work, your written lesson or rehearsal plans, or curriculum development materials.
- Interview: After your application is complete, Dr. Alison Reynolds, Chair of the Department of Music Education and Therapy ([click-for-email]) will contact you for an interview.
Music Therapy PhD
*We are presently not accepting applications for this program.
Applicants should fulfill the following requirements.
- Education: Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in any music-related area or its equivalent. Applicants must have a master's degree in music therapy or related area, or satisfactorily completed 18 graduate credits in Music Therapy, including the following courses at Temple, or similar courses from another accredited graduate music therapy program.
- 8601 Qualitative Research in Music Therapy (2 s.h.)
- 8602 Quantitative Research in Music Therapy (2 s.h.)
- 8603 Music Psychotherapy (2 s.h.)
- 8618 Music in Medicine (2 s.h.)
- 8619 Music Therapy Education and Supervision (2 s.h.)
- 8621 Music Therapy Ethics (2 s.h.)
- 9995 Independent Project in Music Therapy (2 semesters @ 3 s.h. each)
- Certification: Applicants must hold professional certification in music therapy.
- Clinical Experience: Applicants should have a minimum of five years of full time clinical experience (or its equivalent) as a professional music therapist is required.
- Scholarly Paper: Applicants should submit a paper on music therapy. This paper should be written in English, and demonstrate the applicant's scholarship and writing ability (published or unpublished).
- Audition: Applicants will be asked to meet audition requirements.
- Interview: Applicants will be invited to a personal interview with the Music Therapy faculty.
- Writing Proficiency Exam: At the time of the audition and interview, applicants will take a one-hour writing proficiency examination. The exam requires the applicant to write an essay on a topic selected from the list provided.
Questions?
If you have questions about the admissions process, send an email to Music: boyer@temple.edu or Dance: [click-for-email].
