Resources for newly admitted students
Congratulations on your admission to the ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre! We are excited you have chosen to begin your future with us and we strive to help make your experience one of the best and most rewarding of your life.
Next steps for first-time freshmen
Below is a list of items to complete well ahead of the start of classes:
- Submit your Enrollment Deposit
- Confirm your housing
- Submit proof of MMR Immunization form
- International Students: submit your I-20 paperwork and obtain your Visa.
More information - Register for the New Student Experience - this is required for all new freshmen.
These tasks will be listed in your My ASU under "Priority Tasks."
Math Placement Exam
You must take the Math Placement Test in order to register for a math course. The test can be taken online at the Math Placement website. If you have passed a college–level math course with a grade of C or higher, you are not required to take the math placement exam, but you submit a final, official copy of your college transcript.
Instructions
Music Theory Diagnostic Exam (music majors only)
All entering music majors must take the exam to determine if you have sufficient knowledge.
Music theory exam
- Deadline to complete the music theory exam:
Students entering fall (August): deadline is June 1
Students entering spring (January): deadline is Jan. 5 - Minimum score: A score of 70 or higher is required to pass. Students who do not pass are required to take and pass a tuition–free online summer theory course (with a grade of C or better) before being permitted to begin the MTC 125 Basic Music Theory course. Please do not enroll in this course yourself: you will be administratively added to the course and sent an email before the start date.
Piano Diagnostic Exam (music majors only):
- If you have very little or no piano experience, you do not need to take the Piano Diagnostic Exam, but should register for MUP 131.
- If you are transferring to ASU as a music major with prior class or private piano on your transcript, you must take a Piano Diagnostic Exam at the beginning of your first semester at ASU to determine which level of class piano is most appropriate to complete your degree requirements.
- If you are an entering freshman who has piano experience, you should take the Piano Diagnostic Exam
- Keyboard majors are not required to take Class Piano and should not take the Piano Diagnostic Exam.
- After the exam, you may be placed into any of the levels of the class piano curricula, or you may be sufficiently advanced to have all of the Class Piano requirements waived.
- How to complete the piano exam: The exam can be administered via Zoom, in-person or by submitted a piano link. (updated 03/23)
Class piano placement requirements
Your student ID will help you gain access to facilities like dance studios and practice rooms.
ASU communicates with you through your ASU Gmail account. Access your email through your My ASU portal.
To enroll, please follow this MDT Undergraduate Student Resource Hub enrollment link, and choose to enroll in the course. Then, please bookmark this page. You will use it throughout your time at ASU.
Next steps as an undergraduate transfer student
Below is a list of items to complete prior to the start of classes:
- Submit proof of MMR Immunization form
- International Students: submit your I-20 paperwork and obtain your Visa.
More information
These tasks will be listed in your My ASU under "Priority Tasks."
Math Placement Exam
You must take the Math Placement Test in order to register for a math course. The test can be taken online at the Math Placement website. If you have passed a college–level math course with a grade of C or higher, you are not required to take the math placement exam, but you submit a final, official copy of your college transcript.
Music Theory Diagnostic Exam (music majors only)
All entering music majors must take the exam to determine if you have sufficient knowledge. If you are transferring in music theory college-level credit you should consult with your music advisor.
Deadline to complete the music theory exam:
- Deadline to complete the music theory exam:
Students entering fall (August): deadline is June 1
Students entering spring (January): deadline is Jan. 5 - Minimum score: A score of 70 or higher is required to pass. Students who do not pass are required to take and pass a tuition–free online summer theory course (with a grade of C or better) before being permitted to begin the MTC 125 Basic Music Theory course. Please do not enroll in this course yourself: you will be administratively added to the course and sent an email before the start date.
Piano Diagnostic Exam (music majors only):
- If you have very little or no piano experience, you do not need to take the Piano Diagnostic Exam, but should register for MUP 131.
- If you are transferring to ASU as a music major with prior class or private piano on your transcript, you must take a Piano Diagnostic Exam at the beginning of your first semester at ASU to determine which level of class piano is most appropriate to complete your degree requirements.
- If you are an entering freshman who has piano experience, you should take the Piano Diagnostic Exam
- Keyboard majors are not required to take Class Piano and should not take the Piano Diagnostic Exam.
