Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

1. Degrees and Transcripts

• Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree

• Applicants must hold a Master's degree in the applied area or its equivalent and have evidence of a high level of performance.

• Applicants must have an MA grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

• Official transcript(s) from all previous degree-awarding institutions must be submitted in English or a notarized translation.

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2. Recommendations

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation. The Office of Admissions provides Recommendation Forms

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3. Personal Statement

Applicants must submit a statement explaining their specific goals in pursuing a DMA degree and their expectations for achieving their academic goals at GCU.

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4. I-20 (F-1, J-1) Admission-International Students

International applicants should follow the general admission requirements of GCU’s admission policies as prescribed in the Catalog.

Admission Procedures

1. Applicants must submit the following:

• DMA Application Form (GCU website)

• Official Transcripts

• Two Recommendation Letters

• Personal Statement

• A DMA program Audition Form.

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2. Audition Requirements:

a. Applicants must complete an interview and present a vocal or instrumental recital/audition. The recital/audition should be equivalent to the solo recital required for completing the applicant’s Master’s degree. The program should include works of contrasting historical periods and styles chosen to demonstrate musicianship and technical proficiency.

b. Live auditions are strongly encouraged. However, applicants who are unable to be present for a live audition may submit video-recorded auditions

c. All auditions will be scheduled by the end of December and must be completed or submitted by the middle of February.

d. Audition Repertoire Requirements
Piano. The audition program must be performed from memory and include works or movements of works from each of four historical periods: Baroque through Beethoven, Romantic, Impressionistic, and Twentieth century.
Voice. The audition program must include English, French, German, and Italian repertoire. It must consist of an opera aria that demands advanced technical expertise and a repertoire drawn from a minimum of three historical periods.
Organ. The audition program must include a major work of J.S. Bach and at least one lyrical and one virtuosic selection.
Composition. Applicants must submit scores and recordings of a recital from their M.M. or M.A. in composition to the Dean of the School of Music. (Materials will not be returned. Do not submit originals.)
Conducting. Applicant must submit a concert program and an audio/video recording of at least thirty minutes of music that provides examples of the applicant’s conducting ability. The applicant will be asked to rehearse and conduct a university chorus or orchestra.
Instruments. The audition must include contrasting styles drawn from the standard solo repertoire of the student’s selected instrument.
Church Music. Applicants must complete an audition for their primary instrument.
Contemporary Christian Music. The audition pieces might be contemporary Christian music, a tune from a famous artist or band, a jazz standard, or a composition from the classical repertoire.

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3. Diagnostic Examinations

At the audition time, applicants must take diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory. The results of these two examinations will be included when considering the candidate for admission to the program and used to advise the applicant as prerequisite courses to take.

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a. Interview
Applicants who have submitted all the required documents will be contacted for an interview with the DMA Program Committee.

b. Notification of Decision
It takes approximately 30 days to process the application. After their portfolios are reviewed, applicants will be notified of their admittance to the program or of the rejection of their application.

Admission Requirements

1. DEGREES AND TRANSCRIPTS

• Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree

• Applicants must hold a Master of Divinity degree, Master of Arts in Missiology or Intercultural Studies, or equivalent from a fully accredited institution. Those who do not hold a Master’s degree relating to theological studies must take additional/approved elective courses.

• Applicants must have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 or higher on the standard four-point scale.

• Official transcript(s) from all previous degree-awarding institutions must be submitted in English or in a notarized translation

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2. FIELD EXPERIENCE

Applicants must have at least three years of cross-cultural or intercultural work experience (e.g., mission agencies, mission fields, or Christian ministries in an intercultural context). Applicants who have teaching experience in a multicultural or intercultural setting will also be considered. Applicants must submit a certification of their field experience.

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3. RECOMMENDATIONS

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation: one from a colleague or mentor in the field of cross-cultural or intercultural work and one from an academic advisor, such as a former professor. The recommendation forms may be obtained from the GCU Office of Admissions

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4. ACADEMIC PURPOSE STATEMENT

Applicants must submit a two-page statement including (1) their specific goals in pursuing a PhD degree; (2) their prospective research topics and areas of interest; and (3) their expectations for achieving their academic goals at GCU

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5. ACADEMIC RESEARCH PAPER

Applicants must present evidence of potential for original academic research at the doctoral level by submitting a sample of unpublished writing or a recent academic research paper if nothing has been published. This writing sample should be written in one of the applicant’s contemporary research languages (preferably Korean or English) and an academic writing format and should be 20-25 pages in length

Admission Documents

• PhD Application form (available at the GCU website)

1. Official Transcripts

2. Sample research paper

3. Certification of field experience

4. Two recommendation letters

5. Academic purpose statement

Admission Procedures

1. Applications for admission to the PhD program must be approved by the PhD Program Committee as well as the Office of Admissions. As noted above, applicants must submit the Admission Documents.

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2. Each applicant must submit all necessary documents to the Office of Admissions, accompanied by a non-refundable application fee of 100 USD. All the original application documents must be received no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student seeks enrollment. Applicants who have submitted all the required documents will be contacted for an interview with the PhD Program Committee.

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3. It takes approximately 30 days to process the application. After their portfolios are reviewed, applicants will be notified as to approval or disapproval of their applications

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4. Leveling Evaluations: Each applicant’s portfolio will be evaluated by the PhD Program Committee, and applicants who do not have sufficient field experience in cross-cultural, biblical, theological, and/or historical foundation, or who do not meet the language competency requirement, can satisfy these prerequisites by taking additional/approved courses prior to matriculation in the program. Some students may be admitted on condition of completion of leveling work prior to matriculation in the program. As noted above, if applicants have taken courses in biblical languages for their MDiv, these requirements can be waived; however, those who have not taken courses in biblical languages must take additional courses to fulfill the biblical language requirement. These courses are offered at GCU. Also, applicants who do not have sufficient GRE or MAT scores must take the GCU Barrier Exam (GBE); finally, those who lack coursework in mission studies can take additional courses provided by GCU.

• I-20 (F-1, J-1) ADMISSIONS - INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International applicants who come with I-20 (F-1, J-1) VISAs and DS-2019 should follow the general admission requirements of GCU’s admission policies as described in the Catalog.