Sonic Arts, M.F.A.

Matriculation Requirements

Applicants for this M.F.A. program must have completed their bachelor’s degree with at least 12 credits in undergraduate courses in music or music technology. Applicants must have experience and facility with electronic/digital music-making.

General matriculation and admission requirements of graduate studies are in the section “Admission” of the Graduate Bulletin.

Program Requirements (60 Credits)

Sixty credits are required for the Master of Fine Arts degree in sonic arts.

Courses in the Conservatory of Music offered toward the degree must be 7000-level courses. The program of study must be approved by the conservatory.

Students must also complete requirements for the program in sonic arts as follows. Any remaining credits required for the degree must be in courses chosen in consultation with the program director.

All of the following:

• All of the following (21 credits): Music 7331X, 7332X, 7333X, 7334X, 7664X, 7870X, and 7875X.
• At least 12 credits from the following courses: Music 7014, 7371G, 7372G, 7373X, 7374X, 7375X, 7376X, 7377X, or 7647X. or 7664X (2 credits)
• At least six credits from the following courses: Music 7660X, 7661X, or 7662X.
• At least three additional credits from the following courses: Music 7644X or 7663X.
• At least 12 credits from the following courses: Music 7015X, 7016X, 7017, 7354X, 7370, 7378X, 7379X, 7385X, 7386X, 7440X, 7441, or 7635X, 7636X, or 7744X.
• At least six additional graduate-level credits of electives approved by the program director. Recommended courses include MUSC 7744X, 7342, 7343, 7352, 7380 7606G, 7646X, U7930X, PIMA 7010G, PIMA 7741G, PIMA 7742G, FILM 7811G, and ARTD 7810G.

Additional Requirements

A placement assessment will be given to entering students to assess their level of skill and understanding of digital media skills and essential music skills. Students who do not demonstrate adequate skills will be asked to complete remedial course work.

All students in this program must meet with faculty for a formal progress evaluation. This will occur for full-time students near the end of their second semester in the program. For part-time students, it will happen after they have completed 12 credits of course work in the program.

All candidates for this degree must complete a capstone project. This project will be researched and begun during the Sonic Arts Capstone Seminar course, MUSC 7870X, and completed in the Sonic Arts Capstone course, MUSC 7875X. The capstone project must be a new creative or research work deemed of substantial significance and approved by the Sonic Arts faculty. Students are required to give a formal presentation of their capstone project to faculty and peers.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Gain experience and develop skills in music and sound composition.
• Develop skills for historicizing a broad repertoire of music and sound art.
• Develop skills for analytically engaging with a wide range of music and sound art.
• Demonstrate writing skills with which to narrate and contextualize one’s own work.
• Demonstrate skills to engage with colleagues’ work in a constructive and rigorous manner.

Admissions Requirements

• Fall Application Deadline: February 1, then rolling admission
• Spring Application Deadline: December 15, then rolling admission

Supporting Documents for Matriculation

Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

• Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree outside the United States need to submit a course-by-course international transcript evaluation. See Graduate Admissions for more information.
• Statement of purpose of approximately 500 to 1,000 words, typed, double-spaced, explaining your prior experience, artistic vision, career goals, and the technologies of your practice.
• Two letters of recommendation from former instructors, employers, collaborators, or other people familiar with you and your work.
• A creative portfolio of three to six completed works. Works may contain sound recordings, scores, video, and/or other documentation, plus artist’s notes on each work. If a work was produced collaboratively, please tell your role in its creation. The portfolio must be uploaded through SlideRoom.

Selected applicants will be interviewed, either during a campus visit (recommended) or via telephone or video conference. Consideration will be given to applicants who do not meet course requirements but have unusual talent or experience equivalent to course work. Visit www.sonicartsmfa.org or e-mail Professor Doug Geers for answers to questions and to schedule an applicant interview.

Required Tests

• F-1 or J-1 international students must submit English Proficiency Exam. TOEFL—79, IELTS—6.5, PTE—58–63, Duolingo—105–160.

Refer to the instructions at Graduate Admissions.

Contact

Douglas Geers, Program Coordinator

107a Roosevelt Hall
E: dgeers@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.5000, ext. 1418

Or contact:

Office of Graduate Admissions

222 West Quad Center
2900 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11210
E: grads@brooklyn.cuny.edu
P: 718.951.4536

Office Hours

Mondays–Fridays, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

To make an appointment with a graduate admissions counselor, visit:

BC Admissions Appointment Tool