- After the exam, you may be placed into any of the levels of the class piano curricula, or you may be sufficiently advanced to have all of the Class Piano requirements waived.
- How to complete the piano exam: The exam can be administered via Zoom, in-person or by submitted a piano link. (updated 03/21)
Class piano placement requirements
All advising is centralized within the Herberger Institute Office of Student Success. You can contact the office by email, phone (480-965-4495) or online to schedule an appointment.
Undergraduate academic advising
- Laura Arasim - BA in Music, Music and Culture, Music Performance, Music Therapy, Music Theory and Composition
- Gregory Mea - Popular Music
- Madison West - Music Learning and Teaching, Music Theatre, Dance, Performance and Movement, Theatre
Transfer coursework taken at Arizona public institutions will automatically articulate to ASU. To view how your Arizona coursework transfers to ASU, visit the online; Transfer Credit Guide. All transfer work that does not automatically articulate needs to be entered into the ASU transfer credit website.
As a transfer student, if you have design or arts coursework completed at another institution and you wish to try to get equivalent credit at ASU, you will need to submit additional material in order for your coursework to be evaluated. Some courses may not transfer as equivalent but can be counted as electives and will be discussed at your advising appointment.
Your student ID will help you gain access to facilities like dance studio and practice rooms.
ASU communicates with you through your ASU Gmail account. Access your email through your My ASU portal.
To enroll, please follow this MDT Undergraduate Student Resource Hub enrollment link, and choose to enroll in the course. Then, please bookmark this page. You will use it throughout your time at ASU.
The Herberger Institute offers on-campus housing for Herberger students. If you are interested in reserving a place, please visit the University Housing website or see more information on housing and dining rates.
Next steps for graduate students
Below is a list of items to complete prior to the start of classes
- Submit proof of MMR Immunization form - you cannot register for classes until this is completed.
- International students: submit your I-20 paperwork and obtain your visa.
More information
All music students admitted to graduate degree programs are required to take online diagnostic exams in music theory and history. While results of the exams are advisory only, you may not enroll for classes until you have taken all the exams. The Graduate Diagnostic Exam Hold on your account will be removed after you have completed all diagnostic exams.
Click on the link above to take the Graduate Diagnostic Exams in the exam portal, which includes complete instructions for taking the exams on a computer with internet access. Review notes to assist you in preparing for the exams are posted below.
Students are advised to complete diagnostic exams by June 1, as some graduate music courses fill early.
Music history exam areas review
Diction Diagnostic (Voice Students Only): Voice students must also take diagnostics in Italian, German and French diction for singers when classes start in the fall. The voice faculty will contact you to set this up. (You are exempt if you graduated from ASU in voice or your program is the MM - Music Theatre.)
To enroll, please follow these steps:
- Go to the MDT Graduate Student Resource Hub enrollment link, and choose to enroll in the course.
- Bookmark the Homepage. You will use it throughout your time at ASU.
Degree requirements
Each degree has a check sheet that outlines the degree requirements. You can find your degree check sheet on the School of Music, Dance and Theatre Canvas page.
Music advising
Your academic advisor is your primary professor. If you are a performance major, your advisor is your studio professor. If you are in a non–performance program or if your performance area includes multiple faculty members, contact the following faculty:
| Area | Faculty |
|---|---|
| Musicology/Ethnomusicology | Christi Jay Wells |
| Music Learning and Teaching Master's Degree | Jill Sullivan |
| Music Learning and Teaching Doctoral Degree | Sandra Stauffer |
| Music Therapy | Eugenia Hernandez-Ruiz |
| Composition | Jody Rockmaker |
| Piano | Hannah Creviston |
| Voice (Solo Performance) Voice (Music Theatre/Opera Performance) | Carole FitzPatrick |
| Violin | Jonathan Swartz |
Dance advising
Dance students should contact Nicole Bradley Browning, Graduate Dance Coordinator regarding course registration questions. The relationship between you and your advisor is important to be successful in your degree program. You are encouraged to discuss your interests during your initial advising appointment.
