Music Theory and Composition

Program Objectives

The field of Music Theory is based on research, analysis, generating new theoretical models and evaluating them within systematic methodologies. On the other hand Composition creates new pieces within available resources. Having theoretical knowledge both historical and current - about compositional techniques and strategies also play a crucial role in the interpretive and creating processes. In this respect it is required to have a graduate level education of Music Theory in an association with various Compositional techniques. Music Theory and Composition Graduate Program within ITU Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences aims to educate individuals that are specialized in music theory as well as composition.

Program Structure

Founded under Musicology and Music Theory Major Science Program in 2013-2014, Music Theory and Composition Master’s Programme consists of 4 academic terms in total, one of which is core-review. Each term consists of 15 weeks, 14 of which are for courses and 1 week of final examination. The term period is in parallel with the other programs of the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences.

Music Theory and Composition Master’s Programme requires a total of 24 credits for graduation, 12 credits are of compulsory courses and 12 credits are of electives. Each course is 3+0 credits. The core-review courses are non-credit. The core-review courses are taken in the first term and at least 4 courses should be taken in which success is mandatory.

Those students who are accepted to the programme can start taking their courses with the consent of their advisors after passing the English exam. 30% of the courses taken in the programme should be in English.

The students can take up to 50% of their elective courses from other programmes within the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences or from the master’s (or doctorate) programmes offered in other universities with the consent of their advisor.

1. Applicant’s official transcripts including all undergraduate and/or graduate level courses and their grades issued by the universities that the applicant graduated or will be graduated from.
   
   Applicantwho will apply for PhD programs afterhis/her undergraduate degree has to have at least 3.0 Cumulative GPA out of 4.00 .
2. One of the Score Documents from Academic Personnel and Graduate Level Entrance Exam (ALES), GRE or GMAT including the related scores (ALES, GRE and GMAT scores are valid for 5 years.)
   
   Applicants for Master's Programs are required to have Numerical score minimum 55 from ALES . Applicantswho will apply for PhD programs aftertheirundergraduate level degree arerequiredto have Numerical scoreminimum 80FROM ALES (ALES minimum score is not required for the Social Sciences Institute Music programs)
   
   The minimum score required from Quantitative section of GRE is 610 (in the new system is minimum 149).
   
   Applicants for Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences Programs can apply with GMAT certificate. GMATwitha minimum score of 450is required for these applicants.
3. One of the Documents of English Proficiency that is accepted according to ITU Senate principles.

English Proficiency Documentsand the required minimum scores are given at the table below:
MASTER’S PROGRAMSAPPLICATION	PhD PROGRAMS APPLICATION
Exam	Min.Score	Exam	Min.Score
İTÜ English Proficieny Exam	65	-	-
YÖK Language Exam	65	YÖK Language Exam	65
TOEFL (Paper Based)	523	TOEFL (Paper Based)	523
TOEFL (Computer Based)	183	TOEFL (Computer Based)	183
TOEFL (Internet Based)	70	TOEFL (Internet Based)	70
e-YDS	65	e-YDS	65
YDS	65	YDS	65
ÜDS	65	ÜDS	65
KPDS	65	KPDS	65
PTE (Academic)	60	PTE (Academic)	60

TOEFL IBT/PBT,PTE, İTU English Proficiency Exam valid for 2 years.
ÜDS,KPDS,YDS, e-YDS test results are valid for 5 years . TOEFL ITP is not accepted.

English certificate is not mandatory in the Master applications.
The students admitted to any master program can complete their registration without an English certificate, but they cannot take courses until the submission of a valid English certificate. The applicants for a PhD program must deliver English certificate up to the registration period. If they do not submit a valid English certificate in the registration, they will not be registered.

ABOUT TOEFL IBT EXAM
Inaccordance with the decision taken at the meeting of ITU University Board of Directors dated 15.12.2011 and numbered 914 ; dating from the fall semester of the 2012-2013 academic year, IfTOEFL and IBT test results are from the testing centers in Turkey ,only the results from the exams conducted in the centers in state and private universities are accepted by ITU. TOEFL home edition can be used due to the pandemic.

4. Statement of Purpose
5. Curriculum Vitae
6. Recommendation Letter
   
   For each applied program two recommendation letters are required.For MSc applications, oneof these recommendation letters is required to be prepared by an academic instructor who the student worked with. For PhD applications, one of the recommendation letters must be supplied from the supervisor that the candidatesare planning to study together during their doctorate education.
   Reference letter is uploaded to the system by the person who is giving the reference, not by the candidate
   P.S. 1:Required ALES, GRE, GMAT minimum scores and minimum cummulative GPA may differ according to Master’s and Ph.D. programs . Requirements for programs and quotas are given at the Registar’s Office Web page :https://www.sis.itu.edu.tr/