Master of Arts in Musicology

The Master of Arts in Musicology offers students a multitude of research opportunities. A faculty of active scholars, Latin American Center for Graduate Studies in Music, and proximity to such Washington institutions as the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution provide the resources needed to become a 21st-century musical scholar. The school's music departments are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. Students are encouraged to take advantage of all the resources, cultural and intellectual, that Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area offer. The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art remains the preeminent Catholic center for music study in the United States and is internationally recognized for perpetuating the Church's historical role in uplifting the human spirit through the study and performance of music. The music departments welcome applications from women and men of character, intelligence, motivation, and talent, regardless of race, creed, nationality, ethnic background, or disability.

The bachelor's degree program includes at least 18 semester hours in music theory and six semester hours in music history. Any deficiencies must be made up in the first year. An original research paper on any musical topic is required as part of the application. The paper should demonstrate facility with scholarly sources, the ability to formulate an original argument, and solid writing skills. All entering graduate students in the Master of Arts degree program must take the Music Theory Placement Examination and the Music History Placement Examination.

Secondary School Report
International candidates are asked to have their secondary school or high school guidance counselor complete the Secondary School Report. If your school does not have a guidance counselor, another school official who knows you and your academic work well may complete the form. This form allows the guidance counselor/school official to evaluate your involvement, motivation and potential as a student. This information adds an important dimension to your credentials. Additional recommendations may be included in your application in an open letter format.

Official/Attested Copy of Transcripts
Arrange to have your secondary school, high school, or college send the required educational documents directly to The Catholic University of America. The University requires official records of educational study leading to the earned degree(s) or certificate(s). Transcripts of previous academic training should show courses taken, grades obtained, and proof of graduation. All official/attested transcripts must have an original seal or stamp from the issuing institution. All transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated before they will be reviewed. SpanTran is our recommended international transcript evaluation service.

They do not require GRE scores for admission to either the M.A. or Ph.D. in musicology. High GRE scores, however, may qualify a student for a University-wide fellowship.

Minimally accepted TOEFL scores, when applying for graduate programs, are 550-paper, 213-computer, and 80 Internet. Students taking the TOEFL should have at least 20 out of 30 in each of the TOEFL subcategories. The minimally accepted graduate IELTS score is 6.5. Individual IELTS test module scores are also reviewed in addition to the overall IELTS score.

In addition to the standard university application and official college transcripts, an application to both the M.A. and the Ph.D. consists of a personal statement (which should stress why the student is pursuing graduate education in musicology and also provide evidence of the student's preparation for the degree), letters of recommendation (at least one of which should be from a musicology professor), and at least one writing sample.


For M.A. applications, the writing sample should be a research paper on any musical topic that demonstrates facility with scholarly sources, the ability to formulate an original argument, and solid writing skills.