Course Requirements (DMA and Ph.D.)

DMA Course Requirements

The total number of hours required for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) is 90, of which 30-36 hours may be from the student's Master of Music degree. A total of no more than 45 credits may be transferred in. Further, the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) requires that at least one half of the credits required for graduate degrees must be in courses intended for graduate students only. Here, that is 45 out of 90 credits.

 

Required Courses

 In order to allow maximum flexibility in the structuring of each individual program, the number of required academic courses common to all programs in the DMA degree, and fulfilling NASM specifications, is minimal. These requirements (comprising 21 credits) include:

 1. Strategies for Advanced Research in Music (MUSC 881), 3 crs - materials and methods for research in music. (Recommended for 2nd year students.)

2. Required courses in History and Theory, 9 crs - two courses in music history and one course in music theory. One of these three must be a doctoral seminar. (NOTE: These courses must be taken at the GKSOM during the doctoral program. Transfer theory/history courses from an institution other than the GKSOM or GKSOM theory/history courses taken during the Master's degree cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.)

3. Doctoral Seminar (900-level): this requirement specifies that at a minimum, three of the nine credits in theory and history music be a seminar, offering guided research and in-depth exploration of a topic in music theory (MUSC 979) or music history (MUSC 986) chosen by the instructor. (To be clear, the seminar is not an additional class over and above the nine credits in history and theory.) The seminar must be designated as such on the Program of Study. Topics may differ each time these courses are offered, and therefore students may take more than one seminar during their coursework.

 4. One MUED Class (900-level) on Pedagogical Issues in Music, 3 crs - Either "College Teaching in Music" (MUED 982) or "Seminar in the Curriculum and Teaching of Music" (MUED 928):

     "College Teaching in Music" (MUED 982), 3 crs - Covers competencies and understandings in music curriculum design and development, instructional strategies, and assessment techniques that contribute to being an effective college music instructor. Taught yearly in the Spring semester.

    "Seminar in the Curriculum and Teaching of Music" (MUED 928), 3 crs -Critical evaluation of current literature, yearbooks, research, new developments, and experiments in the curriculum and teaching of general music. A summer class.

 5. Doctoral Colloquium (MUSC 99), 0 cr - a regularly scheduled meeting of faculty and doctoral students to share ideas and the results of scholarly research. All doctoral students are required to attend and pass four semesters of Doctoral Colloquium before being admitted to Candidacy.  If a student should fail the course one or more times, it will be necessary to attend the course for one or more additional semesters until the four-semester requirement is fulfilled.

 6. Performance Practice (MUSC 977), 3 crs - a course which acquaints the student with a broad range of issues and problems in the field of performance practice study.

     Note: Jazz Studies students may substitute Jazz Styles (MUSC 866) for MUSC 977.

 7. Doctoral document (MUSC 999), 3 cr - All students must register for a minimum of 3 cr of Doctoral Document (MUSC 999). A student may register for more, but only the first three credits may count towards the 90-cr minimum degree requirement.

 8. Recitals - All students do recitals. Students must register for each recital. There is no required minimum number of credits that must be earned in recitals, so students may enroll for zero (0) credit in MUSR 98, or they may enroll for 1-3 credits in MUSR 998. The maximum total number of credits earned in MUSR 998 is not to exceed 12. For further information on recital requirements, see below in the separate section in this Handbook.

Course Requirements Affecting Only Certain DMA Degree Programs

 1. Applied Music.

      1a. Vocal and Instrumental performance majors---and Jazz Studies-performance majors---must register for a minimum of 17 cr of applied music in the major area. Fall and spring semester lessons normally are taken for 4 cr. (Students may take up to six semesters of lessons at 4 cr per semester for a total of 24 cr. in the applied area). Students must be enrolled in applied music with their primary teacher in every semester in which a degree recital is given.

      1b. Conducting students must register for a total of 12 cr. in their MUAP 9XX applied conducting. Students normally take six semesters at 2 cr per semester. Students must be enrolled in applied conducting with their primary teacher in every semester in which a degree recital is given.

 2. Literature and Pedagogy requirements:

 2a. Instrumental (except keyboard and Jazz Studies):
MUSC 862 - Instrumental Literature and Pedagogy (2-3 cr)

 2b. Piano: MUSC 877 - Piano Literature Seminar (3 cr),
and a total of 6 pedagogy credits,
including MUSC 824 - Piano Pedagogy I (3 cr),
and one selected from either
MUSC 825 - Piano Pedagogy II (3 cr)
or MUSC 826 - Piano Pedagogy III (3 cr)

 2c. Organ: MUSC 874 - Organ Literature and Pedagogy (3 cr)
and MUSC 875 - Organ Literature Seminar (3 cr)

 2d. Voice: MUSC 870 - Introduction to Vocal Pedagogy (3 cr)
MUSC 872 - Art Song II (3 cr)
MUSC 971 - The Science of Singing (3 cr)

 3. Diction.

DMA students in voice and choral conducting are required to enroll in MUSC 969 - Graduate Diction (3 cr).

