How to Apply
Graduate Student
STEP 1
Carefully review application requirements for your program(s) of interest
STEP 2
Apply by the appropriate deadline (USC application & SlideRoom portfolio)
STEP 3
Audition and/or Interview (as required)
STEP 4
Look for a final admission decision by April 1
Fall Deadline: December 1, 2025
Exceptions: Arts Leadership & Popular Music Teaching and Learning – Final deadline: May 1, 2026. Preferred Deadline: December 1, 2025.
Find your program requirements:
Use the filters to determine requirements for your specific program
Semester
Major
Artist Diploma (ARTD)
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all applicants applying to the Artist Diploma program.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionArtist DiplomaArts Leadership
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Arts Leadership program.
Deadline: Priority Deadline: December 1 | Final Deadline: May 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Science (MS), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Arts Leadership
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Arts Leadership program for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Science (MS), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Choral and Sacred Music
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Choral and Sacred Music program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Classical Guitar
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Classical Guitar program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Classical Guitar
Click here for application requirements. This information is for Master's (MM) and Graduate Certificate (GCRT) applicants applying to the Classical Guitar program for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Community Music
Click here for application requirements. This information is for MM applicants applying to the Community Music program for the fall semester. Applications for spring admission are not accepted.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM)Composition
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Composition program for the fall semester. Applications for spring admission are not accepted.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Early Music
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Early Music program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Arts (MA), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Jazz Studies
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Jazz Studies program.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Keyboard Collaborative Arts
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Keyboard Collaborative Arts program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Keyboard Collaborative Arts
Click here for application requirements. This information is for Master's (MM) and Graduate Certificate (GCRT) applicants applying to the Keyboard Collaborative Arts program for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Keyboard Studies
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Keyboard Studies program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Keyboard Studies
Click here for application requirements. This information is for Master's (MM) and Graduate Certificate (GCRT) applicants applying to the classical Keyboard Studies program for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Music Industry
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all MS applicants applying to the Music Industry program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Science (MS)Music Teaching and Learning
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Music Teaching and Learning program for the fall semester. Applications for spring admission are not accepted.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Musicology
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Musicology program.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionPhDOrgan Studies
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Organ Studies program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Organ Studies
Click here for application requirements. This information is for Master's (MM) and Graduate Certificate (GCRT) applicants applying to the Organ Studies program for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Percussion
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Percussion program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Percussion
Click here for application requirements. This information is for Master's (MM) and Graduate Certificate (GCRT) applicants applying to the Percussion program for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Popular Music Teaching and Learning
Click here for application requirements. This information is for MM applicants applying to the Popular Music Teaching and Learning program for the fall semester. Applications for spring admission are not accepted.
Deadline: Priority Deadline: December 1 | Final Deadline: May 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM)Screen Scoring
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Master of Music (MM) applicants applying to the Screen Scoring program.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM)Strings
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Strings program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Studio Guitar
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Studio Guitar program.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Studio Guitar
Click here for application requirements. This information is for Master's (MM) and Graduate Certificate (GCRT) applicants applying to the Studio Guitar program for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Vocal Arts (Classical Voice/Opera)
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the classical Vocal Arts program for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Vocal Arts (Classical Voice/Opera)
Click here for application requirements. This information is for Master's (MM) and Graduate Certificate (GCRT) applicants applying to the classical Vocal Arts program for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)Woodwinds and Brass
Click here for application requirements. This information is for all Graduate applicants applying to the Woodwinds and Brass programs for the fall semester.
Deadline: December 1Graduate – Fall AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT), Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)Woodwinds and Brass
Click here for application requirements. This information is for Master's (MM) and Graduate Certificate (GCRT) applicants applying to the Woodwinds and Brass programs for the spring semester.
Deadline: October 1stGraduate – Spring AdmissionMaster of Music (MM), Graduate Certificate (GCRT)