**Review** Graduate Catalog 2026-2027

Instrumental Conducting Graduate Certificate

Program Overview

This program is designed for professionals working as music educators or conductors seeking to acquire further skills and knowledge in order to advance their career. It is possible to be completed in one year, including in-person coursework during a three-week session in summer (typically in June) and online coursework during fall and spring semesters. With advisor approval, it is possible to transfer in acceptable graduate course credit from other institutions or substitute other UNC coursework.

Admission

Location: Greeley

Start Term: Summer (recommended), or Fall or Spring

General Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements

Admission Deadline

No audition or interview is required. Students typically begin with the in-person Summer session, but can start in Fall or Spring as well. The School of Music recommends that you complete your application by April 1 to start in the Summer, August 1 to start in Fall, and December 1 to start in Spring.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.

Each applicant must:

  • Possess a baccalaureate degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
    • If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
    • If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.

Take the following steps to be considered for admission:

Step 1: Complete the Application

Complete the online application.

  • Answer the application questions.
  • Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
    • Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
    • International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
    • The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.

Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.

Step 2: Request Transcripts

Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.

Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.

Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:

University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639

Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.

The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.

UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.

Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.

Step 3: Note About the GRE

This program does not require GRE scores.

Step 4: Supplemental Items

  • Log back into the Admissions Portal to upload any music specific requirements. The only additional item required is a CV or Resume.
  • International Applicants

    International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.

    For More Information

    For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.

    Certificate Requirements — 15 credits

    Required Courses — 12 credits

    Complete all of the following:

    MUS 508Workshop

    1- 4

    MUS 550Score Reading and Analysis

    1

    MUS 551Individual Instruction in Conducting

    1

    MUS 511Wind Band Literature and Techniques

    2

    or

    MUS 512Symphonic Repertoire

    2

    MUS 520Music Theory for Educators

    2

    or

    MUS 521Music Wellness: How to Stay Healthy in Performance and the Classroom

    2

    Take 3 credits from these courses:

    MUS 519Foundations of Music Education

    3

    MUS 533Curriculum Trends in Music Education

    3

    MUS 610Research in Music Education

    3

    MUS 612Psychology of Music Teaching and Learning

    3

    Note: Non-music coursework may be used with faculty advisor approval

    Electives — 3 credits

    Elective courses may be taken from any MUS 500-level and 600-level course.