Program Overview

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Musical Arts, DMA

Overview

The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) requires 90 credits, 60 credits beyond the Master's degree in music. The doctor of musical arts concentrations are composition, conducting, and performance. While these concentrations share some of the required coursework, each is also distinct in course requirements. Professional musicians earn the DMA to enhance and extend their knowledge and practice within their area of specialization. The DMA student focuses on the profession of music performance, as well as the theory and practice of the discipline.

Admissions

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified on the Graduate Admissions policy page. Specific graduate admissions requirements can be found on the College of Visual and Performing Arts Graduate Admissions requirements page.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP .6 Graduate Policies. See College of Visual and Performing Arts for policies specific to the college.

Transfer of prior earned credits

Students must have a master's degree to be eligible for admission to doctoral programs in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Students are permitted to transfer credits from a master’s degree into a doctoral program per the stipulations outlined under policy AP.6.5 Credit by Exam or Transfer.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 90

The following degree plan is based on a student who receives approval for a transfer of 30 credits. Students who do not receive approval for the 30 credits of transfer coursework should choose additional credits in consultation with their advisor.

Placement Examinations

Prior to the beginning of the first semester of doctoral studies, the student must complete placement examinations in music theory, music history, and musicianship (including aural skills and keyboard skills). Positive scores on the placement exams may reduce or eliminate prerequisites for courses in music history and music theory. Recitals can be scheduled only after completion of any necessary prerequisites in music theory, music history, and musicianship.

Doctoral Coursework

The doctoral student must maintain a minimum of 3.00 GPA in courses presented on the degree plan, which may include no more than 6 credits with a grade of C. The GPA calculation excludes all transfer courses and Mason extended studies or non-degree credits not formally approved for the degree.

Students must complete the following required courses as well as those in their chosen concentration:

• Select 3 credits of Music Theory coursework from the following:
  • MUSI 605: Graduate Jazz Improvisation
  • MUSI 610: Topics in Music Theory
  • MUSI 611: Analytical Techniques
  • MUSI 613: Graduate Orchestration
  • MUSI 615: Advanced Jazz Improvisation
  • MUSI 616: Graduate Jazz Arranging
  • MUSI 650: Topics in Jazz Studies
  • MUSI 710: Advanced Topics in Music Theory
  • MUSI 810: Doctoral Seminar in Analysis
  • MUSI 830: Doctoral Seminar in Music History
• Two credits of MUSI 890: Doctoral Recital
• Total Credits: 5

Concentration in Composition (CPO)

• Select 3 credits of Music Composition coursework
  • MUSI 613: Graduate Orchestration
  • MUSI 616: Graduate Jazz Arranging
  • MUSI 650: Topics in Jazz Studies
  • MUSI 750: Graduate Topics in Music Composition
  • MUSI 751: Interactive Music Composition
• Select 3 credits of Musicology/Music Theory Electives
  • MUSI 605: Graduate Jazz Improvisation
  • MUSI 610: Topics in Music Theory
  • MUSI 611: Analytical Techniques
  • MUSI 613: Graduate Orchestration
  • MUSI 615: Advanced Jazz Improvisation
  • MUSI 616: Graduate Jazz Arranging
  • MUSI 630: Topics in Music History and Literature
  • MUSI 640: Topics in World Musics
  • MUSI 650: Topics in Jazz Studies
  • MUSI 710: Advanced Topics in Music Theory
  • MUSI 730: Advanced Topics in Music History
  • MUSI 750: Graduate Topics in Music Composition
  • MUSI 810: Doctoral Seminar in Analysis
  • MUSI 830: Doctoral Seminar in Music History
  • MUSI 614: Music Theory Pedagogy
• Select 3 credits of approved graduate electives
  • MUSI 810: Doctoral Seminar in Analysis
• Fifteen credits of MUSI 828: Doctoral Applied Music in Composition
• Select 3 credits of Musicology coursework from the following:
  • MUSI 630: Topics in Music History and Literature
  • MUSI 640: Topics in World Musics
  • MUSI 730: Advanced Topics in Music History
  • MUSI 830: Doctoral Seminar in Music History
  • MUSI 780: Doctoral Research Methods in Music
• Total Credits: 27

Concentration in Conducting (CDC)

• Select 5 credits of approved graduate electives
• Select 3 credits of Musicology coursework from the following:
  • MUSI 630: Topics in Music History and Literature
  • MUSI 640: Topics in World Musics
  • MUSI 730: Advanced Topics in Music History
  • MUSI 830: Doctoral Seminar in Music History
  • MUSI 770: Advanced Topics in Pedagogy
  • MUSI 780: Doctoral Research Methods in Music
  • MUSI 810: Doctoral Seminar in Analysis
• Fifteen credits of MUSI 829: Doctoral Applied Music in Conducting
• Four credits of MUSI 880: Doctoral Major Ensemble
• Select 3 credits of Musicology/Music Theory Electives from the following:
  • MUSI 605: Graduate Jazz Improvisation
  • MUSI 610: Topics in Music Theory
  • MUSI 611: Analytical Techniques
  • MUSI 613: Graduate Orchestration
  • MUSI 615: Advanced Jazz Improvisation
  • MUSI 616: Graduate Jazz Arranging
  • MUSI 630: Topics in Music History and Literature
  • MUSI 640: Topics in World Musics
  • MUSI 650: Topics in Jazz Studies
  • MUSI 710: Advanced Topics in Music Theory
  • MUSI 730: Advanced Topics in Music History
  • MUSI 810: Doctoral Seminar in Analysis
  • MUSI 830: Doctoral Seminar in Music History
• Total Credits: 30

