Applications and Auditions

The CSUSB Music Department offers two degree programs: the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Music (BM).

Bachelor of Arts concentrations:

• General Music Studies (GMS)
• Music Industry Studies (MIS)
• Music, Sound, & Technology (MST)

Bachelor of Music concentrations:

• Performance: Conducting, Vocal, Instrumental, Piano, Guitar
• Pre-Certification in Music Education

As you consider your degree options, please visit our academics page, and if you are interested in applying for music scholarships, please also visit the music scholarships page.

BA and BM Entrance for Prospective and Incoming Students

Prospective freshmen and transfer students interested in majoring in music at CSUSB should do the following:

• apply to the university through CSUSB’s Cal State Apply portal (due Jan. 31 for fall entrance, Sept. 15 for spring entrance)
• complete our music department application form (for fall entrance, these are due Jan. 31 of each year, and for spring entrance, Oct. 1 of each year)
• pay attention to your email for information on live or video auditions

Prospective Students: Submit Audition Form Here

All incoming prospective music majors must complete the Music Department Application Form to indicate degree interest and major instrument.

For students interested in a BA degree, placement auditions will be conducted via video submission. The application, including the video audition, for fall entrance is due Jan. 31 of each year. For spring entrance, it is due Oct. 1 of each year.

For students interested in a BM degree, you will initially join our program as either a BA student or a Pre-BM student. To do so, you must submit the application form and the video audition (due Jan. 31 or Oct. 1). Once accepted, and having matriculated into, the program, you may then officially audition for the BM program as part of your applied lessons juries at the end of either the Fall or Spring semesters.

Transfer Students: If you would instead like to enter the BM program immediately in your first semester, you must complete our BM Audition Form and audition with us in the semester prior to your matriculation into our program. Transfer students may apply and audition the semester before their transfer by reaching out to the head of their area to schedule an audition during juries and by completing the application, essay, and providing unofficial transcripts. See the BM Entrance Auditions instructions below.

BM Entrance Auditions for Continuing Students

Current music majors in either the BA or Pre-BM tracks, who wish to enter a BM program concentration, are required to complete a live audition held during their area’s juries in Final Exam week in either Fall or Spring, prior to the semester they wish to enter the BM program concentration. For example, if you wish to enter the BM program in Fall 2025, you should audition and apply in Spring 2025.

The BM program has selective entrance requirements, with additional application materials required. If you are interested in applying to the BM program, please have the following materials ready before you fill out the application form (due on the Friday of the last week of classes):

• A personal essay of between 400 and 750 words (two pages). 
  • This should detail your prior experience and achievements in music, your willingness to commit to the rigor of a professional program, and your future professional aspirations. The essay must document a well-developed ability to communicate in written form, experience and achievements that suggest talent, strong work ethic, and professional aspirations and commitment consistent with the stated purpose of your degree.
  • Please upload your essay in DOC or PDF format to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder and paste its link in the form. (Make sure you make the document visible to “anyone with the link.”)
• Your latest unofficial transcript(s) from your highest level of education. 
  • Please upload your transcript(s) in DOC or PDF format to a Google Drive or Dropbox folder and paste its link in the form. (Make sure you make the document visible to “anyone with the link.”)
  • Freshmen at CSUSB will be expected to have earned a minimum of C- in theory and musicianship courses.
• Transfer students should have completed at least one year (two semesters, or three quarters) of music theory and musicianship courses at their previous institution with minimum C- grades. Those who do not meet this requirement may be required to complete a theory placement examination upon matriculating, and/or re-take the courses at CSUSB.

Students are required to maintain a grade of C- or better in Theory and Musicianship classes to be admitted into and continue within the BM program. For more information on specific audition requirements for your area of concentration, please speak with your applied instructor or the head of area. Please email MusicAdmissions@csusb.edu for information on who your area head might be.

Fill out the application form below, where you will be asked to submit your personal essay and unofficial transcripts. For further information on how your instrument area will schedule an audition during juries, consult your applied instructor.

Continuing Students: Submit BM Audition Here

Class Piano Placement: All music majors in either the BA or BM program may choose to audition for advanced placement in class piano courses. This is independent of, but can be in addition to, any class piano transfer credit a student transfers to CSUSB. Sufficiently skilled students can test completely out of the department's piano proficiency requirements. Students interested in a class piano placement audition should contact the department at MusicAdmissions@csusb.edu.

Theory & Musicianship Placement: All music majors may also seek advanced placement in the department's music theory and musicianship course sequence. To inquire about diagnostic testing for that purpose, interested students should contact the department at MusicAdmissions@csusb.edu.

Music Technology & Composition Studies: Any students interested in the composition or music tech programs should contact Dr. Martim Galvão for music tech (martim.galvao@csusb.edu) and Dr. Kevin Zhang for composition (kevin.zhang@csusb.edu).

Questions?
Please contact MusicAdmissions@csusb.edu and we will be happy to assist.