Letters of Recommendation (Required)
•Recommendation sources: Two current recommendations from immediate supervisors, music teachers, mentors, or undergraduate faculty addressing leadership in music education and potential for success collaborating with educational stakeholders on a project dissertation
Transcript (Required)
•Transcript: Upload unofficial transcripts from every college or university where a degree, diploma, or certificate was earned; enrolled students provide official final undergraduate and master's degree records
Resume (Required)
•Resume / CV: Upload a curriculum vitae
Statement (Required)
•Statement: Upload a 1–2-page personal statement explaining graduate-study goals, career objectives, why a practice-focused degree is suitable, and particular interest in Boston University
•Statement: Upload a 1,000–1,500-word project-interest statement identifying an overall topic and possible community-based project, the experiences or challenges behind it, the need and problems addressed, its potential contribution to music-education thinking and practice, relevant past work and career objectives, and references to scholarly literature
Essay / Writing Sample (Required)
•Writing sample: Upload either a paper from previous master's-degree coursework or a 1,000–1,500-word scholarly response to research that influenced the applicant's thinking about music teaching and learning, with scholarly citations connecting the research to a possible project-dissertation topic
Scores / GPA (Conditional)
•TOEFL / IELTS / Duolingo: Required when English is not the applicant's first language or the primary language spoken at home; prior study at an English-speaking institution does not qualify for an exemption under this published policy; official scores are due by the application deadline and exams must be no more than two years old; minimums are TOEFL iBT 5 for tests on or after January 21, 2026 (100 for earlier tests), TOEFL Essentials 10.5, IELTS 7.0, or Duolingo 130; BU TOEFL code 3087
