MEIS Contact Information

MEIS Faculty

Undergraduate Program

Recording Arts

Music Business

Music Performance

Music Industry Studies

Difference Between Audition-Based Majors and MIS

Competitive Emphases

Graduate Programs

Contact Information

Office: Arts Building, Suite 288
Telephone: 303-556-2279
Fax: 303-556-2335
Web site: www.cam.ucdenver.edu/meis

Undergraduate Program

Bachelor of Science in Music

The music program at the University of Colorado Denver is intended for students seeking preparation for professional careers in music related to commercial performance, recording, music business and the entertainment and creative industries. The four-year music program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. There are four emphasis areas available to students: recording arts, music business, performance and music industry studies (MIS).

The specialized curricula offered by the program prepares graduates for sustainable careers in the entertainment and creative industries and the new media section—including positions in recording arts, audio engineering and media forensics, commercial music performance and music business, as well as graduate studies at leading unversities and conservatories.

Please note: Acceptance into the UC Denver Department of Music and Entertainment Industry Studies (MEIS) is on a competitive basis with specific entrance evaluation requirements. Admission to the music major is competitive for freshmen, transfer students and minors.

All applicants will be placed in an enrollment pool and admission decisions will be based upon several factors, which include an indexed composite score of GPA, Music Aptitude Exam scores and an audition (if applicable). Application materials must be received by the deadline—no late applications will be considered.

Prospective students should refer to the MEIS Web site for current entrance requirements, deadlines and procedures.

All music applicants, except those entering the music industry studies program, must pass an entrance audition on their primary instrument or voice before being accepted into the College of Arts & Media and the MEIS department. Call 303-556-2279 for information on scheduling an audition.

Students entering the music industry studies program must submit an audition deferment form.

All students in the MEIS department are required to abide by the policies and procedures outlined in the MEIS Student Handbook.

The emphases in recording arts, music business and performance are audition-based programs, requiring an entrance audition on a primary instrument or voice. These students will be expected to demonstrate a high level of musicianship as part of their curricular requirements. All three have an identical 51-semester-hour foundation requirement in musicianship and a separate 22-26 semester hour emphasis area.

Recording Arts

This program studies contemporary analaog and digital technology as it is used in studio recording, sound reinforcement and new media applications. While mastering technology skills and formats, students also study the artistic and aesthetic applications of technology to recording, reinforcement, composition and performance. Due to the immense popularity of the recording arts program and the limited facility space, the recording arts emphasis is a competitive emphasis. Students will be required to apply to the department (known as “applying to the tech focus”) to be eligible to take the intermediate- and advanced-level recording courses. This application includes completion of a series of music courses, transcript review, exam and cumulative GPA.

Music Business

This program prepares musicians for careers in such fields as artist management, music publishing, concert promotion, record production, venue management, label promotion, distribution, entertainment law and the development of skills relative to the rapidly expanding entertainment and creative industries.

Performance

Students gain performance skills in classical, jazz, commercial and experimental music styles. The program includes specialized courses in small performance ensembles, applied study, contemporary improvisation, analysis and history, culminating in the presentation of a junior and senior recital. Students will be required to pass a sophomore proficiency at the end of the sophomore year in order to progress into the advanced performance and musicianship courses.

Music Industry Studies (MIS)

• This non audition-based degree requires a placement audition and passing a basic musicianship proficiency.
• This program is designed for students who may or may not be practicing musicians, but who intend to work behind the scenes after graduation, whether on the tech side, the business side or both.
• MIS requires credits in musicianship and performance as part of the curriculum.
• All MIS students, regardless of emphasis or previous musical experience, will be required to complete the musicianship and performance requirements. For students with no musical experience, these requirements will begin at the introductory level.
• For students interested in pursuing MIS/Tech focus, this emphasis is competitive*, due to the immense popularity of the MIS/Tech program and the limited facility space. Students will be required to apply to the department (known as “applying to the Tech emphasis”) to be eligible to take the intermediate and advanced level recording courses. This application includes completion of a series of music courses, an essay, exam and cumulative GPA.

