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MM, Music Theory and Composition: Screen Scoring

Explore a career in screen composing while honing your skills in music production, editing, orchestration, recording, and mixing. Your training will blend theory and practice, with opportunities to collaborate closely with working industry professionals.

You will collaborate on multiple scoring projects, create multiple professional reels; in Steinhardt's unparalleled facilities, you’ll explore diverse musical traditions and work closely with our faculty of internationally recognized composers.

Core Course Sequence

Throughout your studies, you will gain proficiency in the technologies including DAWs, sample libraries, synthesizers, and game middleware. Simultaneously, you also will learn crucial aesthetics and techniques for composing music for film, documentaries, gaming, TV and streaming, and commercials. Collaborative professional opportunities will be abundant. NYU Steinhardt immerses you in every aspect of a recording session: composing, orchestrating, music preparation, scoring, and editing, and effective team communication.

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.

Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
Foundations
MPATC-GE 2550Screen Music: History, Analysis, and Aesthetics.2
MPATC-GE 2043Graduate Scoring Foundations: Harmony, Narrative, and Film Language3
Area of Concentration: Screen Scoring
MPATC-GE 2424Composers Forum 12
MPATC-GE 2429Music Notation1
MPATC-GE 2049Contemporary Scoring Techniques3
MPATC-GE 2041Scoring Techniques: Video Games (Film and Animation, Video Games)2
or MPATC-GE 2048 Scoring Techniques: Film & Animation
MPATC-GE 2024Seminar in Composition: Advanced Scoring Toolkit2
MPATC-GE 2555Music Editing for Screen Music3
MPATC-GE 2036Screen Scoring Recording Sessions 23
MPATC-GE 2321Private Composition Lessons 39
Select one of the following orchestration courses by advisement:3
MPATC-GE 2088
Orchestration I
MPATC-GE 2098
Orchestration II
MPATC-GE 2081
Advanced Orchestration: Screen Scoring
Culminating Experience
MPATC-GE 2026Colloquy in Music2
Electives
Other elective credits, by advisement4
Total Credits39

Students take this 1-credit course for 2 semesters.

Students take this 1-credit course for 3 semesters.

Students take this 3-credit course for 3 semesters.

Proficiency in music theory and history is a requirement for all graduate students in the NYU Steinhardt Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. The music theory and history requirements outlined here apply to all students enrolling in Masters, PhD, DMA, or Advanced Certificate/Diploma programs in the following areas:

  • Instrumental Performance (String Studies, Woodwind Studies, Brass Studies, Percussion Studies, and Jazz)
  • Music Composition (Concert Music, Songwriting, and Screen Scoring)
  • Music Education
  • Music Technology
  • Piano Studies
  • Vocal Performance
  • Music Therapy

Students applying to the Masters, PhD, or Advanced Certificate/Diploma programs who have completed a music degree in the Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions at NYU Steinhardt within the last five years are exempt from the music theory and history entrance requirements. This exemption is granted based on 1) passing scores on prior MPAP music theory and history entrance exams, or 2) successful completion of prior remedial coursework required by former placement exam scores. All DMA applicants are required to take the exam regardless of prior degrees from the department.

Exceptions:

  • PhD students in Music Technology are exempt from these requirements.
  • Students matriculating in the Screen Scoring concentration in Music Theory and Composition for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years are exempt from the music history requirement.
  • Music Therapy students are exempt from the music history requirement. They are required to take the music theory entrance exam. Based on exam results, remediation is determined and fulfilled within the Music Therapy program.
  • Music Therapy Focus/Music Education PhD program students who have graduated from the NYU MA music therapy program are exempt from again meeting the history/theory requirements. This exemption also applies to students who have graduated from an American Music Therapy Association approved master's music therapy program.

Music Theory Diagnostic Exam

Graduate students in music must complete a music theory diagnostic exam at any point before registering for the first semester of coursework. DMA applicants are required to complete the exam as part of the application process, no later than the first week of December for Fall enrollment.

The diagnostic exam gauges students’ knowledge of written theory, aural theory, and sight-singing. Students who do not pass the exam (or portions thereof) will be required to complete a maximum of four credits from the courses listed below, assigned in accordance with their exam results:

  • MPATC-GE 2301 Music Fundamentals
  • MPATC-GE 2232 Graduate Review of Tonal Theory
  • MPATC-GE 2035 Graduate Review of Aural Skills

Music History Requirement

Students who have completed a minimum of two music history courses (equivalent to two 2-credit history courses at NYU) as part of their undergraduate or graduate degrees prior to arrival are exempt from supplemental coursework in music history.

Evaluation of course equivalence will be completed by the student’s academic program based on student transcripts. History courses must have been completed within the last five years for Masters and Advanced Certificate/Diploma programs and within the last 7 years for doctoral programs.

Students missing this foundational coursework must complete up to two 2-credit music history courses offered through the Music and Performing Arts Department. Students should consult with their advisors on the most appropriate music history courses for their degree program.

Additional Information

Courses taken to satisfy a proficiency requirement are supplemental to those required by any graduate degree program. Remedial courses cannot be used to meet degree requirements.

Graduate Remedial Coursework

Course Title Credits
Music Theory Courses
MPATC-GE 2301Music Fundamentals2
MPATC-GE 2232Graduate Review of Tonal Theory1
MPATC-GE 2035Graduate Review of Aural Skills1
Music History Courses
MPATC-GE 2067Music History I: Medieval & Renaissance2
MPATC-GE 2068Music History II: Baroque & Classical2
MPATC-GE 2077Music History III: Romantic2
MPATC-GE 2078Music History IV: Twentieth Century2
MPATC-GE 2323Global Soundscapes: A Survey of Musical Traditions2
MPATC-GE 2248Music History: Gender and Sexuality in Music2
MPATC-GE 2550Screen Music: History, Analysis, and Aesthetics.2
MPATC-GE 2086Music of East and Southeast Asia, Past and Present2
MPAJZ-GE 2121Jazz History2
MPATE-GE 2138Global Electronic Music I3
MPATC-GE 2079Music History: Music & Protest2
American Music History
Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
MPATC-GE 2550 Screen Music: History, Analysis, and Aesthetics. 2
MPATC-GE 2424 Composers Forum 1
MPATC-GE 2049 Contemporary Scoring Techniques 3
MPATC-GE 2321 Private Composition Lessons 3
 Credits9
2nd Semester/Term
MPATC-GE 2429 Music Notation 1
MPATC-GE 2555 Music Editing for Screen Music 3
MPATC-GE 2321 Private Composition Lessons 3
MPATC-GE 2088
or MPATC-GE 2098
or MPATC-GE 2081
Orchestration I
or Orchestration II
or Advanced Orchestration: Screen Scoring
3
 Credits10
3rd Semester/Term
MPATC-GE 2424 Composers Forum 1
MPATC-GE 2041 Scoring Techniques: Video Games 2
MPATC-GE 2321 Private Composition Lessons 3
Elective 4
 Credits10
4th Semester/Term
MPATC-GE 2024 Seminar in Composition: Advanced Scoring Toolkit 2
MPATC-GE 2026 Colloquy in Music 2
Elective 3
MPATC-GE 2043 Graduate Scoring Foundations: Harmony, Narrative, and Film Language 3
 Credits10
 Total Credits39

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