Language Proficiency Requirements

There are several kinds of graduate language requirements in the Jacobs School of Music.

Tool Subject and Language Proficiency requirements may be met by coursework taken no more than 10 years prior to matriculation for doctoral and diploma students and no more than 7 years prior to matriculation for master's students.

Master's, doctoral, and diploma programs in Voice and Historical Performance Voice
Master's and doctorate in Choral Conducting
MA in Musicology
PhD programs in Musicology, Music Theory, Music Education and DM programs in Historical Performance
DM in Guitar
Master's, doctoral, and diploma programs in Collaborative Piano
Lists of grammar and diction courses for French, German, and Italian

Master's, doctoral, and diploma programs in Voice and Historical Performance Voice

Grammar requirement

This requires students to demonstrate knowledge of French, German, and Italian grammar equivalent to two semesters at the college level with a grade of C or better in each. Students having fewer than two semesters with a grade of C or better in each of these languages must pass proficiency tests (the Music First Year Language Exam, or MFYLE) administered by the appropriate language department at IU, or take appropriate courses listed at the end of this page. To find out more about the MFYLE, contact either the French and Italian Department (for the French and Italian exams) at fritgs@iu.edu or the Germanic Studies department (for the German exam) at gergs@iu.edu.

Language courses taken at another university may potentially be used to satisfy grammar requirement if they meet certain criteria.

Diction requirement

Requires students to demonstrate proficiency in diction in French, German and Italian by examination or by passing Jacobs School of Music diction courses with a grade of C or better. Students have two opportunities to take the diction exams (during orientation week of their first two semesters of enrollment, including summer). The courses are listed at the end of this page.

Master's and doctorate in Choral Conducting

The language requirements for the MM and DM in Choral Conducting are different from each other.

MM in Choral Conducting

MM Grammar requirement

This requires students to demonstrate knowledge of the grammar of one language chosen from French, German, and Italian equivalent to one semester at the college level with a grade of C or better in each. Students having fewer than one semester with a grade of C or better in each of these languages must pass proficiency tests (the Music First Year Language Exam, or MFYLE) administered by the appropriate language department at IU, or take appropriate courses listed at the end of this page. To find out more about the MFYLE, contact either the French and Italian Department (for the French and Italian exams) at fritgs@iu.edu or the Germanic Studies department (for the German exam) at gergs@iu.edu.

Language courses taken at another university may potentially be used to satisfy the grammar requirement if they meet certain criteria.

MM Diction requirement

Requires students to demonstrate proficiency in diction in English diction and the diction of one language chosen from French, German and Italian by examination or by passing Jacobs School of Music diction courses with a grade of C or better. Students have two opportunities to take the diction exams (during orientation week of their first two semesters of enrollment, including summer). The courses are listed at the end of this page.

DM in Choral Conducting

DM Grammar requirement

This requires students to demonstrate knowledge of German, French, and Italian grammar equivalent to one semester at the college level with a grade of C or better in each. With permission of the department and the director of graduate studies, students may replace French or Italian proficiency with proficiency in another language that is relevant to their intended research area.

Students having fewer than one semester with a grade of C or better in each of these languages must pass proficiency tests (the Music First Year Language Exam, or MFYLE) administered by the appropriate language department at IU, or take appropriate courses listed at the end of this page. To find out more about the MFYLE, contact either the French and Italian Department (for the French and Italian exams) at fritgs@iu.edu or the Germanic Studies department (for the German exam) at gergs@iu.edu.

Language courses taken at another university may potentially be used to satisfy the grammar requirement if they meet certain criteria.

DM Diction requirement

Requires students to demonstrate proficiency in diction in German, French, and Italian by examination or by passing Jacobs School of Music diction courses with a grade of C or better. Students have two opportunities to take the diction exams (during orientation week of their first two semesters of enrollment, including summer). The courses are listed at the end of this page.

MA in Musicology

MA Musicology majors must demonstrate reading knowledge of French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, or Spanish.

Reading knowledge in a language may be demonstrated in the following ways: by passing an examination administered by the appropriate language department (usually the Graduate Student Foreign Language Exam - GSFLE), by passing a translation examination administered by the musicology department, by grades of B or higher in two semesters of reading courses at the graduate level (usually -491 and -492), or by receiving a grade of B or higher in a literature or civilization course at Indiana University numbered 300 or higher (exclusive of individual readings and correspondence courses) in which the reading is done in the foreign language. Contact the language department that offers the language you want to be tested on for more information about the GSFLE.

