How to Apply to Recording Arts, MS

Application Deadline

Application Requirements

Please read the following instructions before beginning your application.

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Graduate Application for Admission

Applicants must apply between December 1 and May 1 to start in the following fall semester. The priority deadline is April 1 and decisions will start to go out in early April. The MSRA program only accepts students for a fall semester start.

• Students are required to complete the online Graduate Application for Admission.
• Under the “Academic Interest” section, select Recording Arts (MS) in the College of Arts & Media. If this designation is not accurately included, materials will not be received by the Admissions Committee.
• Contact the Program Director, Cecilia Wu, at [email protected] with notification of intent to apply. This is recommended so that application materials can be tracked by the program.
• International applicants are encouraged to visit the Office of International Admissions website.

International Applicants

Please visit the Office of International Admissions website for additional application requirements and instructions. 

Transfer Applicants

A maximum of nine (9.0) graduate credits may be transferred into the MSRA program from another accredited graduate institution, subject to the review and approval of the MSRA faculty. Only graduate courses with a grade of “B” or higher and only those courses taken within five calendar years of the applicant’s semester of admission into the MSRA program will be accepted for transfer.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee must be paid in U.S. dollars via the online Graduate Application for Admission. Applicants may be eligible for a fee waiver if they meet certain criteria. See Graduate Education How to Apply – Fee Waivers for more information.

• Domestic Applicants: $50.00
• International Applicants: $75.00

Transcripts

Transcripts from Institutions Located Inside the United States

• Applicants must have official academic transcripts from each US post-secondary institution attended sent directly from the issuing institution.
• While credits from one institution may appear on the transcript of another, transcripts must be submitted from each institution, regardless of length of attendance and whether or not courses or degrees were completed.
• Transcripts that are marked “student copy” or “unofficial” cannot be used in the admission decision.

Transcripts from Institutions Located Outside the United States

• An International Credential Evaluation Report is required for any applicant who attended one or more academic institution(s) located outside the United States. All international credentials from academic institution(s) located outside the United States will need to be verified for authenticity and evaluated by CU Denver or an external evaluation provider (ECE or WES).
• Applicants will have the option of choosing:
  • CU Denver to authenticate and evaluate your credentials in-house (free of charge)
  • Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES) to authenticate and provide a credential evaluation report directly to CU Denver. (Applicant will pay the cost of the evaluation fee. A scholarship may be awarded to offset these costs, depending on whether the applicant meets certain criteria.)
• The requirements, process, and costs for international credential evaluation are outlined on the Office of International Admissions – Graduate Admissions website.

Application Essay

The essay should summarize the educational and professional history of the applicant relative to a career in the audio/music industry, and should include:

• Complete name and contact information
• Educational background
• Career objective
• Anticipated dates of attendance

Essay must be typed and in English. Preferred length of essay is 3-5 pages.

Resume

Students are required to submit a resume as it relates to the field of study. The resume must include educational background, work experience, and relevant skills. Students are also welcome to include any published works, scholarly/creative work, exhibitions, awards, or other relevant achievements.

The resume should be chronological, beginning with educational background and progressing to employment history. Please refrain from “functional” resumes, or those that simply summarize qualities or competencies.

Letters of Recommendation (Three)

Letters of recommendation are required from three reference providers that can attest to the applicant’s academic and/or professional accomplishments. 

Applicants list their recommender on the CU Denver Graduate Application. Recommender will then receive an email asking them to submit a recommendation form and letter for the applicant. Recommendation forms and letters must be received by the May 1st application deadline.

Reference providers must complete their letters of recommendation by doing both of the following:

Online Recommendation Form: This is an online multiple-choice form where the reference provider will be asked to evaluate certain indicators of success for the applicant.

​Recommendation Letter: This should be a formal, narrative letter uploaded by the reference provider via the online recommendation form.​ The letter must be submitted online directly by each recommender. Letters cannot be submitted by the applicant.

Additional information about letters of recommendation can be found on the CU Denver Graduate Admissions website here.

Portfolio

Applicants must upload their audio portfolio through the online Graduate Application for Admission.

The portfolio should represent an applicant's accomplishments in audio production.

Applicants should submit documentation describing their role on projects they've completed (ex: artist/performer, engineer, producer, arranger, foley, ADR, etc.). It is helpful for the committee to see examples of production and engineering skills you may possess. Such as MIDI production or video post-production. 

In choosing portfolio pieces, candidates should first strive to show their ability to record acoustic sound sources with microphones.

If the applicant has any examples of working in post-production, they are strongly encouraged to include an example of their work in the portfolio, though a post-production piece is not required.

One possible portfolio (among many possibilities) might include:

• A multi-track song with drums, bass, guitars, vocals, etc.
• MIDI project with virtual instruments, etc. 
• Video post-production assignment