Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Historical Performance
General DMA Degree Requirements
The DMA degree is granted upon successful completion of a program of study, written and oral qualifying examinations, and terminal projects appropriate to the student’s field of specialization. Students must complete a minimum of 48 semester credits with grades no lower than B- in graduate-level coursework. All degree requirements must be completed within seven years of the date of matriculation.
Proficiency Examinations
All entering Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree students are required to take the proficiency examination in music theory and the proficiency examination in musicology. These examinations are given before the start of classes. Accepted students are notified of the exam dates and are responsible for taking them. Exam results are used for advisement and may establish prerequisite or required coursework. Material covered in these examinations is commonly presented in most undergraduate degree programs in music. Detailed descriptions of these exams are supplied to accepted students. Students in composition, music theory, and musicology will also be examined in fugue; historical performance students will be examined in counterpoint.
Students with insufficient background in music theory may be required to take MU 400 Graduate Theory Review, which may be used as elective credit. The course is a seven-week, online course given three times per year in the second half of Fall, Spring, and Summer Terms.
Historical Performance Program Outline
Students must complete a minimum of 48 graduate credits including Music History and Music Theory:
| MU 749 Music Research Techniques and MU 719 Doctoral Proseminar in Theory (MU 749 and MU 719 must be completed within the first three semesters of doctoral study.) |
6 cr |
| Musicology and/or Music Theory | 6 cr |
| Applied Music (if appropriate) | 18 cr |
| Approved Music Electives | 18 cr |
Choral conducting majors must take 8 credits of Choral Literature Seminar.
Doctoral students in performance may elect one of two program options: the dissertation track or the performance track.
Dissertation Track
Each candidate in historical performance must present three public recitals, each consisting of at least one hour of performing time.
Terminal Project: Independent Research/Dissertation and Lecture-Recital
The student must write a substantial document demonstrating the ability to conduct independent research. This document should stress source materials, comparative editions, score analysis, and performance practice. The student must give a lecture-recital based on this document and use the medium of performance to illustrate it. The lecture-recital must be supervised and approved by assigned faculty readers. A copy of the lecture must be included as an appendix in the final copies of the document.
Recital Track
DMA candidates may pursue the recital track following successful completion of one semester of DMA-level coursework and applied lesson study, and upon approval by their major teacher and area head. Appropriate paperwork must be filed with the applied department chair. In lieu of the dissertation as terminal project, each candidate in historical performance must present five public recitals: solo recital, concerto recital, chamber music recital, recital prepared without guidance, and lecture recital. Detailed requirements for each recital vary by area, and applicable written and research components require faculty approvals.
