Doctor of Musical Arts

The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree is a professional degree program that recognizes exceptional student academic and music qualifications in preparation for professional careers, including teaching at the university level. The DMA student has the opportunity to collaborate with music scholars, theorists, and other performers to attain a broad and well-rounded foundation for advanced careers in music.

Each DMA program is designed to provide an individualized path that combines rigorous academic coursework with hands-on performance opportunities, ensuring that students gain a deep, well-rounded understanding of their chosen area of music. Graduates are prepared to engage in professional music performance, teaching, and scholarship at the highest level.

Admission Requirements

In addition to all University requirements for admission to graduate studies, each program has specific application requirements listed within the application system. All of the possible program requirements are listed below, but applicants should refer to their graduate application for program-specific requirements. You can save your application in-process and do not need to upload all requirements at the time that you start the application. We strongly recommend applicants submit their complete application by the posted priority deadline. Students applying to the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) program must provide and/or meet the following program-specific requirements:

Resume or CV (please include repertoire list if applicable)
Statement of Purpose
A Scholarly Writing Sample
3 Letters of Recommendation (provide professional email addresses within application system)
Audition and/or Pre-Screening Video(s)
Interview or Introduction Video(s)

Some programs (EXCEPT piano) will accept applications after the priority deadline, but late applicants may not be considered for funding. Contact musicgrad@ku.edu with questions.

*These are the admission requirements in place at the time this catalog content was published.

Diagnostic Examinations in Music Performance

All incoming graduate students in the School of Music, EXCEPT Music Education and Music Therapy majors, MM-Opera majors, and Graduate Certificate in Performance majors, need to complete the diagnostic exam(s) listed below prior to the first day of classes. More information about these exams, along with the exam schedule, can be found on the School of Music website.

Music History Diagnostic: Online exam available in Canvas

Note: You will be enrolled in the exam course online through Canvas one week prior to the exam date. Details about the exams will be available to you at that time.

Piano Diagnostic: In-person exam only required for piano graduate students.

Degree Requirements for the Doctor of Music Arts

Students of the Doctor of Musical Arts program will select one of the concentrations listed below.

Details about the program (including milestones, committee and exam information) can be found in the School of Music Graduate Handbook or on the webpage.

Preparatory Coursework

New DMA students will complete a diagnostic exam prior to the first semester of enrollment to determine if deficiency coursework is required in Music History or piano literature (for piano students only). DMA students have three opportunities to pass all sections of the diagnostic exam. More details are available in the Graduate Handbook.

Program of Study

A Program of Study must be submitted to Graduate Student Services at musicgrad@ku.edu by the end of the second semester of enrollment. It is the student’s responsibility to track degree progress based on the approved program of study and submit updates as needed. A final degree check should be requested the semester prior to your proposed graduation term by emailing musicgrad@ku.edu.

Completion Options

The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in Music Performance and Composition allows for the following completion options:

Long DMA document including exam with oral component.
Short DMA document with lecture-recital and exam with oral component.
Short DMA document with recording project and exam with oral component.
Composition dissertation including exam with oral component.

Research Skills & Responsible Scholarship (RSRS)

The university requires that every doctoral student receive training in responsible scholarship pertinent to the field of research and obtain research skills pertinent to the doctoral level of research in their field(s). These requirements must be completed by the end of the semester that the student takes the oral comprehensive exam. For students in the Doctor of Musical Arts program, this requirement is satisfied by completion of MUSC 801, Music Bibliography and Research (or an equivalent course approved by the area coordinator for Musicology).

Doctoral Written Qualifying Exam

The Written Qualifying Examinations are School of Music exams that must be passed before taking the Oral Comprehensive Examination. Please work with your advisor and Graduate Student Services on timing for these exams. Scheduled dates and additional details for the Written Qualifying Exams are on the School of Music website.

The Written Qualifying Examinations have three components:

Music History – will assess student knowledge of representative literature and composers of each major period of music history, as well as general bibliographic resources in music. This exam will be prepared and graded by the Musicology Area.
Music Theory – will assess broad knowledge of music theory as it relates to music performers. The exam will be prepared and graded by the Theory Area.
Major field – will assess aspects of the student’s major field, including but not necessarily limited to, applied literature/repertoire, pedagogy, and specialization-specific sources and resources. Faculty in the major area are responsible for preparing and grading this exam.

Oral Comprehensive Exam

All doctoral students must meet the RSRS requirement before proceeding to the oral comprehensive exam. The Oral Comprehensive Exam will cover all aspects of your major field of study and serve as a synthesis of your academic training as a whole. Questions will be asked by each member of your committee to assess the professional level and depth of your knowledge of theory, musicology, pedagogy, repertoire, and any other specific questions deemed pertinent by your committee. Doctoral students are expected to have developed the capacity for individual study and inquiry; therefore, the subject matter of the examination is not necessarily limited to courses in which the student has enrolled.

DMA Document Research Proposal

Doctoral candidates submit a formal research proposal to all committee members. The candidate may not proceed with gathering data until the formal proposal has gained full committee approval. Approval can be obtained individually or a formal proposal presentation event can be requested.

DMA Document & Final Oral Examination

Upon completion of the DMA document, the doctoral candidate must pass the final oral examination, which includes a defense of the DMA document. The student must submit an Exam Authorization form for approval to hold the Final Oral Examination at least 2 weeks in advance of the scheduled exam and all members of the Doctoral Committee must be present.