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All Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Music (BM) students must complete jury examinations on their principal instrument or voice. These assessments will involve performing diverse musical pieces representing undergraduate-level repertoire. Both BA and BM students are required to show core piano competencies, such as playing, transposing, harmonizing, and sight-reading at standards expected for music majors. Performance and jazz studies BM students must present one half-recital and one full recital on their primary instrument, featuring varied musical styles from undergraduate-level works. Music education BM candidates will need to design appropriate lesson plans and effectively implement them in real teaching situations within their specialization (band, choir, orchestra, or elementary music).
International freshman applicants must be high school graduates (students that have the equivalent of a diploma in the United States).
English proficiency is measured through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of at least 550 on the paper based exam or 77 on the internet based TOEFL is required. USC also accepts the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the PTE Academic Test. Students must score at least a 6.5 on the IELTS, or at least a 53 on the PTE.