 4. Conducting

 Conducting-Choral:

MUSC 972A-Choral Lit to 1600 (3 cr)
MUSC 972B-Choral Lit 1600-1750 (3 cr)
MUSC 972D-Choral Lit 1750-1900 (3 cr)
MUSC 972E-Choral Lit from 1900 (3 cr)

Conducting-Orchestral:

MUSC 973A-Orchestral Lit to 1800 (3 cr)
MUSC 973B-Orchestral Lit 1800-1873 (3 cr)
MUSC 973D-Orchestral Lit 1875-1910 (3 cr)
MUSC 973E-Orchestral Lit after 1900 (3 cr)

Conducting-Wind Band:

MUSC 974A-Wind Band Lit to 1892-1952 (3 cr)
MUSC 974B-Wind Band Lit after 1952 (3 cr)
MUSC 974D-Wind Band Lit: The Symphony (3 cr)
MUSC 974E-Wind Band Lit-Wind Ensemble Instr (3 cr)

Related Areas of Studies

Composition students are required to study and master at least one additional area of knowledge and skill. Performance, Jazz Studies, and Conducting students have the option of electing a related area of studies. A Related Area consists of fifteen (15) credits, which may all count toward the 90-cr minimum for the degree. This requirement may be fulfilled by one of the following two options:

OPTION 1. Fifteen (15) credits of related graduate courses in one or two of the following areas of music: history, theory, music education, church music (must include MUSC 894 or MUSC 94 and an internship of 1-6 semesters), accompanying and chamber music, or conducting. Composition majors may also choose piano performance or piano pedagogy. Other related areas in music must be specifically approved by the Graduate Committee at the time of approval of the Program of Studies.

OPTION 2. Fifteen (15) credits of related graduate courses in a department outside of the School of Music. The respective departments must approve all prerequisites for these courses.

 At least 6 hours in the related area must be courses for graduate students only, if they are part of the student's Program of Studies.

Courses for the Requirement in History and Theory

The following courses may be used to satisfy the music history and music theory requirements.

Music History.

830J Music & Text in the English Renaissance (3 cr)
835 Music and Film: History and Analysis (3 cr)
836 Introduction to Graduate Studies (2 cr)
837 History of Jazz: Origins-Bop (3 cr)
838 History of Jazz: Post Bop (3 cr)
842 Great Composers (3 cr)
849 Medieval Music (3 cr)
850 Johann Sebastian Bach (2-3 cr)
851 Music and the Church (3 cr)
858 History of the Opera (3 cr)
859 Symphonic Literature (3 cr)
878 Music of the Twentieth Century I (3 cr)
879 American Composers and the Orchestra (3 cr)
882 Music of the Twentieth Century II (3 cr)
884 Music in 20th Century American Society (3 cr)
885 Music of the Classic Period (3 cr)
886 Music of the Renaissance (3 cr)
887 Music of the Baroque Era (3 cr)
888 Music of the Romantic Period (3 cr)
889 American Music (3 cr)
898 Meaning in Music (3 cr)

898 Women in Music Videos (3 cr)

942 Music History Pedagogy* (3 cr)
986 Seminar in the History and Literature of Music (3 cr)
988 Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Study of the Middle Ages (3 cr)
989 Introduction to the Interdisciplinary Study of the Renaissance (3 cr)

*Students may elect to apply either Music History Pedagogy or Music Theory Pedagogy to degree requirements in music history and theory, but not both.

Music Theory.

NOTE: All graduate level theory courses have the following prerequisite: a grade of pass in the Diagnostic Survey in Theory or a grade of P in the Graduate Theory Review course (MUSC 848).

836 Introduction to Graduate Studies (2 cr)
850 Johann Sebastian Bach (2-3 cr)
855 Techniques of Counterpoint (3 cr)
856 Schenkerian Analysis (before 2021) Prolongational Analysis of Tonal Music (after fall 2021) (3 cr)
857 Post-Tonal Theory (3 cr)
860 Musical Form (3 cr)
861 Comprehensive Analysis (3 cr)
865 Jazz Theory (3 cr)
880 Advanced Tonal Theory (before 2021) 898 or 846 Analytic Perspectives (after fall 2021) (3 cr)
941 Theory Pedagogy* (3 cr)
979 Seminar in Music Theory (3 cr)

*Students may elect to apply either Music History Pedagogy or Music Theory Pedagogy to degree requirements in music history and theory, but not both.

Large Ensemble and Chamber Music Policy

Note: in the rules that follow, care must be taken to distinguish the required number of semesters of enrollment from the total number of credit hours earned in ensembles.

The first ensemble must always be enrolled in for 1 credit.

1. FULL SEMESTER COMMITMENT AS A MEMBER

Some DMA students are required to participate in ensembles, and some are exempt. In either case, DMA students who participate in ensembles must formally enroll for each ensemble and participate in the ensemble (large or chamber) as a performer regularly for the entire semester. Students who are conducting/coaching an ensemble, or who are accompanying an ensemble, may not use this experience to fulfill degree requirements.