Concentration in Performance (PFM)

• Select 15 credits of Graduate Applied Music from the following:
  • MUSI 822: Doctoral Applied Music in Keyboard
  • MUSI 823: Doctoral Applied Music in Voice
  • MUSI 824: Doctoral Applied Music in Woodwind
  • MUSI 825: Doctoral Applied Music in Brass
  • MUSI 826: Doctoral Applied Music in String
  • MUSI 827: Doctoral Applied Music in Percussion
• Select 3 credits of approved graduate electives
• Select 3 credits of Musicology coursework from the following:
  • MUSI 630: Topics in Music History and Literature
  • MUSI 640: Topics in World Musics
  • MUSI 730: Advanced Topics in Music History
  • MUSI 830: Doctoral Seminar in Music History
• Select 2 credits from the following:
  • MUSI 685: Graduate Chamber Ensemble
  • MUSI 720: Advanced Topics in Applied Music
  • MUSI 770: Advanced Topics in Pedagogy
  • MUSI 780: Doctoral Research Methods in Music
  • MUSI 810: Doctoral Seminar in Analysis
• Select 4 credits from the following:
  • MUSI 880 and MUSI 720: Doctoral Major Ensemble and Advanced Topics in Applied Music
  • MUSI 880: Doctoral Major Ensemble
  • or MUSI 720: Advanced Topics in Applied Music
• Select 3 credits of Musicology/Music Theory Electives from the following:
  • MUSI 605: Graduate Jazz Improvisation
  • MUSI 610: Topics in Music Theory
  • MUSI 611: Analytical Techniques
  • MUSI 613: Graduate Orchestration
  • MUSI 615: Advanced Jazz Improvisation
  • MUSI 616: Graduate Jazz Arranging
  • MUSI 630: Topics in Music History and Literature
  • MUSI 640: Topics in World Musics
  • MUSI 650: Topics in Jazz Studies
  • MUSI 710: Advanced Topics in Music Theory
  • MUSI 730: Advanced Topics in Music History
  • MUSI 810: Doctoral Seminar in Analysis
  • MUSI 830: Doctoral Seminar in Music History
• Total Credits: 30

Language Requirements

Reading proficiency is required in a language appropriate to the student's major area of study. Normally, this will be German, French, or Italian. The director of graduate studies and the Graduate Committee will determine the appropriate area of study. Reading proficiency may be accomplished by completing a reading examination provided by the music faculty. The reading examination provided by the faculty will normally consist of translation (with dictionary) of appropriate technical passages relevant to the student's area of study within a two-hour period. The language reading proficiency should be completed prior to earning 12 credits of courses at the 600 level or above.

Graduate Committee

The Graduate Committee will evaluate the progress of the student annually. Continuation in the program is subject to the endorsement of this group.

Comprehensive Exams

After the completion of required courses (excluding dissertation credits) or during the semester when completion of those courses is anticipated, the student will take comprehensive examinations. The written exams will be followed by a one-hour oral exam to clarify issues included in the written exams.

Doctoral Research

• Select 13 credits from the following:
  • MUSI 998: Dissertation Proposal (a minimum of 3 credits)
  • MUSI 999: Dissertation (a minimum of 7 credits)
• Total Credits: 13

Advancement to Candidacy

Before doctoral students may be advanced to candidacy by the dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, they must complete all coursework required by the program faculty, be certified in all relevant doctoral research skills, pass the comprehensive exams, and be recommended by the Graduate Committee, the director of graduate studies, and the director of the School of Music. Students advanced to candidacy after the add period for a given semester must wait until the following semester to register for MUSI 999 Dissertation.

Dissertation Committee

The dissertation is the capstone experience of doctoral study. The dissertation will be guided by the Dissertation Committee consisting of at least three members of the music faculty. The student's major professor will chair the committee. The director of graduate studies of the School of Music may be part of the committee; if not, he or she will serve exofficio. All Dissertation Committee members will be appointed by the dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts and have graduate faculty status, as approved by the university provost. Performance and composition recitals are also subject to the approval of the Dissertation Committee.

Dissertation Lecture/Lecture Recital

Students in the DMA program with concentrations in Performance and Conducting are required to complete a lecture recital (min. 60 minutes) related to the dissertation topic during MUSI 999.

Students in the DMA program in Composition are required to complete a culminating, large-scale composition (performance encouraged but not required). They must also complete a lecture (min. 30 minutes) related to the dissertation topic. N.B. The dissertation is an independent research document and may or may not be directly related to the composition.

Final Defense and Graduation

When all degree requirements have been satisfied, including completion of the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral candidate may request a doctoral defense. Approval for the defense must be obtained from the Dissertation Committee, the director of graduate studies and the director of the School of Music, and the dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Notice of a defense must be circulated to the university community two weeks before the defense date.

All relevant rules regarding schedule, fees, and other matters as described in the catalog must be followed. All copies of the dissertation materials and fees must be paid before the doctoral degree is awarded.