HEGIS Code: 1004
Inventory of Registered Program Code: 28275
The College through its Graduate Division, accepts prospective candidates for the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.). The degree is granted in the fields of music performance, composition/arranging, music education, or music history and literature, and requires demonstration of distinguished achievement.
Doctoral degrees in music at the College are intended for those planning to work at the most advanced academic and professional levels of musical endeavor. Students admitted to doctoral study are expected to achieve competence as musician/scholars who can communicate effectively both orally and in written form. They should be able to demonstrate the ability to write concisely with clarity and prepare critiques of musical performances that reflect mature, sensitive insights into musical values.
Attainment of a doctoral degree at Five Towns College requires outstanding scholarship and research culminating in a dissertation that contributes to the general fund of knowledge in the area of concentration. Qualified doctoral candidates must earn a minimum of 60 credits beyond the master’s level and must maintain a 3.0 G.P.A. or higher.
The Plan of Study includes 30 credits of core curriculum courses. In conjunction with their assigned major professor, students are responsible for selecting the elective courses to complete a Plan of Study that identifies course work needed to fulfill degree requirements.
Doctoral study requires a minimum of three or four years of graduate work. Completion of an appropriate Masters Degree is prerequisite to doctoral study. The degree program objectives listed below must be demonstrated by candidates for graduation as a prerequisite to qualifying for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree:
- Intellectual awareness and curiosity sufficient to predict continued growth and contribution to the discipline;
- Knowledge of representative literature, influential composers, and techniques to analyze compositions.
- Expertise in music history, education, performance, or composition;
- Expertise in the supervision of music programs;
- Expertise in the application and utilization of appropriate research skills; and
- Sufficient writing and speaking skills to communicate clearly and effectively to members of the scholarly and wider communities.
Plan of Study
The Plan of Study includes 30 credits of core curriculum courses selected from those listed below. Students are responsible for selecting the elective courses to complete a Plan of Study that identifies course work needed to fulfill degree requirements.
Major Professor
After acceptance as a matriculated student seeking degree candidacy, the Director of Graduate Studies will act as the student’s mentor and will be responsible for helping the student select the electives to complete a Plan of Study and meet with the student periodically to review their progress toward completion of the dissertation and degree requirements.
Music Performance, D.M.A. Program Overview
Degrees in this area are awarded for instrumental or vocal performance. In addition to demonstrating the technical achievements of the artist-performer, the candidate is expected to exhibit a thorough knowledge of the theoretical, pedagogical, and historical aspects of instrumental/vocal performance as well as knowledge of its literature.
Acceptance in the performance program requires an audition demonstrating exceptional musical skills, an interview, sight-reading the equivalent of level 3 NYSSMA on their instrument, or, in the case of jazz/commercial focus, applicants should be able to sight-read a lead sheet of moderate difficulty including some extended harmonies. Students should also be prepared to demonstrate adequate sight-singing skills, aural skills, and keyboard competency.
Applicants must also submit an original essay of at least 1500 words on a musical subject of their choice. The essay must be typed and supported by citations and references. International students will take an onsite English test to assess their writing skills.
Live auditions are required. Note that international students may submit auditions via links or video files. Students outside of the tri-state area may request these accommodations as well. Students are required to bring sheet music to the audition. Candidates may bring an accompanist and instrumentalists may use a backing track.
Admission Policies and Procedures (D.M.A.)
Applicants seeking acceptance must demonstrate exceptional musical skills on an instrument/voice, or present a record of outstanding pedagogical achievement, or submit a scholarly paper or portfolio of compositions/ arrangements that provide evidence of superior potential and creativity.
All applicants for admission to the Composition and Arranging, Music History and Literature, or Music Performance Programs must submit the following:
- A completed application.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Official transcripts documenting the successful completion of an appropriate Master’s degree with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or better.
- Audition (Required for Composition/Arranging and Performance applicants. Interview for Music History and Literature applicants)
- 1,500 word essay on musical topic with citations (Required for Musical History and Literature applicants only)
- Evidence of English Fluency – TOEFL total score of 90 or higher
Establishment of Matriculation
The Graduate Academic Standards Committee evaluates applications for matriculation based on the following criteria: (1) applicant’s grade point average from previous degree programs; (2) letters of recommendation; (3) original essay; (4) personal interview; and (5) individual requirements set forth in the descriptions for each of the programs.
Special Students
Students who do not wish to enroll in a degree program are permitted to register as nondegree special students. Special students are not eligible for independent study or advisement.