2. EXEMPTION FROM THE LARGE ENSEMBLE REQUIREMENT

DMA students pursuing emphases in Composition, Jazz Studies-Composition, Piano, Organ, and Voice are not required to participate in large ensembles. These DMA students may, of course, enroll in ensembles if they wish to, and they may count large ensemble credits toward their minimum 90-cr degree requirement in the Program of Study subject to the following maximum credit allowances:
Composition, Jazz Studies-Composition, Piano, Organ - 3 cr
Voice - 6 cr.

3. DMA CONDUCTING STUDENTS

DMA conducting students, whether or not on a GTA, are required to register for an assigned ensemble in each semester of residency (normally registering for 1 credit hour each semester). A maximum of 5 credits for large ensemble courses may count toward degree requirements. (DMA students wanting to use ensemble participation to fulfill degree requirements must participate in the ensemble (large or chamber) as a performer regularly for the entire semester. Students who are conducting/coaching an ensemble or only accompanying an ensemble may not use this experience to fulfill degree ensemble requirements.)   

4. THE STANDARD DMA ENSEMBLE REQUIREMENT

4a. Large Ensemble Requirement

DMA students who are pursuing performance emphases in Wind, String, Percussion, and Jazz Studies-Performance, and who are not on a GTA and who are not following the Chamber Music Option,  are required to participate in a large ensemble (Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Big Band) for a minimum of three semesters during their residency. These three semesters may be taken for 0 or 1 credit.  Students may count from zero up to three (and no more than three) credits of large ensemble in the minimum 90 credits in their Program of Study.

4b. Chamber Music Requirement

DMA students who are pursuing performance emphases in Wind, String, Percussion, and Piano, whether or not on a GTA, and who are not following the Chamber Music Option, are required to enroll in chamber music (MUEN 852 or MUEN 844P [Percussion Ensemble], which may count as chamber music for percussionists) for two semesters. Similarly, Jazz Studies-Performance students, whether or not on a GTA and who are not following the Chamber Music Option must enroll in Small Jazz Group for two semesters. These two semesters may be taken for 0 or 1 credit per semester, and up to a maximum of two (2) chamber music credits may be used to fulfill the required minimum 90 cr for the degree. Students whose chamber literature is severely limited may petition the Graduate Committee for an exemption to this requirement.

4c. Doubling up

On account of 4a and 4b, the DMA students in Wind, String, Percussion, and Jazz Studies-Performance who are not on a GTA and who are not following the Chamber Music Option must enroll in a minimum of three semesters of large ensemble and two semesters of chamber ensemble. The total number of credit hours of ensemble ( 3 for large and 2 for chamber) that can be counted towards their minimum 90 credit degree requirement is five (5). It is possible that preference or circumstance may require students to participate in both kinds of ensemble during the same semester, and students may register for 0 credit for the additional ensemble in a semester when they double up.

5. DMA STUDENTS ON THE CHAMBER MUSIC OPTION

The Chamber Music Option is a focus area of the DMA Performance Emphasis.  It is defined by the choice of Recital Option. DMA students in Instrumental Performance who are pursuing the Chamber Music Option perform three full-length chamber music recitals (each at least 50 minutes performing time), one full-length solo recital and a lecture recital featuring solo or chamber music.

DMA doctoral students pursuing the Chamber Music Option, whether or not holding a GTA, must participate in a minimum of four semesters of ensembles. They are required to enroll in large ensemble for two semesters (for 0 or 1 cr each semester for a minimum of 0 credit and a maximum of 2). And they are required to enroll in chamber ensemble for two semesters (for 0 or 1 cr each semester for a minimum of 0 credit and a maximum of 2). Together, a maximum of up to three ensemble credits, large and chamber, may be counted toward the minimum 90-credit requirement for the degree in the Program of Study.

6. DMA STUDENTS ON A GTA

DMA students with a GTA who are pursuing performance emphases in Wind, String, Percussion, and Jazz Studies-Performance must enroll in a large ensemble, i.e., Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Orchestra, or Jazz Big Band, each semester in which they hold an assistantship and are in residence. Normally, this will be for six semesters. Students may petition their Supervisory Committee for a waiver of large ensemble participation during the final (i.e., normally the sixth) semester.

N.B. #1 Because students can use only 3 credits of large ensemble towards the minimum 90-credits for the degree, GTAs pursuing these emphases should list on their Programs of Study and enroll in 3 credits of large ensemble for credit and 3 credits of large ensemble for zero credit.

NB #2: If, in a particular semester, registration for 1 credit of large ensemble results in a 13th credit (and hence the student would need to pay for this credit), students may petition, with the approval of the Chair of the Graduate Committee, to take the large ensemble for zero credit and to amend their Program of Study.

N.B. #3 This requirement does not apply to students pursuing the chamber music option.

 

 

Ph.D. (Music Education) Course Requirements

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