Doctoral Qualifying Examinations
In any semester, after completing at least 30 credits, students may undertake doctoral qualifying examinations (QEs), written and oral. There are three written examinations: one in the area of music theory, one in the area of musicology (Part I and Part II) and the major area. Any of these examinations may be taken in a given semester. Registration is required to sit for any or all exams (see below) and student’s must be registered (courses or continuing studies) for the semester in which they take the exam.
Once a student has passed an individual exam, they need not repeat it even if required to retake another exam. The student proceeds to the oral examination only after passing all written examinations. Requirements vary by concentration. Further details on the qualifying examinations are available in the School of Music Graduate Handbook.
Fall Semester 2024 Exam Dates
Exam
|
Date
|
Time
|
Room
|
| German Language |
Sept. 24, 2024* |
10:00am |
CFA 259 |
| Italian Language |
Sept. 24, 2024* |
10:00am |
CFA 259 |
| French Language |
Sept. 24, 2024* |
10:00am |
CFA 259 |
| Musicology |
Oct. 1, 2024 |
9:00am |
CFA 259 + TBD |
| Major Area |
Oct. 1, 2024 |
1:00pm |
CFA 259 + TBD |
| Theory (Chorale and Tonal) |
Oct. 24, 2024 |
10:00am (Chorale)
1:00pm (Tonal) |
Practice Rooms |
| Theory (Skills and Post-Tonal) |
Dec. 12, 2024 |
10:00am (Skills)
1:00pm (Post-Tonal) |
Practice Rooms |
| Oral Exam Period, Fall 2024 |
Nov. 12 – Dec. 19 |
In-person (on campus) |
TBD |
Spring Semester 2025 Exam Dates
Exam
|
Date
|
Time
|
Room
|
| German Language |
Feb. 4, 2025* |
10:00am |
CFA 259 |
| Italian Language |
Feb. 4, 2025* |
10:00am |
CFA 259 |
| French Language |
Feb. 4, 2025* |
10:00am |
CFA 259 |
| Musicology |
Feb. 11, 2025 |
9:00am |
CFA 259 |
| Major Area |
Feb. 11, 2025 |
1:00pm |
CFA 259 + TBD |
| Theory (Chorale and Tonal) |
Mar. 6, 2025 |
10:00am (Chorale)
1:00pm (Tonal) |
Practice Rooms |
| Theory (Skills and Post-Tonal) |
May 1, 2025 |
10:00am (Skills)
1:00pm (Post-Tonal) |
Practice Rooms |
| Oral Exam Period, Spring 2025 |
Apr. 1 – May 2 |
In-person (on campus) |
TBD |
*May change pending students registered.
QE Registration
You may register for any of the Qualifying Exams by submitting an application form, signed by your department chair or your advisor in person to room CFA 240. Please submit the application by the deadline listed on the application.
Fall 2024 application
Spring 2025 application
Please note: To be eligible to take the doctoral qualifying exams, you must have no unresolved incomplete grades on your transcript, and have completed at least thirty (30) credits by the semester prior to taking the Language, Musicology, and/or Major Area exam; and be registered for courses or continuing studies.
Studying
Major Area Study Guides vary by department and can be obtained in CFA 240, or by request from the academic administrative coordinator. Please note that some programs/departments prefer to give study questions directly to you, the student, in which case you will make arrangements directly with your department chair. These study guides will be available only to students registered for the exam. For the Fall 2024 DQE cycle, no earlier than two weeks before the exam date.
Tutoring
Please check back for information regarding Tutoring for the Musicology exam.
Facebook
A Facebook group is available for students to encourage each other and swap studying ideas, here: BU School of Music – Studying for DMA Exams.
Language Exams
The language exams generally take place one week prior to the Musicology and Theory exams. To register, as with the qualifying exams, you must bring a completed copy of the application form to room CFA 240. Exams begin at 10 a.m. and last for two hours. You will write in blue books with a pen or pencil. You will be allowed the use of a paper dictionary, but the use of laptops, mobile phones, and all other electronic devices is prohibited.
Note: You have the option of taking a reading course in one of the above required languages in lieu of taking an exam. These courses are graded pass/fail just like the exams, and a passing grade satisfies the language requirement. The classes are offered by GRS, not by CFA. You can find them by searching the Student Link, and can register for them in the same way as you register for CFA courses:
- GRS LI621: Reading Italian for Graduate Students
- GRS LF621: Reading French for Graduate Students
- GRS LG621: Reading German for Graduate Students
Other Rules
Musicology (Parts I and II) and Major Area
Computers, mobile phones, and all other electronic devices are prohibited. You are allowed a watch (no wearable technology), and a paper dictionary if one is needed.
Theory
Computers, mobile phones, all other electronic devices, and all printed references are prohibited during the Music Theory exam. You are allowed only writing implements, a watch (no wearable technology), and food and drink for the duration of the exam. There is a one-hour lunch break.
You may change your mind and choose not to take either written exam as late as the morning of the test, as long as you let the administrative coordinator know either via email or in person. However, once you have received an exam sheet, you are committed to taking the exam, and a grade will be issued whether or not you complete it. You may not choose to skip the exam once you have read the questions. This freedom to postpone does NOT apply to the oral exam. You must take that exam when it is scheduled.
Oral Exams
After passing the written examinations, you must take your initial oral examination during the next available oral exam period. This may be within the current semester or it may be in the following semester if your final written exam is passed after the end of that semester’s oral exam period. It is required that you are available for any exam date given to you. Please check the Graduate Handbook for more information. Once you are eligible for an oral exam, an examination committee will be assembled, normally chaired by your major teacher/department chair, and including one faculty member from Musicology or Composition/Theory, plus one faculty member at-large, chosen from any department. The exam is roughly two hours long.
The Fall 2024 Oral Exam Period is November 12 through December 19. The Spring 2025 Oral Exam Period is April 1 through May 2.
If you do not pass your exam and a retake is needed, it must take place during the following semester.