External Transfer Admissions
Transfer Admissions
Every year, students that come from community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, and from institutions in foreign countries transfer into NC State University. Transfer students are a valuable part of the Department of Performing Arts & Technology and NC State University. We appreciate your interest in pursuing a career in Music Technology at NC State, and we are ready to help you accomplish your goal!
Music Technology is a profession filled with opportunities, challenges and rewards in both the music industry, engineering, and general technology fields. Selecting the tabs below will answer many of your questions about transferring to this exciting program.
Music Technology Transfer Admission Requirements
Review the transfer admission recommendations for Music Technology before applying. The numbered list below contains the minimum recommendations to be considered for transfer into the Department of Performing Arts & Technology at NC State.
Since transfer admissions into the department is very competitive, meeting the minimum recommendations only guarantees that a transfer application may be considered; it does not guarantee admission. As such, the minimum recommendations listed here should be used as a baseline.
Minimum Recommendations
Important notes:
A course taken at another institution must be equivalent to the exact NC State course and completed with a grade of C- or better.
If NC State courses are taken, the overall NC State GPA must be at least 2.0. Core courses (chemistry, calculus, and physics), also known as C-wall courses, require at least a C.
- English Composition I & II equal to NC State’s ENG 101
- 8 semester hours of calculus equal to NC State’s MA 141 & 241
- 2.5 GPA in the last two calculus or higher math courses
- Calculus-based physics equal to NC State’s PY 205 & 206
- 8 semester hours of music theory courses equal to NC State’s MUS 103 & 104, 153 & 154
Recommendations for Competitive Applicants
- Minimum 2.5 math GPA on last two math courses at MA 141 level or higher and music theory courses.
- 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA†
†Competitive applicants for most programs will have cumulative GPAs ≥ 3.0. Due to high demand, some programs are more competitive and preference is given to applicants with higher GPAs. In some cases, applicants with a 3.0 ≤ GPA < 3.5 may increase their competitiveness with strong performances in additional, technical coursework (e.g., Calculus III, Physics II, Engineering Statics, Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry, etc.). To select the appropriate courses, refer to your intended NC State music technology degree requirements.
Portfolio and Essay Guidelines
Your application will include a digital portfolio and an essay response. Learn more details about each below.
Digital Portfolio
Remember that a portfolio is both a showcase of your engagement with music and music technology as well as a collection of your strongest work in these areas. Instructions to upload your portfolio will be provided in wolfPAW.
You are required to submit no more than five (5) samples of your work where they can be reviewed by program faculty. Please limit each video or audio sample to 5 minutes in duration.
Portfolio samples include, but are not limited to the following:
Required Portfolio Samples:
- Up to two audio or video recordings of solo or group performances with your voice, acoustic, or electronic instrument to demonstrate your musical performance abilities (ensure your individual performance is clearly audible or visible).
- Up to two examples of any science, engineering, or computer science projects, lab assignments, or essays to demonstrate your technical abilities (ensure your name is visible on the material).
Optional Portfolio Samples:
- One example of an audio recording and mixing project from a DAW session.
- One example of a musical score, electronic realization of a musical composition, arrangements, or sound art.
As part of your portfolio, submit a single PDF with a description of each of your submitted samples.
- For all musical materials, identify the work, date of recording, and context of the performance, discuss your inspiration, what you learned, and when they were completed.
- For science, engineering, computer science submissions, summarize the goal of the project, highlighting the methodology and results. For hardware design submissions, provide schematics, flow charts or diagrams, as necessary.
File Sizes and Types
We support media files as large as 5GB, larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time.
We support the following file formats:
| Media | Preferred Format | Other Acceptable Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Video | YouTube Link (for multiple videos, please create a playlist. NOTE: Make sure your video privacy settings are set to UNLISTED. If you set it to PRIVATE, we will not be able to watch your video.) | .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv |
| Audio | .mp3 | .aac, .m4a, .mka, .oga, .ogg, .wav |
| Slide | .jpg | .bmp, .gif, .png, .tif, .tiff |
| Document | .doc, .docx, .odg, .odp, .odt, .ppt, .pptx, .rtf, .wpd |
Essay
Your essay allows you to describe your skills and experience in music technology, music performance and other musical activity. You will submit your essay response via wolfPAW.
Essay Prompt
In an essay of 300-500 words, please answer both prompts:
- Describe your journey of learning musical instruments, composition, arranging, and/or arts entrepreneurship. Explain how the journey began, what keeps you motivated to keep practicing, and how you envision music staying with you in the future.
