Changes to Graduate Entrance Exams and Remedial Coursework

What's happening? 

• Updated Department Requirements: Changes to remedial graduate music theory and history requirements affect all incoming graduate music students who begin coursework Fall 2024 or later. Full details about the new requirements are outlined on the department website here. 

  • • • The entrance exam website outlines details about the exam for the students here. 

• Updated Grad Theory Review Courses: To accommodate the new requirements, we are phasing out the current graduate music theory remedial courses (Review of Tonal Theory I and II, MPATC-GE 2930 and 2931). Two new remedial courses (Graduate Review of Music Theory and Graduate Review of Aural Skills, MPATC-GE 2232 and 2035) will replace these courses, starting Fall 2024. 

  • • • Review of Tonal Theory I will run for the last time in Spring 2024. 

      • Review of Tonal Theory II will run in Spring 2024 and for the last time in Fall 2024. 

      • Both new review courses will run in Fall 2024 and each semester following. 

• A New Entrance Exam: Students who take the exam after October 2023 will take a new exam that includes a stronger focus on aural skills and a broader range of written theory topics that include both classical and popular music. Topics for each section of the exam are outlined on the entrance exam website here.) 

• DMA Students take the Exam Prior to Admission: DMA applicants will complete the music theory entrance exam as part of the application process. All other graduate music students will complete the exam after admissions decisions have been made. The exam will continue to be an online exam that students can take year-round, if needed.
  
  

Why are the remedial requirements being updated?

• Undergraduate music theory and history curricula is changing across the country. These changes reflect shifts toward more inclusive and global trends in music theory and history pedagogy. These changes will better accommodate graduate applicants coming from a broad range of music degrees and backgrounds. The exam and corresponding remedial theory courses were designed based on faculty feedback from programs across the department. 

• These updates provide more flexible options for programs that wish to have students complete history requirements in areas outside of Western Art Music. 

• To provide clearer and more consistent guidelines for students, advisors, and programs within the department.
  
  

How is this different from what we're currently doing?

• How are the remedial theory courses different?

  • • What do students take now? Currently, students take Graduate Review of Tonal Theory I and II after completing Fundamentals (if needed). These courses focus on diatonic and chromatic harmonic analysis and partwriting in from the perspective of common-practice Western art music. The courses are sequential; students take Theory I, then Theory II the following semester if both are required. Both courses are 1 credit each. 

    • How are the new courses different? These two courses will be replaced with two new courses that may be taken concurrently within the same semester: Graduate Review of Music Theory and Graduate Review of Aural Skills. Students may pass out of one or both courses. Each course is still 1 credit. The big change is that written theory skills will now be covered within a single semester and a separate course will focus on ear-training skills. 

    • What about Fundamentals? There's no change here. Graduate students will still take the same Fundamentals course (MPATC-GE 2301) if needed. This course is offered fall, spring, and as an online 6-week accelerated course over the summer. 

• What's different with the history requirements?

  • • What do students do now? Currently students take a music history entrance exam that tests their knowledge of the history of European Western art music from antiquity through the 20th century. Based on their results, they're required to take up to four music history courses (History I, II, III, and IV) that focus on each area of history. 

    • How will this be different? Students will no longer take a history exam. Students who have completed a minimum of two music history courses (equivalent to two 2-credit history courses at NYU) as part of their undergraduate or graduate degrees prior to arrival are exempt from supplemental coursework in music history. This will be determined by the student's advisor. Students who are missing this requirement will take up to two 2-credit music history courses within the department. These may include program-specific history courses in music theatre, film, jazz, etc. as deemed appropriate by the program. 

Notes for Advisors and Program Directors 

• What about current students who have not yet taken the placement exam? 

  • • As a general rule, all graduate music students should take the exam as soon as possible before the first semester of study so that remedial coursework does not delay progress toward their degree. If any students have not yet taken the exam, they will now need to take the new music  theory placement exam, but they will also need to take the history exam. Directions for accessing the exam is provided for students on the placement exam site here. 

    • Any current students who take the exam between now and the Spring drop/add deadline will receive two sets of placement results that will allow them to either take the current remedial coursework or begin with the new remedial coursework next fall. Advisor and student placement results show two options: 

      • 1. 1. An option for starting remedial coursework Spring 2024 with Review of Tonal Theory I (or II). If the student needs both courses, Review of Tonal Theory II will be offered in Fall 2024 for those enrolled in Review I in the spring. 

           2. The option to wait until Fall 2024 and take the new Grad Review of Music Theory and/or Aural Skills courses (as needed). 

    • The History I-IV courses will continue to run Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 for students who need to complete history remediation. 

    • Any students who wait until after the Spring drop/add deadline will take the exam as usual and will need to take the new courses the following semester.
      
      

• Are any students exempt from the exam? 

  • • Yes. Students applying to the Masters, PhD, or Advanced Certificate programs who have completed a music degree in the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions at NYU Steinhardt within the last five years are exempt from the music theory entrance exam. All DMA applicants are required to take the exam regardless of prior degrees from our department as part of the application process.
      
      

• Can these courses be used toward degree requirements? 

  • • No. Courses taken to satisfy a proficiency requirement are supplemental to those required by any graduate degree program. Remedial courses cannot be used to meet degree requirements.
      
      

• How do I get access to graduate placement results? 

  • • If you are an advisor or faculty member, email the music theory program at smusic.theory@nyu.edu and we'll set you up with access. 

    • Students are emailed their results and may also access them using the links below: 

      • 1. Current graduate students (using the last 5 digits of your N number)

        2. DMA Applicants (using your application number)

Questions? 

• General Questions: Email the Music Theory & History Program at smusic.theory@nyu.edu. 

• Sarah Louden, Music Theory & History Program Director (sarah.louden@nyu.edu)

• Barbie Matthews, Music Theory Program Administrator (barbara.matthews@nyu.edu)