2.1 What is required for admission to the masters program at the School of Music & Dance?

Students apply both to the University Graduate School and to the School of Music and Dance. There are separate applications for each.

University requirements are detailed below. School of Music & Dance requirements include (1) an undergraduate degree in music, (2) evidence of the ability to complete the graduate program successfully, (3) a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 semester (90 quarter) units of undergraduate work, and (4) an audition for your area. Foreign students must have a total score of 590 on the TOEFL and a minimum of 5.0 of 6.0 on the writing section of the test.

The School of Music and Dance does not require the GRE.

The School of Music and Dance application procedure includes:

A. Completing the application form

B. Auditioning for your area of study

C. Taking the entrance examinations in history and systems/theory

D. Submitting 3 letters of reference

2.2 Are degrees from foreign universities, conservatories, and institutions acceptable?

All foreign degrees are first evaluated by the Graduate School. If a degree is in question, the School of Music and Dance is normally consulted. Students who come from foreign universities, conservatories, and institutions must understand that the master's degree at SJSU requires the ability to write extended term papers in English and participate fluently in class discussions. Students with degrees from foreign universities must have a TOEFL score of 590 with a minimum of 5.0 of 6.0 on the writing section of the test.

2.3 How long will it take to finish my degree?

Full-time students normally take three or four semesters. Part-time students have up to seven years to complete their degree but must be continuously enrolled.

2.4 What areas of concentration are available for graduate study in music?

Graduate degrees in music at SJSU are offered in performance, composition, choral conducting, instrumental conducting, jazz and improvised music, music education, music history, and music systems/theory.

2.5 What are the entrance examinations like?

You are required to audition for your area. As well, all students are required to pass examinations in music history and systems/theory. The examinations are designed to show that you have proficiency at the undergraduate level in music history and systems/theory and are ready to begin graduate work.

2.6 Can I transfer in units from another masters program?

Yes, students are allowed to transfer in six units of the thirty required for the degree, pending the approval of your faculty mentor and the Graduate Advisor.

2.7 How strict are the deadlines?

Very strict. Most are beyond the control of the School of Music & Dance. For further information, check the website of the Graduate School, especially when you are filing the forms to graduate .

2.8 Who comes to SJSU to get a masters degree?

Our graduate students are teachers seeking greater skills and advancement in their districts, those who wish to become professional performers and teachers, those who wish to teach at the community and junior college level, and those who are preparing for furtherstudy at the doctoral level.

2.9 Will my employment prospects be enhanced when I complete my graduate degree in music?

The skills and knowledge obtained in a masters program often lead to enhanced career opportunities. For teachers, the additional education usually means a raise in pay as well as opportunities for additional recognition and responsibilities in their districts. Performers often benefit from the time they devote to improving their skills. SJSU graduates are members of major symphony orchestras, opera companies, as well as military ensembles, or earn their living as studio performers and private teachers. Many graduates teach in community and junior colleges across the United States.

2.10 Will a master's degree in music from SJSU make me an attractive candidate for further graduate study if I decide to pursue additional education?

Graduates of SJSU's program are sought after by major universities. Many graduates have gone on to complete their doctorates and are teaching at colleges and universities around the country.

2.11 What about the faculty?

The music faculty at SJSU has a long list of accomplishments and has achieved national and international recognition for their performances, compositions, and scholarly work. The faculty is committed to the education of graduate students and strives to meet the individual needs of each student. The faculty includes noted performers, conductors, composers, and scholars.

2.12 Are there special learning opportunities?

Graduate students are given unlimited performance opportunities as soloists and as members of the fine SJSU music ensembles. Students have the opportunity to conduct research in the only Beethoven center in the Americas, and to work with the world-renowned Cypress String Quartet, our quartet-in-residence. The San Francisco Bay Area is known for its support of music and opportunities abound for those who wish to teach, conduct, or perform while pursuing their graduate studies.

2.13 What types of facilities are available?

The School of Music & Dance is housed in a historically significant facility in the center of campus. Designed by the architect Stanley Willard in the 1940s, construction was delayed because of World War II and began in the early 1950s. Dedication ceremonies took place on December 3, 1953. The acoustically vibrant Concert Hall, which incorporates Art Deco Mayan designs above the stage, seats 550 people and is booked throughout the year with campus and public recitals and concerts, meetings of music teachers, and music conferences. The facility includes recording studios, a computer lab, rehearsal and performance halls, and classrooms. Most graduate courses are given in the intimate surroundings of the seminar room. The School owns several early keyboards (clavichords, harpsichords, and fortepianos), a complete collection of Renaissance instruments, a collection of world music instruments (including a gamelan), and extensive electronic technology and equipment. Students also have special access to the collections of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library.

2.14 Is there financial aid for graduate students in music?

Several SJSU scholarships are available for graduate students. Students who receive a scholarship should be aware that they will be required to perform in an ensemble or fulfill other duties outlined in the scholarship contract. These scholarships include:

Any area:

• Beverly Compton Scholarship
• Brent Heisinger Scholarship
• Hazel Kimzey Scholarship
• Ryan Loadwick Scholarship
• Eva Thompson Scholarship
• Eva Schock Scholarship
• Dorothy Wilkinson Scholarship

Percussion:

• Michael Laporta Scholarship

2.15 What are educational and living expenses like in San José?

Tuition at SJSU is relatively low. (Check the Graduate School website for up to date information.) Apartment and house rentals are relatively high. Graduate students often live on campus or share apartments or houses. The University is especially proud of the new Campus Village, a three-building state of the art student, faculty, and staff apartment complex that will open in the fall of 2005. Students can contact University Housing at (408) 924-6160 for further information.

2.16 Are there opportunities for me to find part-time work either on campus or in the community?

In addition to the part-time positions mentioned earlier, graduate students also find music and non-music related employment in a wide variety of Bay Area businesses. Choral conducting students often work in local churches or with community choruses directing adult and children's choirs. Pianists frequently teach in local music schools or set up their own private studios. Some students work part-time in computer businesses in the world-famous "Silicon Valley," sometimes in music-related jobs. In addition, many area public schools hire SJSU graduate students to work with their students and performing ensembles throughout the year.

2.17 Do I have to be continuously enrolled once I begin?

Yes. Even when you have finished your basic coursework and are working on your final project, you must be enrolled each semester.

2.18 Is it possible to complete a California Teaching Credential and a master's degree at the same time?

It is possible to begin the credential program in your second year as a master's candidate, but students should be aware that it is a demanding load.

2.19 What resources are available for students with learning disabilities?

SJSU has an excellent educational center on campus for people with learning disabilities. We are committed to helping all students who have been diagnosed with a learning disability succeed at SJSU. Your responsibilities as a student with a learning disability include (1) working with the Disability Resource Center to find ways to help you succeed and (2) informing all of your instructors at the beginning of each class of your learning disability so that you can agree on a work plan for the semester that may include any special accommodations. Additional information can found at: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu or by calling the Center at (408) 924-4600.