Master of Music in Composition in Columbia United States | University of Missouri

This program equips graduates for professional paths in composition, academic instruction, or advanced doctoral research.

MU provides extensive collaborative possibilities with artists across diverse disciplines, community involvement in artistic creation, and performance opportunities both on campus and beyond. The graduate New Music Ensemble specializes in showcasing compositions by MU's student composers. Each year, the Sinquefield Composition Prize enables one student to have their large ensemble piece featured at the Chancellor's Concert. We also organize a spring Student Composers Concert, a Composers Forum, and maintain a student branch of Society of Composers, Inc. Our alumni have gained entry into top-tier doctoral programs nationwide, while current students have earned recognition in competitions hosted by the Music Teachers National Association, Music Educators National Conference, and the esteemed BMI Student Composer Awards.

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate music degree (or comparable qualification)
3.0 GPA in final 60 credit hours
3 credits in 18th- or 16th-century counterpoint
2 credits in orchestration
8 credits in composition
4 credits in music history (equivalent to Music 2307-2308)
16 credits in applied instruction (or equivalent training)