Christopher Dobrian

The Department of Music at the University of California, Irvine invites applications to its Master of Fine Arts program in Integrated Composition, Improvisation, and Technology (ICIT). The program is taught by a core faculty whose work embraces diverse forms, challenging conventional distinctions between classical composition, computer music, non-Western music, and jazz. Students receive close personal attention from faculty, and are encouraged to work on interdisciplinary projects. We seek students with a strong foundation who wish to develop creative work integrating a wide range of contemporary music and ideas.

Up until recently, the UCI Music Department offered an MFA in Composition and Technology, and another MFA in Jazz Studies. ICIT merged and replaced those two emphases, out of a recognition that such traditional academic divisions do not address many of today's innovative modes of music making and the discourses that surround them.

The Music Department faculty also includes performers, musicologists, theorists and historians, making for a rich environment in which to develop skills essential for the 21st-century musician. The Claire Trevor School of the Arts is home to excellent graduate programs in Dance, Drama, and Studio Art, as well as an interdisciplinary Master's program in Arts Computation Engineering (ACE). UCI is a quickly growing campus within one of the nation's leading research university systems. Located near the coast in Orange County, Irvine is an hour south of Los Angeles, a major art world center with vibrant contemporary music scenes.

The MFA program is generally completed in two years. Many students receive tuition waivers and stipends in return for working as teaching assistants. Applicants should possess an undergraduate degree in music or an equivalent level of training, and should demonstrate potential for creative and innovative work. For more details on the program and how to apply, please visit the link below.

MFA in ICIT at UCI