PhD programs in Musicology, Music Theory, Music Education and DM programs in Historical Performance

This is typically required as a research skill in academic and other degrees and requires students to demonstrate reading proficiency. Reading exams are administered by certain Jacobs School of Music departments (for example, Musicology) and by the appropriate language department (usually the Graduate Student Foreign Language Exam - GSFLE). Students who take graduate reading courses to meet this requirement must receive grades of B or better. Consult with the Music Graduate Office and your department for details on these requirements (including information about specific language options and whether an exam is required). Contact the language department that offers the language you want to be tested on for more information about the GSFLE.

The DM in Historical Performance (all majors) requires reading knowledge of French, German, Italian, Latin or Spanish. The choice of language is subject to approval by the chair of the student’s advisory committee and the director of graduate studies. Proficiency in a language may be demonstrated by: passing an examination administered by the appropriate language department, passing a translation examination administered by the early music department, earning grades of B or higher in two semesters of reading courses at the graduate level, or earning a grade of B or higher in a literature course in the language at the 300 level or higher.

The PhD in Musicology requires reading knowledge of two non-English languages as demonstrated by musicology department examination. The first language must be German, French, Italian, Latin, Spanish, or Russian; the second should be relevant to the student’s research area.

Reading knowledge in a language may be demonstrated in the following ways: by passing an examination administered by the appropriate language department (usually the Graduate Student Foreign Language Exam - GSFLE), by passing a translation examination administered by the musicology department, by grades of B or higher in two semesters of reading courses at the graduate level (usually -491 and -492), or by receiving a grade of B or higher in a literature or civilization course at Indiana University numbered 300 or higher (exclusive of individual readings and correspondence courses);in which the reading is done in the foreign language. Contact the language department that offers the language you want to be tested on for more information about the GSFLE.

The PhD in Music Theory (for students following the 2017 or later bulletin) has the following requirement: Reading knowledge of one non-English language as demonstrated by examination, by grades of B or higher in two semesters of reading courses at the graduate level, or by receiving, in the cases of Catalan, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, or Spanish, a grade of B (3.0) or better in a literature or civilization course at Indiana University numbered 300 or higher (exclusive of individual readings and correspondence courses) in which the reading is done in the foreign language; or demonstration of proficiency in one research skill, approved by the Music Theory department and the director of graduate studies of the Jacobs School of Music.

The PhD in Music Education does not require a foreign language tool subject for students starting in fall 2016 or later.

DM in Guitar

The DM in Guitar degree language requirement for students who started before the 2023-2024 bulletin is one semester of HISP-S 491 Elementary Spanish for Graduate Students, which can be fulfilled either by taking the course at IU and earning a grade of C or better or taking the Music First Year Language Exam (or MFYLE) administered by the Spanish department and placing into HISP-S 200 or higher. To get more information about the MFYLE, contact the Spanish department at gradhisp@iu.edu.

Students who started in or after the 2023-2024 bulletin do not have a language requirement.

Master's, doctoral, and diploma programs in Collaborative Piano

The Collaborative Piano degrees have different language requirements depending on the student's program (MM, DM, or PD) and Emphasis (Vocal, Instrumental, and Balanced).

MM in Collaborative Piano

MM Vocal Emphasis - Grammar requirement

This requires students to demonstrate knowledge of French, German, and Italian grammar equivalent to one semester at the college level with a grade of C or better in each. Students having fewer than one semester with a grade of C or better in each of these languages must pass proficiency tests (the Music First Year Language Exam, or MFYLE) administered by the appropriate language department at IU, or take appropriate courses (see below). To find out more about the MFYLE, contact either the French and Italian Department (for the French and Italian exams) at fritgs@iu.edu or the Germanic Studies department (for the German exam) at gergs@iu.edu.

Language courses taken at another university may potentially be used to satisfy grammar requirement if they meet certain criteria.

MM Vocal Emphasis - Diction requirement

Requires students to demonstrate proficiency in diction in English, French, German and Italian by examination or by passing Jacobs School of Music diction courses with a grade of C or better. Students have two opportunities to take the diction exams (during orientation week of their first two semesters of enrollment, including summer). The courses are listed below.

MM Instrumental Emphasis - Grammar requirement

None.

MM Instrumental Emphasis - Diction requirement

Requires students to demonstrate proficiency in diction in English by passing Jacobs School of Music diction course with a grade of C or better. Students have two opportunities to take the diction exam (during orientation week of their first two semesters of enrollment, including summer). The course is listed below.

