SOM Graduate Program

Special Programs
& Events

Contact Information

Applicants for the MA and all MM degree programs must take the School of Music Graduate Admission Test prior to admission to the graduate program for placement in music history and theory courses. The examination will be administered twice each semester and twice during the summer session to allow the greatest degree of accessibility for students and to facilitate student progress through degree curricula. The GAT must be taken prior to or during the first semester of enrollment in the graduate program. Students who do not take the GAT during the first semester of enrollment in the graduate program will not be allowed to enroll in subsequent coursework until this requirement is met.

Applicants should notify the Graduate Coordinator in advance of the test that he/she is planning to take the exam on a specific date to guarantee that there are adequate copies of examination materials available. This may be done by sending an e-mail to jburton3@wcupa.edu. Dates may be changed due to WCU events or inclement weather—check ahead of time to verify dates.

Preparing for the
School of Music Graduate Admission Test

Part I — Music History and Literature

The first portion of the examination will assess student competencies in music history and literature. History/literature—styles, forms and genres of all major periods of music history, representative composers and their works, philosophical and societal issues relating to music history. This knowledge will be assessed through a combination of written questions and aural listening exam.

To prepare for this exam, students may find the following materials helpful:
• the most recent edition of A History of Western Music By Grout & Palisca, published by W. W. Norton
• the study guide for A History of Western Music, also published by W.W. Norton.

These materials are readily available for academic bookstores and through such internet sites as Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. An online review outline and practice tests for each chapter in this text may be found online at www.wwnorton.com

Part 2 — Music Theory

The second portion of the examination will assess student competencies in music theory.

Theory: harmonic and melodic structures, basic arranging and composition, and aural skills. These skills and knowledge will be assessed through a combination of written questions and aural listening exam.

To prepare for this exam, students should review such topics in music theory as
• part writing from a figured bass
• part writing from a given melody
# structure and resolution of secondary dominant chords and secondary leading tone chords
• structure and resolution of German Sixth Chords, French Sixth Chords, Italian Sixth Chords
• modulation—identify change of tonality, transition chords, etc.
• chordal analysis of chromatic harmony
• basic form and genre

Stefan Kosta’s Tonal Harmony is a useful text to review in preparation for this portion of the Graduate Admission Test.

The GAT will be administered by the Graduate Coordinator for the School of Music on the dates advertised. Members of the Music History and Literature Department will assess the history/literature component. Members of the Music Theory and Composition Department will assess the theory component. Based upon the results of the examination and other admissions criteria (including, but not limited to, auditions, samples of written work, interviews), the School of Music will recommend one of the following actions:
• Admission: Full Matriculation
• Admission: Provisional Status — remedial courses required (MHL 501*, MTC 591**)
• Admission: Provisional Status — music history remedial required (MHL 501)
• Admission: Provisional Status — music theory remedial required (MTC 591)
• Admission: Denied

*MHL 501 — Style, Form, Genre as remedial history course
**MTC 591 — Advanced Chromatic Harmony

top of page

Satisfying Remedial Requirements

Each applicant will be notified as to need for remedial courses as identified through this exam.

Students identified as needing remedial coursework must register for and successfully complete such course(s) during the first semester in which the course(s) is/are offered following the examination.

Students identified as needing remedial coursework and attending summer sessions only must register for and successfully complete such course(s) during the first summer session in which the course(s) is/are offered following the examination.

Students identified as needing remedial coursework must register for and complete the required course(s) prior to registering for any other course in the department in which remediation is required.

Remedial course credits will not be counted toward the total number of credit hours required by the student’s degree curriculum. Remedial courses must be passed with a grade of C or better.

Students identified as needing remedial coursework who do not register for and successfully complete the required course(s) within the time frame detailed above will not be allowed to register for further graduate study in music until remedial courses are taken.

Students who otherwise meet admission criteria for a degree curriculum (e.g. degree requirement, grade point average in field, departmental assessment through audition, assessment of writing samples, etc.) may be admitted to graduate study in music as “Provisionally Matriculated”.

top of page