Master of Arts in Composition

Designed for students seeking intensive and specialized professional training in composition. Applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in music or its equivalent along with a substantial composition background.

Note: The difference between the curricula for the MM and MA programs in composition is that the non-Composition electives for the MM degree are within SMTD (e.g., performance, musicology, or music theory), while the non-Composition electives for the MA degree are in another academic unit at U-M. While the application process differs for these degrees, the admission criteria are identical, and it is possible to change from one to the other after admission. Applicants whose undergraduate work was strong in liberal arts and who wish to continue that emphasis at the graduate level may prefer to apply for the MA. Applicants wishing the maximum number of elections in music should choose the MM program. Course elections in performance do not count toward the thirty hours required for the Master of Arts degree.