MM Music Theory: Music at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Take the next step with advanced exploration of your passion for music theory in a rigorous and creative environment committed to musical excellence. Hone your research skills in an area of interest. Receive faculty-level training with an emphasis on public music theory and related areas.

Faculty: School of Music | Duration: 8 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Attain a masters-level knowledge of music history, music theory and compositional styles by identifying, describing, comparing and contrasting musical works from antiquity through modern times. Candidates will produce original research in music theory. A thesis is required.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Composer, Musicologist, Researcher.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): The general requirements for admission include the completion of an undergraduate degree in music (or the equivalent) with a grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) on relevant courses and fulfillment of the general requirements for admission to The Graduate School, including the submission of three recommendations. The Master of Music with concentration in Music Theory requires submission of a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination General Test or the Miller Analogies Test. A list of additional admission materials specific to each degree program is available on the School of Music website. Applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL, IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam or Duolingo exam. Normally, the minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 80 (internet-based) or 570 (paper-based). The minimum...

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.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific. The Moore School of Business, the Arnold School of Public Health and the College of Nursing use their own applications; the Moore School charges an additional $50 application fee for graduate programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

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