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Doctoral

Doctor of Musical Arts Requirements

The D.M.A. is the terminal professional practical degree in music, designed for performers and conductors wishing to acquire the highest performance abilities. Graduates will have attained the academic qualifications generally accepted for teaching at the college level.

Entering students in the vocal performance track are expected to have appropriate language proficiencies in French, German, and Italian. Following acceptance into the doctoral program, students may be required to take the 702 theory and/or 704 history survey courses. Other review courses may be required upon recommendation of the advisor and committee.

Recitals and a final written project are planned in conjunction with the candidate’s committee, which consists of at least three graduate music faculty members: the advisor, a representative from academic studies, and at least one other member at large. In addition, there must be a graduate school representative who comes from an area outside of music.

Applications may be completed online at the NDSU Graduate School. A complete application will include three recommendations, transcripts and a scholarly writing example. Applicants should notify the graduate music coordinator, Dr. Charlette Moe, of their intention to apply. For applicants in performance and conducting, an on-campus visit and audition are required. Following acceptance into the master’s program, applicants will complete a diagnostic exam, which will be used by their advisors to plan appropriate coursework. As a result of this diagnostic exam, students may be required to take the 702 Music Theory and/or 704 Music History survey courses.

All coursework must be passed with a minimum grade of B. Qualifying examinations in the student’s primary focus area and in academic studies must be passed near the end of or after coursework, and prior to a final oral examination by members of the candidate’s committee. All D.M.A. graduates must have reading proficiency in at least one foreign language. For some, an alternative such as a computer language or other research skill, if appropriate to the student’s focus area, may be substituted. This proficiency will be determined and assessed by the candidate’s committee. Further, students in Choral Conducting must demonstrate proficiency in foreign language diction.

Two tracks are offered: Performance and Conducting. Each track requires a minimum of 90 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree (93 for the D.M.A. in choral conducting). Students entering the program with an approved master’s degree or its equivalent may apply credits toward the D.M.A. The graduate music faculty will determine the viability and number of transfer credits.

Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 709Ensemble Performance (1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1)10
MUSC 731Applied Study (4,4,4,4,4,4)24
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recitals (4,4,4)12
MUSC 789D.M.A. Thesis (1,1,1,1)4
History/Theory*To be taken from*:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
15
PedagogyMUSC 721 Vocal Pedagogy6
LiteratureMUSC 767 Vocal Lit I: Baroque/Classic
MUSC 768 Vocal Lit II: Romantic
MUSC 769 Vocal Lit III: 20th Cent./Contemporary
9
Electives(In consultation with advisor)8
Total90

*At least one course must be taken from MUSC 611-634; at least one course must be taken from MUSC 740-744.

Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Performance

Available for Clarinet, Percussion, Saxophone, and Trumpet.

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 709Ensemble Performance (1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1)10
MUSC 731Applied Study (4,4,4,4,4,4)24
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recitals (4,4,4)12
MUSC 789D.M.A. Thesis (1,1,1,1)4
History/Theory*To be taken from*:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
15
Pedagogy/LiteratureMinimum six credits in each:
MUSC 722 Applied Instrumental Pedagogy
MUSC 764 Applied Instrumental Literature
15
Electives(In consultation with advisor)9
Total90

*At least one course must be taken from MUSC 611-634; at least one course must be taken from MUSC 740-744.

Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 709*Ensemble Performance (1,1,1,1)*4*
MUSC 731Applied Study (4,4,4,4,4,4,2,2)28
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recitals (3,3,3,3)12
MUSC 789D.M.A. Thesis (1,1,1,1)4
History/Theory**To be taken from:**
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
15**
Pedagogy/LiteratureTo be taken from:
MUSC 643 Keyboard Literature
MUSC 723 Advanced Piano Pedagogy
MUSC 724 Topics in Piano Pedagogy
MUSC 770 Topics in Keyboard Literature
15
Electives(in consultation with advisor)10
Total90

* At least 3 credits of MUSC 709 must be earned while in residence at NDSU.
** At least one course must be taken from MUSC 611-634; at least one course must be taken from MUSC 740-744.

Doctor of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 731Applied Study (4,4,4,4,4,4,4,4)
At least 4 semesters of MUSC 731 must be taken in residence during the DMA program
32
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 750Studies in Collaborative Piano (2,2,2,2)8
MUSC 780Recitals (4,4,4,4)16
MUSC 789D.M.A. Thesis (1,1,1,1)4
History/Theory*To be taken from:*
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
15
Piano PedagogyTo be taken from: MUSC 623 Piano Pedagogy
MUSC 793 Individual Study/Tutorial (Individual Study in Piano Pedagogy)
6
Vocal or Instrumental SpecializationTo be taken from:
MUSC 642 Opera Literature
MUSC 705 Graduate Diction Survey I
MUSC 706 Graduate Diction Survey II
MUSC 709 Graduate Ensemble
MUSC 746 Topics in Song Literature
MUSC 764 Applied Instrumental Literature
10
Electives(in consultation with advisor)8
Total91-94

* At least one course must be taken from MUSC 611-634; at least one course must be taken from MUSC 740-744.

Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 709Ensemble Performance (1,1,1,1,1,1)6
MUSC 731Applied Study (4,4,4,4,4)
Choral Conducting students may substitute 2 registrations of MUSC 733 Choral Studies and Pedagogy for a total of 4 credits.
20
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recitals (4,4,4)12
MUSC 789D.M.A. Thesis (1,1,1,1)4
History/Theory*To be taken from*:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
15
LiteratureMUSC 760 Medieval/Renaissance Choral Lit.
MUSC 761 Baroque Choral Literature
MUSC 762 Classical/Romantic Choral Literature
MUSC 763 20th Century/Contemporary Choral Lit
12
CognateCourses determined with advisor from Conducting, Music Education, Academic Studies and Performance15
Electives(In consultation with advisor)4
 Total90

*At least one course must be taken from MUSC 611-634; at least one course must be taken from MUSC 740-744.

Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental Conducting

CourseCourse NameCredits
MUSC 709Ensemble Performance (1,1,1,1,1,1)6
MUSC 731Applied Study (4,4,4,4,4)20
MUSC 748Music Bibliography and Research Methods2
MUSC 780Recitals (4,4,4)12
MUSC 789D.M.A. Thesis (1,1,1,1)4
History/Theory*To be taken from*:
MUSC 611 Form and Analysis
MUSC 630 Counterpoint
MUSC 631 Contemporary Harmonic Techniques
MUSC 634 Analytical Techniques
MUSC 740 Medieval/Renaissance History
MUSC 741 Baroque and Classical Music History
MUSC 743 Romantic Music History
MUSC 744 20th Century Music History
15
LiteratureMUSC 765 Band Lit: History/Development
MUSC 766 Band Lit: Chamber Music
6
CognateCourses determined with advisor from Conducting, Music Education, Academic Studies and Performance15
Electives(In consultation with advisor)10
 Total90

*At least one course must be taken from MUSC 611-634; at least one course must be taken from MUSC 740-744.