BS Composition - Viola (Music and an Outside Field) at Indiana University Bloomington

Programme overview

Bachelor of Science in Music and an Outside Field with a composition emphasis at the Jacobs School of Music, Indiana University Bloomington, paired with viola as the performance area. The degree combines composition and music study with a self-selected outside field and totals 120 credit hours.

Faculty: Jacobs School of Music | Department: Composition | Duration: 120 credit hours | Intake: Fall (admission consideration for Fall 2027 per Jacobs undergraduate admissions) | Location: Bloomington, IN, United States

What you will study

Studies combine composition study (Freshman Workshop, Instrumentation I and II, Composition Major lessons, Senior Recital, Advanced Orchestration I and II) with six semesters of performance study, major ensemble each semester, 27 credit hours of core music courses, and a 27-credit-hour outside field approved by the director of undergraduate studies and the outside field advisor, with electives to reach 120 credit hours.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Jacobs School of Music composition applicants (BM and BS in Music and an Outside Field, entry 2027-28): apply to Indiana University (preferred deadline November 1, final December 1) and submit the Jacobs Supplemental Application by December 1 (application fee $50). A prescreening portfolio is required by December 1: 2 to 3 PDF scores (no more than one large ensemble work), a chronological list of completed works with date, instrumentation, duration and performances, and recordings (live performance recordings or good MIDI realizations, mp3 or mp4). Selected applicants are invited to an interview of about 20 minutes that includes a brief ear-training exam; international applicants may request a virtual interview. Undergraduates must enrol in instrumental or vocal performance study each fall and spring semester: Option 1 (400 level, recommended) requires an audition in the performance area, while Option 2 (100 level) requires no entrance audition. Non-native English speakers must submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores (due March 1 per the composition audition page; minimums follow Indiana University's undergraduate English proficiency standards). Admission decisions are sent by April 1; undergraduate enrolment response date is May 1.

Requirements published at program group level.

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.

Freshmen can start in the fall or spring semester; freshmen applying for the spring semester should apply by November 1 (priority deadline).

Transfer students can start in fall, spring (January start) or summer.

Freshman early action (non-binding) deadline is November 1 (response January 15); regular decision deadline is February 1 (response March 15); after February 1 applications are considered on a space-available basis. The enrollment deposit of $100 is due May 1. IU Bloomington is test-optional (SAT, ACT and CLT scores are optional). Apply with either the Apply IU application or the Common Application.

Transfer priority deadlines: fall start June 1, spring (January start) November 1, summer start March 1; School of Nursing applicants for fall must apply by April 1 and Kelley School of Business applicants by June 1. Apply with either the Apply IU application or the Common Application.

The undergraduate application fee is $65 (US citizen and international); the Jacobs School of Music application fee is $95.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.indiana.edu/apply/index.html

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