Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Composition


The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in Composition requires 61 credit hours of graduate-level coursework distributed into the categories listed below. Selections must be approved by your doctoral committee.

Contacts:

A list of all course offerings can be found on the Schedule of Classes. To track progress, please download the degree progress check sheet (.pdf).

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA): Composition Program Guide

Prerequisites

Must be cleared in accordance with school and area policies

Music History

CheckCourse
 Medieval : Exam / MUSC 474
 Renaissance : Exam / MUSC 475
 Baroque : Exam / MUSC 476
 Classical : Exam / MUSC 477
 Romantic : Exam / MUSC 478
 20th Century : Exam / MUSC 479

Music Theory

CheckCourse
 Harmony : Exam / MTHC 400
 Aural Skills : Exam / MTHC 402
 Form : Exam / MTHC 404
 20th Century : Exam / MTHC 406

Music Core

Research Skills (3 hours)

Waiver or equivalent course accepted with approval

CourseHrsTermGrade
MUSC 8013  

Advanced Musicology (9 hours)

CourseHrsTermGrade
MUSC3  
MUSC3  
MUSC3  

Major Area

Advanced Composition (16 hours)

CourseHrsTermGrade
MTHC 953                     
MTHC 953                          
MTHC 953                          
MTHC 953               
MTHC 953          
MTHC 953               

Advanced Music Theory & Composition (9 hours)

CourseHrsTermGrade
MTHC3  
MTHC3  
MTHC3  

Pedagogy and Repertoire (6 hours)

CourseHrsTermGrade
MTHC 743   
MTHC 840   

Dissertation (16 hours)

CourseHrsTermGrade
MTHC 999   
MTHC 999   
MTHC 999   
MTHC 999   
MTHC 999   
MTHC 999   

Composition Recital (2 hours)

CourseHrsTermGrade
MTHC 965                    2  

Written Qualifying Exams

Must be completed prior to scheduling the Oral Comprehensive Exam

ExamDateResult
Music History  
Music Theory  
Major Field  

University-Level Exams

Exam Authorization forms should be submitted at least 2 weeks in advance of the exam date

ExamDateResult
Oral Comps Exam  
Final Oral Exam  

Graduate Advisory Committee

Minimum of 5 faculty members for doctoral committees

NamePosition
 Chair (B&P)
 Brass & Perc.
 MUSC / MTHC
 Music
 Grad Studies Rep.
 Other (optional)

Graduation Requirements

CheckRequirement
 60 Total Graduate Credit Hours
 3.0 Cumulative Graduate GPA
 Applied for Graduation in Enroll & Pay
 Complete Exam Authorization Form (.pdf) (at least two weeks prior to exam date)
 Submit thesis to ProQuest/KU Scholar Works for publication
 Complete the Doctoral Completion Survey and send the Certificate of Completion to musicgrad@ku.edu
 Submit ETD release form
 Send signed Title & Acceptance pages to musicgrad@ku.edu
 Verify all recital programs are on file at musicgrad@ku.edu

 

Optional Cognate (12 hours)

Credits may count towards MUSC/MTHC or Elective requirements. Area:

CourseHrsTermGrade
    
    
    
    
    
    

Transfer or Master's Reduction Credit(s)

Up to 6 credits of MTHC/MUSC courses may be counted as a reduction in the credit hours required for the DMA. Additional transfer credits may count towards electives.

CourseHrsTermGrade