Contact Info
Phone: 610-436-2739
Fax: 610-436-2873
musicinfo@wcupa.edu


Graduate Program

West Chester University of Pennsylvania School of Music offers degrees in:

Graduate Program Step-by-Step

1. Get Information
Obtain current Graduate Catalog and Application for Admission to Graduate Study from the Office of Graduate Studies and Sponsored Research by calling 610-436-2943.

2. Register for Test
Register to take School of Music Graduate Admission Test (GAT). This examination is offered twice during each semester and twice during the Summer Session. Please e-mail the Graduate Coordinator for the School of Music (jburton3@wcupa.edu) for dates and information.

3. Return Application
Complete application and return to Office of Graduate Studies and Sponsored Research. Include all requested materials including transcripts, essays, and recommendations.

4. Make Contact
Contact Coordinator of Graduate Studies for Music and/or the Chair of the department in which studies will be undertaken to determine need for interviews, auditions or submission of supplemental materials.

Coordinator of Graduate Studies
Applied Music
Music Education
Music Theory & Composition
Music History & Literature

5. Status
Fully Matriculated
If all admission criteria are satisfactory and the applicant's scores on the GAT in both Music Theory and Music History are "pass", the applicant will be admitted to graduate study in music in "Fully Matriculated" status.

Provisional - remedial courses required

  • If all admission criteria are satisfactory, but the applicant's score on the GAT in Music Theory is "fail", the applicant may be admitted in "Provisional Status" and must take MTC 591 Advanced Chromatic harmony as a remedial course.
  • If all admission criteria are satisfactory, but the applicant's score on the GAT in Music History is "fail", the applicant may be admitted in "Provisional Status" and must take MHL 501 Style, Form and Genre as a remedial course.

Upon successful completion of these remedial courses, apply for a change of admission status to "Fully Matriculated". (Remedial courses are in addition to courses required by the degree curriculum.)

Provisional - GAT to be completed
A student may also be admitted in "Provisional Status" if all admission criteria are satisfactory and the GAT is taken at the first available test date following admission in "Provisional" status.

6. Apply for Admission to Degree Candidacy.
After successful completion of twelve to fifteen credits hours (and remedial courses, if needed,), apply for Admission to Degree Candidacy.

7. Arrange Exit Examination
Upon completion of coursework and final project such as thesis, recital or research paper, arrange to take comprehensive exit examination.

8. Apply for Graduation
During final semester of study, apply for graduation.

Special Notes

  • All degree requirements must be completed within six years. A single one-year extension may be granted for cause.
  • Six semester hours of graduate credit may be transferred into a degree program upon approval by advisor, department chair, graduate coordinator and Office of Graduate Studies and Sponsored Research.
  • No more than six semester hours of workshop credit may be counted toward fulfillment of degree requirements.
  • Continuous registration is required to remain in active status through either enrollment in formal coursework or registration for GSR 799, a non-credit, non-fee category used to record the fact of continuous enrollment. Students who fail to maintain continuous registration will be considered inactive and must reapply for admission to graduate study.
  • A limited number of graduate assistantships are available during the academic year.
  • Although faculty advisers and the Coordinator of Graduate Studies for the School of Music will assist each student in the successful completion of the degree program, it is the responsibility of the individual student to become thoroughly acquainted with the policies and procedures outlined in the School of Music Graduate Handbook and the Graduate Catalog and fulfill, in a timely fashion, all university and program requirements.