Competitive Emphases

Recording arts and/or MIS/tech students entering the College of Arts & Media will be required to complete or be completing the following courses before applying to the tech focus:

• MUSC 2470
   
• MUSC 2540
   
• MUSC 2560
   
• MUSC 2700
   
• PMUS 1023
    1024 Piano Class (two semesters)
  (Piano placement is available)
• PMUS 1100
   
• PMUS 1110
   
• PMUS 3830
    or
  PMUS 3831
   

These courses also satisfy the requirements for the music industry studies minor. Students who have completed the above named courses, but who are denied acceptance to the recording arts or MIS/tech emphasis, will automatically be eligible for the MIS minor if they choose to purse a major outside of the MEIS department.

*Please note that satisfactory completion of the above named courses will not automatically guarantee a student’s acceptance into the recording arts or MIS/tech focus.

Students interested in the tech focus will need to submit an application form, and this application will include the above named courses, unofficial transcripts from all previous institutions attended. Students must also take an exam covering material in audio production—test dates are announced at the beginning of the spring semester. Further, the student’s cumulative GPA from all institutions will be part of the evaluation criteria. Complete information on applying to the tech focus is available online: http://cam.ucdenver.edu/meis. 

Graduate Programs

CAM offers two master of science degre programs:

Master of Science in Recording Arts (MSRA) 

Master of Science in Recording Arts, Media Forensics Emphasis (MSRA-MF) 

Program Overview

Recording arts is a field that deals with all aspects of recorded music and sound including mixing, mastering, sequencing, calibration, reinforcement, media forensics and post-production. Our program refines student skills in sound recording, aesthetics, multitrack recording, digital signal processing, automated mixing, synchronization, stereo imaging and monitoring, media forensics and post-production.

In addition, our program recognizes and includes:

Study in the rapidly growing field of audio forensics, which is audio for the legal field. The program includes study in tape authentication, audio enhancement, voice prints, analysis and witness testimony.

The need for pedagogy degrees. Pedagogy is synonymous with teaching, and this program includes a survey of available resources for audio education. We offer an interdisciplinary approach by including physics, acoustics, engineering, music, broadcast, medicine, psychology, multimedia, theatre and film/video. The program emphasizes design and development of new methods and materials.

UC Denver’s master of science in recording arts (MSRA) has the only pedagogy track in the nation, as well as the only college-level course in audio forensics. This graduate degree is designed to:

• prepare students for careers in audio application for the fields of mass communications, education, arts and the entertainment industries.
• help professionals advance their careers.
• help prepare the music educators of the future.

Students may choose between a thesis (research) or nonthesis (portfolio) option.

Graduate courses constituting the core of this study will advance the artistic, pedagogical, technical and problem-solving abilities of the enrolled students. Elective courses will allow each student to develop  additional skills and knowledge in related areas including film, broadcasting, education, music business and the performing arts.

We encourage students from allied disciplines (music, physics, engineering, etc.) to apply. Students are not required to have their bachelor’s in recording arts—the student’s bachelor’s degree can be from any discipline. They can qualify for the MSRA by having the equivalent level preparation (e.g., work experience). Candidates without sufficient experience/training in recording arts may be required to take preparatory courses at the undergraduate level. 

Note: the application process, requirements and deadlines for the Master of Science in Recording Arts emphasis in Media Forensics (MSRA-MF) will differ from those listed for the traditional MSRA program.  Please refer to the National Center for Media Forensics Web site for up-to-date information regarding application process, requirements and deadlines.
 

Application Components

See the Recording Arts MS page  of this catalog for further information.  For detailed information, please refer to the MSRA Web site at www.cam.ucdenver.edu/meis > Master of Science

1. Graduate Admissions Application - Parts I and II
2. In-State Tuition Classification Application (if applicable)
3. Entrance Examinations: GRE (TOEFL, if applicable)
4. Official Transcripts
5. Three Letters of Recommendations
6. Application Essay
7. Resume
8. Portfolio
9. Application Fee

Applications that do not include all of the requirements listed above or that include partial components are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.