Doctor of Musical Arts

The DMA degree requires a total of 60 credits of study. Complete degree requirements can be found in the University Catalog.

DMA students select a cognate (secondary area of study), comprising 12 of the 60 total credits. The cognate allows our students to develop additional areas of competency, explore varied interests, and interact with faculty from other disciplines within the School of Music. Students with a background in teaching often choose music education as their cognate, recognizing the potential for future employment that requiring skills in those areas. We will consult with you about the best choice of cognate when developing your plan of study.

For DMA students, the final requirements include a dissertation consisting of three recitals and a written document, and a comprehensive examination. The formal requirements for at least two recitals are typically fulfilled through appearances with our major ensembles over the course of the degree program. We expect one of the three recitals to be organized independently. Students are responsible for scheduling, programming, personnel, etc., with faculty guidance and support. DMA students create original scholarly program notes for all recital repertoire. The dissertation document must comprise original research within the field, on a topic chosen in consultation with the Doctoral Advisory Committee. The defense of this document can take many forms: a formal lecture, a lecture-recital, etc., all of which are accompanied by discussion and questioning from the committee.

The two-part comprehensive examination includes a three-day written preliminary exam designed to test your breadth of knowledge and understanding in the field, followed by a two-hour oral examination with the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

Master of Music

The MM degree requires a total of 32 credits of study. Complete degree requirements can be found in the University Catalog. Select the “Requirements” tab, then the “Conducting (Instrumental) Concentration” from the list.

For MM students, the capstone requirements include one degree recital and a final project. The recital can be accomplished through accumulated performances with our major ensembles during the course of study, though we encourage that it be organized independently. For an independent recital, students are responsible for scheduling, programming, personnel, etc., with faculty guidance and support. MM students create original scholarly program notes for all recital repertoire.

The final MM project can take a variety of forms. Some examples include: a one-day written examination, a research paper, or scholarly program notes for the degree recital. We will consult with you to help you choose the best option.