Theatre advising
You should consult your the program area below for questions regarding course registration. The relationship between you and your advisor is important to be successful in your degree. Consult the chart below if you are unsure of your faculty advisor.
| Area | Faculty |
|---|---|
| Directing | Jerry Ruiz |
| Dramatic Writing | Guillermo Reyes |
| Interdisciplinary Digital Media | Sven Ortel |
| Theatre Performance (MFA) | Rachel Bowditch |
| Theatre (MA) | Rachel Bowditch |
| Theatre for Youth (MFA, PhD) | Mary McAvoy |
| Performance of the Americas | Tamara Underiner |
Your Staff Advisors who help you navigate the degree requirements and plan of study are:
- Julie Krause, Manager of Academic Affairs (Phd, DMA, certificates)
- Candice Bairn, Coordinator of Academic Affairs (MA, MFA, MM, certificates)
What courses do I take?
Each degree has a check sheet that outlines the degree requirements. You can find your degree check sheet on the School of Music, Dance and Theatre Canvas page.
Registration for the fall semester begins in February of each year. There is a Late Registration Fee begins in early August. Register for at least one credit hour to avoid a $50 late registration fee. See the ASU Academic Calendar for further details.
Course registration
Registration occurs through your My ASU. You may browse the ASU Class Search + Course Catalog at any time.
The following is a list of course subject prefixes with which you can search for classes
- Dance, DCE
- Music Learning and Teaching, MUE
- Music History and Literature, MHL
- Music Theory and Composition, MTC
- Music Performance, MUP
- Music Scholarly Inquiry (PhD), MSI
- Theatre Performance and Production, THP
- Theatre, THE
Unless otherwise advised, you should enroll only in graduate-level courses, numbered 500–700.
- Tuition for non-Arizona residents is calculated by credit hour for up to 12 hours. Additional hours taken above 12 do not incur additional non-resident tuition cost.
- Tuition for Arizona residents is calculated by credit hour for up to 7 hours. Additional hours taken above 7 do not incur additional resident tuition cost.
Full-time enrollment is 9 hours (6 for graduate teaching assistants). You may use the ASU Tuition Estimator to determine your estimated tuition and fees. Note that the estimator provides an estimate only and does not include special course fees associated with certain music courses (such as studio instruction).
Upload your photo and order your ASU Sun Devil Student ID card. Your student ID is required to gain access to certain facilities including studios and practice rooms.
More information for all newly admitted students
Fall 2025 classes begin on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025
Spring 2026 classes begin on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026
Thoroughly review the information on the following websites.
Information for Newly Admitted International Students
Immigration Steps + I-20/DS-2019 Issuance Timelines
ASU maintains strict deadlines regarding the issuance of visa documents (I-20, DS-2019). Be aware of the important I-20/DS-2019 Issuance Timelines to ensure that you are able to obtain your visa in time to begin your studies at ASU.
Check the status of your I-20 and supporting documents in the Priority Tasks box on MyASU. Additionally, if you are missing any supporting documents for your I-20, the ASU will send you a notification letter to your ASU email, which is used for official ASU correspondence. Check your ASU email frequently.
SEVIS Check-In: You must report to the International Student and Scholars Center (ISSC) immediately upon arrival. Failure to do so could result in loss of status or deportation.
My ASU is your personal, online connection to ASU. Sign in to My ASU (my.asu.edu) regularly and as soon as possible to address any Priority Tasks to become eligible to register. My ASU is command central for all things ASU during your studies, including your ASU email (to which all official ASU correspondence is sent), so get to know this site!
See Fall Welcome for information on meetings and activities scheduled the week before classes begin in August.
The School of Music, Dance and Theatre Welcome:
Graduate students:
Monday, August 18, 2025 at 1 p.m.
Undergraduate students:
Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Arrive at Katzin Music Hall for both events. You will receive more information about your required orientations as August approaches.
Student Handbooks for music students and other policies and procedures for all current students are posted on the Music, Dance and Theatre Sharepoint website, which requires ASURITE login for access.
Go to Resources for Current Students to enter Music, Dance and Theatre Sharepoint.
ASU email for students is provided through Gmail for ASU, which is accessible through My ASU and email.asu.edu. All official ASU correspondence will be sent solely to your ASU email address (@asu.edu) for the duration of your study. For this reason, you should regularly check your ASU Gmail account.
If you need additional assistance setting up your ASU email, access the Service Center tab on your My ASU.
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts students of concern process gives faculty, staff, peers, family members, and other community members the ability to make the dean's office aware of specific student concerns.