Program Description

Application Requirements

Program-Specific Instructions

WRITING SAMPLE:  Because Mason requires all DMA students to complete a dissertation of substantial scope, assessment of research skills and experience is an important component of the application. Please submit a scholarly writing sample, ideally on a musical topic, that demonstrates your highest level of attainment in analytical, contextual, and/or bibliographic research. Typically, seminar papers from music history or theory courses work well for this requirement, but master’s theses (or selected sections) and other larger-scale pieces of writing are also welcome. There is no minimum page limit, but the writing sample should feature:

• A central claim or thesis statement
• Development and contextualization of the thesis statement through meaningful engagement with primary and/or secondary resources
• A coherent structure and logic flow, organized around the thesis statement (e.g. introduction, background, analysis, conclusion)
• Appropriate use of scholarly apparatus (citations, bibliography, etc.), following an established style guide (Chicago, APA, etc.)

DMA applicants who do not have or are not able to create a writing sample that meets these parameters may be asked to demonstrate research proficiency via an alternative evaluation.

PRE-SCREENING: Pre-Screening materials submitted through Slide Room. Refer to this link for detailed information regarding portfolio submission requirements. The link to SlideRoom will be provided to you when you apply. You will be able to submit your portfolio via SlideRoom after you have received your GNumber from the Office of Graduate Admissions. Contact CVPA Graduate Admissions if you have any questions.

AUDITION: Auditions will be scheduled after review of the pre-screen materials.

PRIOR MUSIC COURSEWORK: A GPA of 3.00 in master's-level coursework and 3.50 in courses related to the prospective area of doctoral study is required.

English Proficiency Requirements

All Mason students must have a full command of academic English to be successful in their studies. For this reason, Mason requires applicants to demonstrate English proficiency for admission consideration, regardless of citizenship. Click here to view the requirements.

International Transcript Requirements

All transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be translated into English, if applicable, and submitted for evaluation to the Mason Office of Admissions. Mason will provide evaluation service free of charge for all international transcripts, however, some programs may request an outside evaluation be completed. Because of volume, more time may be needed to process applications requiring a Mason evaluation. You should submit your application 6 weeks prior to the deadline if you plan to utilize Mason’s free evaluation service. For expedited service, students may submit their documents to any NACES member organization at their own expense. If you decide to use an external evaluation service or if your program requires an outside evaluation, GPA and Degree equivalences must be included with your course-by-course evaluation. Mason evaluations are used for internal purposes and are not released to applicants. For information on international transcript requirements, go here.