Program Details

M.F.A. degree program in sonic arts
HEGIS code 1004.10
NYS SED program code 37730

Program Heads

Name	Title	Phone	Location	Email	Office Hours
Geers, Douglas	Program Coordinator	718-951-5000 x1418	107A Roosevelt	dgeers brooklyn.cuny.edu	Email for appointments

Admission Requirements

Department	Music, Conservatory of
Fall Application Deadline	February 1st - Applications accepted on a rolling basis until all places are filled. Deadline for priority consideration and scholarships: Feb 1st.
Spring Application Deadline	December 15th - Applications accepted on a rolling basis until all places are filled. Deadline for priority consideration and scholarships: Dec 15th.
Supporting Documents for Matriculation: Submit the following documents to the Office of Graduate Admissions: 1. 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.' http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/admissions/graduate/apply/documents.php) 2. Statement of purpose of approximately 500 words, typed, double-spaced, explaining your experience, artistic vision, career goals, and the technologies of your practice. 3. Two letters of recommendation from former instructors, employers, or other people familiar with you and your work. REQUIRED TESTS: I. F-1 or J-1 international students must submit English Proficiency Exam. TOEFL- 79, IELTS- 6.5, PTE- 58-63, Duolingo 105-160. Submit a creative portfolio of 3-5 completed works. Works may contain sound recordings, scores, video, and/or other documentation, plus artist's notes on each work. The portfolio must be uploaded through SlideRoom at https://feirsteincinema.slideroom.com/#/Login. 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. Please see www.sonicartsmfa.org or email Prof. Doug Geers at dgeers@brooklyn.cuny.edu for answers to questions and to schedule an applicant interview.
TOEFL (paper, computer, internet)	N/A, N/A, N/A
Examinations

The 60-credit master of fine arts degree in Sonic Arts is intended for electroacoustic composers, electronic music composers, sound artists, and sound designers who seek advanced knowledge in the production of artistic and commercial works in the medium of sound. The two-year program aims to help develop historically and theoretically informed and technically skilled composers and artists. Graduates of this program should be capable of pursuing successful careers in the arts and commercial media industry. The curriculum is flexible and includes weekly private composition lessons (for four semesters) with a member of our internationally acclaimed faculty, as well as courses on the creation of sounds (both composition and sound design), instrument building, and interactivity.

Admission 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.

Sonic Arts M.F.A. curriculum
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 (a-f; all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise indicated):
a) All of the following (21 credits): Music 7331X, 7332X, 7333X, 7334X, 7664X, 7870X, and 7875X.

b) At least 12 credits from the following courses: Music 7014, 7371G, 7372G, 7373X, 7374X, 7375X, 7376X, 7377X, or 7647X. or 7664X (2 cr.)

c) At least 6 credits from the following courses: Music 7660X, 7661X, or 7662X.

d) At least 3 additional credits from the following courses: Music 7644X or 7663X.

e) 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.

f) f) At least 6 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 for a M.F.A. degree
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 coursework.

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 twelve credits of coursework 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 7870, and completed in the Sonic Arts Capstone course, MUSC 7875. 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.