Composition Concentration, Bachelor of Music (B.Mu.) at Georgia State University

Programme overview

The Georgia State Bachelor of Music with a concentration in Composition offers students personalized instruction and an immersive learning experience. The program features distinguished guest speakers like Eric Whitacre, George Lewis, Caroline Shaw, John Luther Adams and the Grammy Award-winning ensemble, Roomful of Teeth. Freshman and sophomore students may enroll in Composition Seminar to develop their portfolio. Completion of Theory I and Aural Skills I is required for admission into the Composition Seminar.

Faculty: College of the Arts | Department: School of Music | Duration: 120 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Spring – November 15 (All concentrations except Conducting) Summer – March 1 (Music Education concentration and non-degree programs only) Fall – June 1 (All concentrations) | Location: Atlanta, GA, United States

What you will study

The Music Composition concentration at GSU offers a dynamic and immersive curriculum for aspiring composers. Students in this program receive expert guidance from renowned faculty and engage in a range of compositional techniques and practices. The curriculum encompasses courses in music theory, counterpoint, orchestration and electronic music, providing students with a strong foundation in composition. Through individual composition lessons, workshops and collaborative projects, students develop their unique artistic voice and refine their skills in writing for various instruments and ensembles.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

To be considered for admission, students applying to the School of Music at Georgia State are required to complete a separate application through the Acceptd platform. Audition requirements, important deadlines and audition dates can be found on the Music School Application page. Formal admission into the Music Composition degree usually takes place after the sophomore year. There is a three-step procedure for formal admission into the composition concentration: Step One – Prerequisites Step Two – Portfolio Step Three – Entrance Interview / Special Jury Music students must pass a qualifying examination specific to their concentration during their fourth semester of study. The rising junior jury determines whether the student has made adequate progress to qualify for entry to the 3000-level of applied music study.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms for first-year applicants: Spring, Summer and Fall semesters. Fall 2027 classes begin in August 2027.

First-year applicants apply through the Common Application with a $60 nonrefundable application fee; fee waivers from ACT, College Board or NACAC are accepted.

Fall semester: application opens August 14; Early Action application and Honors and scholarship priority deadline November 15; final application and Regular Decision deadline May 1; official transcripts and test scores due June 1.

Spring semester: early application October 1, regular application December 1. Summer semester: early application February 1, final application April 1, final documents May 1.

Official SAT or ACT scores are required for the Atlanta Campus for Fall 2026 admission and later (SAT code 5251, ACT code 0826).

November is Apply to College Month with no application fee; the FAFSA priority deadline is April 1.

Apply through the official page: https://app.getacceptd.com/gsu

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