Whether you are looking to advance in your current career path or perhaps make a career change, our graduate programs provide the opportunities to focus your studies even further. Take your education to the next level in one of dozens of programs available.
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Arts Administration
Providing an education in arts management and leadership.
Select programBrass
Fostering limitless experiences and connections.
Select programCommercial Music
Providing hands-on experience as performers, engineers and producers.
Select programConducting
Gaining leadership and entrepreneurial skills for the 21st Century.
Select programEntrepreneurship
Creating a rich environment for incubation of new ideas and approaches.
Select programJazz
Select programKeyboard
Offering exceptional training for performers and teachers.
Select programLiberal Arts in Music
Pursuing a passion for music alongside other academic interests.
Select programMusic Education
Preparing tomorrow’s teachers and researchers.
Select programMusic Therapy
Building careers using music in service to and rehabilitation of others.
Select programMusicology
Training socially responsible scholar-musicians of the highest caliber.
Select programPercussion
Building skillsets for successful, competitive musicians.
Select programPiano Technology
Providing valuable experience in repair and restoration situations.
Select programStrings
Preparing students to excel as a versatile, modern musician.
Select programTheory & Composition
Training musicians through outstanding instruction and mentorship.
Select programVoice & Opera
Developing students for a multitude of performing opportunities.
Select programWoodwinds
Preparing students for diverse careers in teaching and performance.
Select programFall 2025
Liberal Arts in Music Admissions
Allowing students the flexibility to pursue their passion for music along with other academic interests.
Liberal Arts in Music
Key Admission Dates
Fall 2025
- Priority Deadline December 1
- Deadline for consideration for merit-based financial assistance. February 28
- Final Deadline; The College of Music reserves the right to close admission earlier (and often does) if warranted by enrollment limitations and the number and quality of applications. June 1
Liberal Arts in Music
Application Requirements
1 Apply to Florida State University
Complete the Florida State University Application and pay the $30 application fee.
In order to meet the Florida State University requirements for graduate admission, applicants must have earned a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average (GPA) in all coursework attempted while registered as an upper-division undergraduate student working towards a bachelor’s degree. Applicants not meeting this requirement may be considered for admission, but only by special exception. To determine your upper-division GPA, please consult the GPA calculation worksheet. If your upper-division GPA is below a 3.0, please be sure to address this deficiency in your Statement of Purpose. You are also encouraged to have your referees address your academic preparedness for graduate study in their letters of recommendation.
International applicants or those with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through the SpanTran pathway portal, or from another NACES approved evaluator. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. Florida State University recommends SpanTran as our preferred credential evaluation because it offers an easy way to streamline the application process.
The College of Music admissions requirements exceed University minimum standards. Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all international applicants whose native language is not English, including applicants who have already studied in an English speaking country for any length of time.
For admission, attain the minimum required score on one of the following exams:
Additionally, to be eligible for a graduate assistantship:
- Students must score a minimum of 26 on the speaking portion of the IBTOEFL or;
- Achieve a score of 50 on the SPEAK Test (offered by FSU) to qualify for a graduate assistantship.
2 Apply to the College of Music
Complete the College of Music Supplemental Application and additional materials. The Supplemental Application will be added to your Application Checklist within 1-2 hours of submitting your application to FSU.
- Vita/Resume
- Include education, background, experience, honors and awards, publications, names of former teachers, and any other important information.
- Statement of Purpose
- The statement should discuss the applicant’s background, career goals, and potential for success in the program, and why the Music/Liberal Arts program specifically is the best fit for the applicant.
- Letters of Recommendation (3 required)
- You will enter your recommenders’ contact information through the Application Status Check.
3 Submit transcripts from all previously attended institutions.
For the purposes of the admission review, transcripts may be official or unofficial. Prior to matriculation, entering students are required to submit final, official transcripts.
International applicants or those with degrees earned from international institutions must submit their official transcripts through the SpanTran pathway portal, or from another NACES approved evaluator. SpanTran has created a custom application for Florida State University that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. Florida State University recommends SpanTran as our preferred credential evaluation because it offers an easy way to streamline the application process.
Common Questions
Expand AllEveryone who completes the application process (including interview and/or audition, if required) is automatically considered for scholarships and assistantships, and no additional application is necessary. Only graduate students interested in auditioning for accompanying or group piano teaching assistantships are required to take an additional audition. Contact College of Music Admissions for further details.
Prescreenings are required for the following instruments/degree programs:
- MM or DM in Brass Performance
- MM or DM in String Performance (Violin only)
- MM or DM in Woodwind Performance
- MM or DM in Voice Performance
- MM or DM in Piano Performance
- MM in Piano Pedagogy
- MM or DM in Accompanying
- MM in Opera Coaching
Prescreening submissions are due by December 1 and results will be released by December 15. Applicants who are successful in this first round will be invited to campus for a full audition on one of the dates listed above. (Music Theatre will have a second round via Zoom, followed by a final round on campus).
An accompanist is provided, free of charge, for all voice and music theatre auditions on campus. Rehearsal time is not provided, however, and scores should not be submitted in advance. Please bring neat copies, in a book or organized in a binder, in the appropriate key(s). Students may bring their own accompanist to the audition if they wish.
Instrumental auditions will be unaccompanied.
Students are allowed a maximum of three audition attempts per instrument/voice, per degree level (bachelors, master’s, doctoral). Applicants are allowed one audition per application.