MM Balanced Emphasis - Grammar requirement

This requires students to demonstrate knowledge of one language from French, German, or Italian grammar equivalent to one semester at the college level with a grade of C or better. Students having fewer than one semester with a grade of C or better in the chosen language must pass a proficiency test (the Music First Year Language Exam, or MFYLE) administered by the appropriate language department at IU or take an appropriate course (see below). To find out more about the MFYLE, contact either the French and Italian Department (for the French and Italian exams) at fritgs@iu.edu or the Germanic Studies department (for the German exam) at gergs@iu.edu.

Language courses taken at another university may potentially be used to satisfy grammar requirement if they meet certain criteria.

MM Balanced Emphasis - Diction requirement

Requires students to demonstrate proficiency in diction in English and two languages from French, German, and Italian by examination or by passing Jacobs School of Music diction courses with a grade of C or better. Students have two opportunities to take the diction exams (during orientation week of their first two semesters of enrollment, including summer). The courses are listed below.

DM in Collaborative Piano

DM Vocal Emphasis - Grammar requirement

This requires students to demonstrate knowledge German grammar equivalent to two semesters at the college level and knowledge of French and Italian grammar equivalent to one semester at the college level with a grade of C or better in each. Students having fewer than the required semesters with a grade of C or better in each of these languages must pass proficiency tests (the Music First Year Language Exam, or MFYLE) administered by the appropriate language department at IU, or take appropriate courses (see below). To find out more about the MFYLE, contact either the French and Italian Department (for the French and Italian exams) at fritgs@iu.edu or the Germanic Studies department (for the German exam) at gergs@iu.edu.

Language courses taken at another university may potentially be used to satisfy grammar requirement if they meet certain criteria.

DM Vocal Emphasis - Diction requirement

DM Instrumental Emphasis - Grammar requirement

None

DM Instrumental Emphasis - Diction requirement

Requires students to demonstrate proficiency in diction in English by examination or by passing Jacobs School of Music diction course with a grade of C or better. Students have two opportunities to take the diction exam (during orientation week of their first two semesters of enrollment, including summer). The course is listed below.

DM Balanced Emphasis - Grammar requirement

This requires students to demonstrate knowledge of two languages from French, German, or Italian grammar equivalent to one semester at the college level with a grade of C or better in each. Students having fewer than one semester with a grade of C or better in the chosen languages must pass a proficiency test (the Music First Year Language Exam, or MFYLE) administered by the appropriate language department at IU, or take appropriate courses (see below). To find out more about the MFYLE, contact either the French and Italian Department (for the French and Italian exams) at fritgs@iu.edu or the Germanic Studies department (for the German exam) at gergs@iu.edu.

Language courses taken at another university may potentially be used to satisfy grammar requirement if they meet certain criteria.

DM Balanced Emphasis - Diction requirement

PD in Collaborative Piano

PD Vocal Emphasis - Diction requirement

PD Instrumental Emphasis - Diction requirement

PD Balanced Emphasis - Diction requirement

Lists of grammar and diction courses for French, German, and Italian

Grammar courses for one semester French, German, and/or Italian requirement.

French	FRIT-F 100 Elementary French I (4 cr.) or FRIT-F 115 Accelerated Elementary French (4 cr.)
German	GER-G-100 Beginning German I (4 cr.) or GER-G 105 Accelerated Elementary German (5 cr.) or German for Musicians (2-2 cr.) GER-V 605 and MUS-V 580
Italian	FRIT-M 100 Elementary Italian I (4 cr.) or FRIT-M 115 Accelerated Elementary Italian (4 cr.) or FRIT-M 112 Italian Through Music (4 cr.)

Grammar courses for two semesters French, German, and/or Italian requirement.

French	FRIT-F 100 Elementary French I (4 cr.) and FRIT-F 150 Elementary French II (4 cr.) or FRIT-F 115 Accelerated Elementary French (4 cr.)
German	GER-G-100 Beginning German I (4 cr.) and GER-G 150 Beginning German II (4 cr.) or GER-G 105 Accelerated Elementary German (5 cr.) or German for Musicians (2-2 cr.) GER-V 605 and MUS-V 580
Italian	FRIT-M 100 Elementary Italian I (4 cr.) and FRIT-M 150 Elementary Italian II (4 cr.) or FRIT-M 115 Accelerated Elementary Italian (4 cr.) or FRIT-M 112 Italian Through Music (4 cr.)

Diction courses in English, French, German, and Italian.

English	Lyric English Diction MUS-V 120 (1 cr.)
French	Lyric French Diction MUS-V 350 (1 cr.)
German	Lyric German Diction MUS-V 250 (1 cr.)
Italian	Lyric Italian Diction MUS-V 150 (1 cr.)

Language Proficiency Requirements