Why Study Music?

Flourish as a musician with one-on-one attention and a broad range of musical experiences

Explore your musical potential and maybe discover a new musical passion. Develop your craft with one-on-one coaching and get plenty of performance and recording experience. Prepare for a career as a professional musician, composer, music educator, music technologist, entrepreneur, or scholar.

Want to deepen your study of performance, composition, music technology, or jazz after a bachelor’s degree? The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in American Contemporary Music offers the opportunity for an immersive one-year program for individuals and ensembles. The certificate is perfect for students who want to strengthen their skills before applying to graduate music programs, focus on contemporary music, or develop the entrepreneurial skills necessary to be a working professional musician.

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Which Program is Right for You?

Certificate in American Contemporary Music

This one-year program—for students and ensembles in performance, composition, music technology, and jazz—is a place to explore creativity and develop a singular musical voice through complete immersion in contemporary music practices in our state-of-the-art facilities.

VIEW Certificate DETAILS →

Tuition, Scholarships & Financial Aid

Find opportunities to further advance your career and academic studies.

UMBC participates in all federal and state student financial aid programs and offers scholarships and assistantships through the Graduate School, Graduate Departments and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

2025–2026 Graduate Cost Calculator Graduate Assistantships Fellowships Funding Your Education

Ready to Apply?

Start Your Graduate Admissions Application

Applying to UMBC’s graduate programs is easy, safe, and secure. You can apply online as a degree seeking, non-degree seeking, or certificate student. Our online applications are managed by our trusted partner, CollegeNET. When you Apply Online, you can create an account, submit your application information and pay the $50 application fee by credit card over a secure internet connection. Already start an application? Finish up

Check application decisions (6-8 weeks)

Please note that application decisions can take 6-8 weeks after the program’s deadline, and depend on how many applications a department receives. You will receive an email once the department processes your decision letter. You will be able to see your decision letter by logging in to the application website. Your decision letter will be where the application checklist was. You may also check your recommendation statuses to send reminders or update contact information from the user page. If you are having trouble logging back in, you can recover your account.

Have Questions?

Please contact the appropriate Graduate School staff member for assistance, or contact our Main Office at gradschool@umbc.edu or 410-455-2537.

Application Deadlines

UMBC Graduate School Application UMBC Grad School Admissions Info UMBC Grad School Admissions Policies

Contact Information

UMBC Graduate School Admissions Office Contact Information

Mailing Address

UMBC Graduate School
1000 Hilltop Circle Baltimore, MD 21250

Admissions Staff

Staff are available from
Mon - Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 410-455-2537

Request Help

Email Graduate Admissions at gradschool@umbc.edu.

Music