- Describe a music technology product (something that exists or you imagine) and how you envision this product being used.
Apply to Transfer
Once you meet the transfer admission minimum recommendations, you are ready to apply to NC State’s Department of Performing Arts & Technology. The Department of Performing Arts & Technology accepts applications for fall transfer. Fall transfer applicants should complete any final transfer recommendations by the end of the spring semester prior to transfer. No spring transfer applicant will be considered for admission. Application information (deadlines, how to submit transcripts, application, etc.) can be found at NC State Admissions.
Select an item below for more information.
International Students
If you are an international student, please consult the university’s transfer information for more details.
Tools
Transfer Admissions FAQs
Whether you are a prospective transfer student or newly admitted, you may have some questions about transferring into the Department of Performing Arts and Technology. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions that transfer students have.
Am I considered a transfer student if I already have a degree?
- Yes, any student who has taken college-level courses after graduating from high school is considered a transfer student. We have had transfer students with Associates, Bachelors, Masters and PhDs!
Can I take the required courses at NC State before I’m admitted?
- Yes, you can take courses part time through Non-Degree Studies (NDS). Please note that there are limitations to the number of hours per semester that you may take. Also, please keep in mind that courses taken as an NDS student contribute toward your NC State GPA.
What if I’ve taken all the required courses but my GPA is a little too low according to the transfer requirements?
- In some cases, applicants with 3.0 ≤ GPA < 3.5 may increase their competitiveness with strong performances in additional, technical coursework (e.g., Calculus III, Physics II, Engineering Statics, Chemistry II, Organic Chemistry, etc.). Please see the Music Technology Degree Requirements to find additional coursework within our curricula.
What are the requirements?
- See NC State Undergraduate Admission Requirements for transfer admission requirements listed on this page.
Does work experience or military experience count as transfer credits?
- Neither work experience nor military experience counts toward transfer credits.
How can I know what courses will transfer?
- See Transfer Course Equivalencies. If you find that one of your courses is not yet listed in the database, you may inquire with a Department of Performing Arts and Technology academic advisor. Priority is given to transfer course evaluations for required transfer courses.
Does my AP/IB credit count?
- Yes. AP/IB credit will be accepted according to university standards. While this credit can be used to complete transfer course requirements (ex. a 4 on AP Chemistry is awarded CH 101 & CH 102 and CH 201 & CH 202), these credits do not contribute toward the minimum credit hours required for transfer (30 hrs).
What if I am missing an hour of English composition?
- Four credit hours of English composition are a strict requirement for admission into the Music Technology program However, there are several special circumstances that are covered on the First Year Writing Program website. Check to see if you fit into one of the categories described.
Can I transfer credit for E 115?
- No. This course must be taken at NC State since it is an introduction to our computing and networking system.
Am I expected to have a computer?
- While not required, the Music Technology program recommends that all incoming undergraduate students, both freshmen and transfers, have a laptop meeting the required specifications. See Student Owned Computing. Should this expectation present a hardship, contact Student Owned Computing to discuss your options.
After I’m accepted, how do I register?
- After you return your confirmation form and pay your deposit, you should check MyPack Portal to see if a degree plan and advisor have been assigned to you. If so, you are ready to seek advising from your assigned advisor.
After I’m accepted, who will my advisor be?
- Advisors are assigned by program. Please see our list of Coordinators of Advising. In some cases, however, you may first be advised by a transfer advisor from the Division of Academic and Student Affairs. This is most often the case for international students and students transferring from schools on the quarter system.
Financial Assistance and Work Experience
Scholarships are available to Music Technology transfer students. In addition, the university offers many types of financial aid. Co-op programs are also available to give students real-world job experience while pursuing their degrees.
Still Have Questions?
Be sure to read the College’s Transfer Admission FAQS above. Also, check out the University’s transfer information, including engineering admissions criteria for transfer students.
In addition, you can contact the Office of Academic Affairs. After you have carefully reviewed the transfer admission web pages, please feel free to call us at (919) 515-3263 to ask questions or schedule an appointment. We just ask that you call ahead so we know to expect you.
We look forward to talking with you.
Transfer Application
Ready to apply to transfer to the Department of Performing Arts and Technology at NC State? Click the button below to get started!
Questions?
Please contact us with any questions about the music technology degree program or the admissions process.
