MSRA 4+1 Program

CU Denver offers a 4+1 program for recording arts students, allowing them to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Music - Recording Arts and a Master of Science (MS) in Recording Arts in just five years. Students accepted into the 4+1 program may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate-level recording arts courses during the fourth (final) year of their undergraduate program. These credits will apply toward both their BS and MS degrees.

Eligibility

Undergraduate CU Denver recording arts students who are in the second semester of their junior year (at least 70 degree credits completed) may apply to the 4+1 program between November 1st and April 1st. Applicants must have confirmation from a CAM academic advisor that they are on track to graduate with their BS in Music – Recording Arts in May of the following year. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at CU Denver is required to apply.

How to Apply

Undergraduate students may apply to the 4+1 program between November 1st and April 1st of their junior year. The regular deadline to apply is April 1 and admission decisions will be made after that date. Late applications will be considered through May 1 on a space available basis.

Upon completion of their undergraduate BS degree program, 4+1 students must apply to the CU Denver graduate MSRA program using the CU Denver graduate application. Admission to the MSRA program is contingent upon graduation from the BS program with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, as well as successful completion of all graduate-level MSRA courses taken during their undergraduate studies.

Curriculum

Sample MSRA 4+1 term-by-term plan

(final year of undergrad plus one year of graduate coursework)

This plan assumes that an undergraduate student is taking 15 credits per semester in their final year of their undergraduate program. MSRA 4+1 students may take no more than 12 total credits of graduate coursework during their undergraduate career (CAM recommends 6 credits of graduate coursework per semester during the final undergraduate year). The actual number of remaining undergraduate credits in the final year may vary from one student to another.

Note: If the undergraduate student has already taken MUSC 3505 (audio post-production) when they apply for the 4+1 program, they will take an additional MSRA elective in place of MSRA 5505. If they have not yet taken MUSC 3505, they should take the graduate MSRA 5505 course.

Tuition Cost and Funding

4+1 students will pay graduate tuition for the MSRA classes they take while still undergraduates. The cost per credit hour for graduate tuition is higher than the undergraduate cost per credit hour. However, 4+1 students remain eligible for undergraduate financial aid until they complete their BS degree, even for the graduate-level courses taken during their senior year.

Currently, CU Denver does not offer scholarships specifically for 4+1 students. While enrolled as undergraduates (until completion of the BS), students are eligible for undergraduate financial aid. Once they complete the BS and officially enter the MRSA program, they become eligible for graduate financial aid. There may be opportunities for graduate fellowships and funding to teach undergraduate courses during the MRSA program, though this funding is not guaranteed. Interested students should consult the MRSA Program Director for more information.