Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music

Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts
70 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-2405 Phone: 847-491-7575

Music Admission and Financial Aid: musiclife@northwestern.edu

Bienen School of Music webmaster: bsmweb@northwestern.edu

TIMELINE: http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/about/policies/phd-degree-requirements.html

PhD Application: http://www.music.northwestern.edu/admission/phd-application-process.html

Applicants should begin by completing and submitting the online application via The Graduate School. The
PhD is administered by The Graduate School but is taught by Bienen School faculty. Applications for the
PhD in Composition, Music Education, Musicology and Music Theory/Cognition are due December 1,
2017.

Main application data for PhD programs in Music at Northwestern are accepted through the online application
system administered by The Graduate School. In addition to completing the online application form, candidates
should submit/upload the following:

1. CV or musical rsum detailing your academic and professional history, which should be uploaded
within your online application to The Graduate School.
2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Official GRE scores are required for applicants to all PhD
programs in the Department of Music Studies. Official scores must be taken no more than five years
before the intended quarter of entry and must come directly from the Educational Testing Service
(ETS). Personal copies are not considered official, nor are attested or notarized copies. Please instruct
ETS to send scores electronically to the Northwestern University Graduate School, code 1565.
3. Certifying English Proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS). Much of your success in graduate study will rely on
your ability to understand, read, write, and speak English. If your native language is not English, you
must certify your proficiency in the English language in one of the following three ways:

a. Provide official scores electronically for either the TOEFL or IELTS exam. The test must be
taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. For example, to be
considered valid for Fall 2014 admission, TOEFL scores must be no older than September
2012. For the TOEFL, you must score 577 or higher on the paper-based test, or 90 or higher on
the internet-based test. For the IELTS, you must receive a score of 7.0 or higher. You will be
asked to scan and upload a copy of your score report (if available) while submitting your online
application. This uploaded version is not considered official and will be used only for
preliminary review purposes until your official scores have been received from ETS or IELTS.
b. Provide official transcripts verifying an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year
institution or equivalent, where the language of instruction is English.
c. Provide official transcripts verifying a graduate degree from an accredited institution where the
language of instruction is English.
2. Official transcripts. Submit official transcripts from each post-secondary institution you have attended.
The transcript must record all courses taken, all grades received, and all degrees earned. These must
be scanned into your applicationThe Graduate School will not accept mailed copies of your
transcript(s) during the admission process. Official mailed copies will be requested should you gain
acceptance to the PhD program.
 3. Letters of recommendation. At least two letters of recommendation are required, and you will be
prompted to enter your recommender information during the online admission process.

Music Education

Provide an essay discussing the following: Of the issues, problems, and trends currently discussed in
the field of music education,
o Which do you think are the most important issues for the future?
o How do you envision becoming involved in leadership activities which address these issues?
o How will your study here enhance your goals?
(Essay paper requirements: six or seven typed pages; one-inch margins; double-spaced;
twelve-point font; Times New Roman preferred)

Three total letters of recommendation that address your teaching experience, musicianship, and
suitability for graduate study.
Upload a video recording that demonstrates the best of your teaching ability and musicianship. You
may choose to submit a sample of several representative clips of your teaching, totaling no more than
30 minutes. During at least one of these teaching episodes, demonstrate your musicianship by using
your primary instrument or voice to model for students. This musical example should be lengthy and
demonstrate the quality of your musicianship. Please attach a brief description of the setting and your
goals for each teaching episode. This video will be uploaded to a supplementary online form that will be
available soon.
Example of scholarly writing. This could be something from a previous writing project (e.g. MA thesis or
research paper).

You should upload these materials to the online application via The Graduate School. However, if you are
unable to upload the materials to the application due to a large file size or an unconventional format, you
should upload these supplemental materials to the Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid. Digital media
can be sent via flash drive or DVD. If you wish to link to media on your personal website or private YouTube
channel, please upload these links with an explanatory document to your online application. Emailed
attachments and/or emailed links to external sites will not be accepted.

Mailed materials should arrive in our office by the application deadline of December 1. Please address all
mailed materials to:

Office of Music Admission and Financial Aid

Attn.: PhD Application Processing
70 Arts Circle
Evanston, IL 60208-2405

For questions on submitting supplemental materials to the PhD, email us at musiclife@northwestern.edu or

call (847) 491-3141.
Northwestern University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community
against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship, or veteran status in
matters of admission, employment, housing, or services or in the education program or activities it operates.