It should be noted that while in certain exceptional cases credits earned as a special student may later be applied to degree candidacy, special student status should not be viewed as a prelude or aid to the attainment of degree candidate status. In any case, no more than 12 credits of coursework earned as a special student can be applied to the D.M.A. degree. Past or present status as a special student is not considered during evaluation of an application for degree candidacy; the latter is considered a separate application, and different admissions criteria are applied. There can thus be no guarantee that individuals granted special student status will be accepted for degree candidacy should they apply.
International special students taking fewer than twelve credits a semester are not eligible for a student visa. All special students taking 6 or more credits a semester must comply with New York State immunization regulations.
Transfer Credit
Graduate courses completed at an accredited institution, not applied to another graduate degree, completed with a grade of A or B, may be presented for transfer of credit with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies. Grades below B in graduate classes do not carry doctoral credit.
Time Limitation/Leave of Absence
Students in the Doctoral Program must complete 12 credits during the first two years of study and all requirements within ten years of the date of matriculation. Exceptions are granted only in medical emergencies with the permission of the Graduate Academic Standards Committee. Other exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The following regulations are in effect for all doctoral students:
- Students must register for MUS 801 - Doctoral Advisement each semester after completion of EDU 652 - Doctoral Seminar 1. Registration for Doctoral Advisement entitles students to access both the main and Graduate Libraries and consult with their major professor in regard to their research project/dissertation.
- If a student who is still within the ten-year time period for degree completion does not register for at least one three credit course, matriculation will lapse unless he/she registers for MUS 800 - Continuous Registration.
Students who fail to maintain matriculation by the end of the given semester will be considered to have withdrawn and will be required to reapply for admission to continue working toward his or her degree. Readmission to the program is not guaranteed.
Leave of Absence
In extraordinary cases a student may be granted a leave of absence upon written application to the Director of Graduate Studies and with the approval of the Provost. Leave of absences are typically granted only in cases of serious illness. The duration of the leave may be counted as part of the ten years allowed for completion of the degree.
Comprehensive Examination/Dissertation
Comprehensive Examination/Candidacy
Before admission to degree candidacy, students must pass a Comprehensive Examination that tests the extent of the student’s knowledge in the general field of study and the area of specialization. The examination will be given upon the completion of all course work.
Students will only be permitted a second attempt to pass the Comprehensive Examination upon the recommendation of the Graduate Academic Standards Committee. The second examination may not take place until four months after the date of the first examination.
Doctoral candidates must be registered for either course credit or MUS 800 - Continuous Registration in every semester until they graduate.
Concerts and Performance Recitals
(Music Performance Program Only)
Candidates in the music performance program must conduct three major public concerts or present three recitals: (1) a solo recital during the second semester; (2) a recital of vocal and/or instrumental chamber music; and (3) a solo recital prior to graduation. No more than one concert or recital is permitted per semester. Each concert or recital will be evaluated independently by a panel of judges selected by the Graduate Academic Standards Committee. If a candidate’s performance is judged unsatisfactory, an additional one must be performed. In no case will a candidate be permitted to remain in the program if more than one concert or recital is determined to be unsatisfactory.
Dissertation
Doctoral programs require the completion of a dissertation or a major composition, which must meet required standards of scholarship and demonstrate the candidate’s ability to conduct original research.
The Dissertation Proposal should include a statement on the purpose, significance/need for the study, research methodology, possible conclusions and recommendations for further research, and cite examples of literature related to the topic. Candidates may not offer their dissertation to any agency for publication without explicit approval in writing from the Graduate Academic Standards Committee.
Enrollment in MUS 800 - Continuous Registration is required until the dissertation is completed. Doctoral candidates seeking financial aid may apply for full-time status with this registration or an additional enrollment in a three-credit course.
Final Dissertation Defense
Upon completion of all required courses and the dissertation, the candidate must schedule a Final Dissertation Defense. The defense focuses on the final document itself but can include general questioning related to the field of study within the scope of the dissertation. The Graduate Academic Standards Committee appoints at least three faculty members to conduct the defense.
After successful completion of the defense, the candidate will prepare the dissertation with the Director of Library before submittal for publication with ProQuest.
The Graduate Academic Standards Committee will recommend conferral of the doctoral degree by the College’s Board of Trustees.
Publication of the Dissertation
University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan processes the document and sends catalog information to the Library of Congress for printing and distribution of cards for depository catalogs and libraries. The abstract of the dissertation is printed in Microfilm Abstracts and distributed to leading libraries in the United States and elsewhere, and to a select list of journals and abstracting services. One copy of the dissertation is archived in the Graduate Library/Learning Resource Center.
Return to: