Curriculum

In Steinhardt’s unparalleled facilities, you’ll explore diverse musical traditions and collaborate with our esteemed faculty of composers while specializing in traditional composition, electronic composition, film scoring, or music theater. You’ll work alongside fellow composers and musicians within the University and across New York City.

Core Course Sequence

You’ll complete coursework in music research, music history/literature, and music composition. Our music specialization courses, such as orchestration, conducting, and our Composer’s Forum course, allow students to work closely with our composition faculty. You’ll gain musical, technical, and interpersonal skills through immersion in the profession.

Sample Elective Courses 

By advisement, students select elective courses in areas that correspond to their individual interests and research such as in the Psychology of Music, historical composition approaches, music theory, music editing, and music technology. Students can also take a variety of classes throughout the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, collaborating with the programs in Music Business, Music Technology, Screen Scoring and Songwriting, and Instrumental and Vocal Performance. 

Culminating Experience

The terminal experience course for this degree is MPATC-GE 2026: Colloquy in Music Composition. Students work with a faculty mentor to coordinate and develop all aspects of the concert experience, including production, marketing, and programming. The realization of their composition culminates in a final public performance.