Wells School of Music Information

In addition to meeting the general requirements for admission to a degree program at West Chester University, music applicants are considered on the basis of academic record, interviews, Wells School of Music Graduate Placement Test, portfolio review in composition, and auditions for performance programs.

Prior to enrollment all applicants must:

1. Possess appropriate undergraduate degrees and may be required to remedy not more than 12 credits of deficiency
2. Schedule interviews with the graduate coordinator and appropriate department chairperson in the Wells School of Music

The areas of concentration, directed electives, and free electives are described fully in a student handbook compiled by, and available from, the graduate coordinator of the Wells School of Music.

During the first semester or summer session in which graduate music courses are taken, each graduate student must take the Wells School of Music Graduate Placement Test. This examination will be administered twice each semester and once during the summer session to allow the greatest degree of accessibility for students and to facilitate student progress through degree curricula.

The examination will assess student competencies in music history/literature and music theory including skills and knowledge of two areas:

1. Music history/literature - styles, forms, and genres of all major periods of music history, representative composers and their works, and philosophical and societal issues relating to music history. This knowledge will be assessed through a combination of written questions and aural listening exam.
2. Music theory - music terminology, part-writing techniques, analysis of harmonic and melodic structures, basic arranging and composition, and aural skills. These skills and knowledge will be assessed through a combination of written and aural questions.

Contact the graduate coordinator for the Wells School of Music for test dates and registration forms for the Wells School of Music Graduate Placement Test.

Each degree candidate is individually responsible for satisfying degree candidacy and graduation requirements stated elsewhere in this catalog and for meeting deadline dates for the May, August, or December graduation, as appropriate.