Non-Degree Courses

• Applicants must have earned an undergraduate degree prior to enrolling in graduate courses as a non-degree student.
• Unofficial transcripts of all previous college coursework including evidence of graduation, must be uploaded in the application.
• If your first language or the primary language spoken in your home is not English, you must demonstrate English proficiency in one of two ways:
  • Submit an official TOEFL (score of 84 or higher)
    OR
  • Submit an official IELTS (score of 7 or higher)
• Please refer to the Online Course tab below to explore online course availability for non-degree students in upcoming semesters. Non-degree students may only take one course per seven week session.
• To be considered for admission to a graduate degree program in the College of Fine Arts, you must apply through graduate admissions to the degree program.
  • A maximum of 8 credits earned prior to degree-candidacy may be transferred into a degree program if grades earned are B or higher.
• Institutional aid is not available to non-degree students.
• There is no fee for this application.

Please click here for course descriptions

*Advanced music theory courses. Previous music theory coursework background strongly recommended.

Please click here for course descriptions

In addition to registering for courses at CFA (500 level or above), non-BU applicants are invited to participate in our BU Ensembles program.

• Applicants for BU Ensembles must register for zero credit courses within BU Ensembles. Please see the tab below for course numbers for specific Band Ensemble courses. Applicants for BU Ensembles must be enrolled in a degree program in the Boston area or have earned an undergraduate degree.
  • An unofficial transcript showing current enrollment in a degree program in the Boston area, or graduation from such a program, must be uploaded in the application.
• Applicants for coursework earning credit must have earned an undergraduate degree prior to enrolling in graduate courses as a non-degree student.
• Unofficial transcripts of all previous college coursework including evidence of graduation, must be uploaded in the application.
• If your first language or the primary language spoken in your home is not English, you must demonstrate English proficiency in one of two ways:
  • Submit an official TOEFL (score of 84 or higher)
    OR
  • Submit an official IELTS (score of 7 or higher)
• Please refer to the On-Campus Course tab below to explore course availability at the College of Fine Arts in upcoming semesters.
  • Non-degree students may only take one course per semester.
  • Only 500 level courses and above are available to non-matriculated students, except for zero credit BU Ensemble courses.
  • Not all CFA courses are available to non-degree students, please contact us with questions.
• To be considered for admission to a graduate degree program in the College of Fine Arts, you must apply through graduate admissions to the degree program.
  • A maximum of 8 credits earned prior to degree-candidacy may be transferred into a degree program if grades earned are B or higher.
• Institutional aid is not available to non-degree students.
• There is no fee for this application.
• Students who are interested in taking CFA courses as non-degree students during the summer should do so through Boston University summer term.

Explore on-campus course selection from BU College of Fine Arts through the University catalog.

On-Campus Courses

• Please refer to the Application Requirements (On-Campus) tab above to explore course availability at the College of Fine Arts in upcoming semesters.
  • Non-degree students may only take one course per semester.
  • Only 500 level courses and above are available to non-matriculated students, except for zero credit BU Ensemble courses.
  • Not all CFA courses are available to non-degree students, please contact us with questions.

All-Campus Orchestra – CFA MU 097 A1
Chamber Music (Non-Major) Strings – CFA MU 090 A1
Chamber Music (Non-Major) Winds and Percussion – CFA MU 090 B1
Concert Band – CFA MU 092 A1
Jazz Ensemble – CFA MU 094 A1
Jazz Combos – CFA MU 095 A1
Jazz Workshop – CFA MU 096 A1
Marching Band – CFA MU 091 A1 (Fall Only)
Pep Band – CFA MU 093 A1
Small Choral Ensemble – CFA MP 604 A1
Symphonic Chorus – CFA MU 099 A1
Winter Drum Line – CFA MU 087 A1 (Spring Only)
Winter Guard – CFA MU 088 A1 (Spring Only)
World Music Ensemble – CFA MH 561