Overview
Known for its aesthetic diversity and openness to the ever-changing and progressive world of composition, the Frost School of Music's Department of Music Theory and Composition has a long tradition of distinguished faculty and students. When today's post-baccalaureate composers decide to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition, they look to Frost faculty composers for inspiration and mentoring. At Frost, graduate students are well-coached to take the next steps toward their professional maturation. They work one-on-one with our dedicated faculty to expand their music portfolios, enter competitions, apply for commissions, and network in the music profession. Candidates for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition (D.M.A.) develop advanced research and teaching skills that are applicable to careers in higher education. For more information, please visit the website for the department of Music Theory and Composition.
Admission Requirements
All applicants to the Frost School must submit the following items:
· An online application
· Application fee
· Resume
· Three letters of recommendation
· Official transcripts from every post-secondary school attended
This graduate degree program also requires submission of certain supplemental materials, including:
· Portfolio
· Campus interview
· TOEFL/IELTS score, as applicable
For more detailed information, please visit our Graduate Admission website.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Composition Courses 1 | ||
| Composition Seminars | 8 | |
| Graduate Composition | ||
| Composition Workshop | 4 | |
| Composition Workshop | ||
| Creative Activities | ||
| MTC 831 | Doctoral Essay | 12 |
| Theory/Composition Courses | ||
| MTC 711 | Experiential Musicianship and Theory Pedagogy | 3 |
| Music Theory courses | 12 | |
| Musicology Courses | ||
| Musicology courses | 9 | |
| Cognate/Electives | ||
| Select 12 credit hours of Cognate/Electives | 12 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Students take each of the Composition Courses 4 times:
- Students in this degree program take MTC 715 four times, at two credits each for a total of 8 credits.
- Students in this degree program take MTC 782 four times, at one credit each for a total of 4 credits.
*Doctoral Qualifying Exams must be complete prior to the defense of the Doctoral Essay/Dissertation proposal.
DMA in MTCP Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MTC 715 | Graduate Composition | 2 |
| MTC 782 | Composition Workshop | 1 |
| MTC 711 | Experiential Musicianship and Theory Pedagogy | 3 |
| MCY Elective | 3 | |
| Cognate/Electives | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MTC 715 | Graduate Composition | 2 |
| MTC 782 | Composition Workshop | 1 |
| MTC Elective | 3 | |
| MCY Elective | 3 | |
| Cognate/Electives | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| MTC 715 | Graduate Composition | 2 |
| MTC 782 | Composition Workshop | 1 |
| MTC Elective | 3 | |
| MCY Elective | 3 | |
| Cognate/Electives | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MTC 715 | Graduate Composition | 2 |
| MTC 782 | Composition Workshop | 1 |
| MTC Elective(s) | 6 | |
| Cognate/Electives | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| MTC 831 | Doctoral Essay | 4 |
| Cognate/Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MTC 831 | Doctoral Essay | 8 |
| Cognate/Electives | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
* This is a suggested Plan of Study. Your actual course sequence may vary depending on your previous academic experience as well as current course offerings. Students should meet with their academic advisor each semester to determine the appropriate course selection.
*Doctoral Qualifying Exams must be complete prior to the defense of the Doctoral Essay/Dissertation proposal.
Mission
The mission of the Doctor of Musical Arts program in Composition is to provide students with advanced preparation in the field of composition.
Goals
The goals of the program are:
- To enable students to develop advanced compositional skills beyond the level of the Master of Music degree in Composition;
- To help students consider or choose their compositional directions or options in the 21st century;
- To help students get their music performed or realized; and
- To help students develop a strong profile or identity as a composer.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will be able to demonstrate advanced composition knowledge.
- Students will be able to analyze music from pre-Baroque up through 21st century and of six different genre types (orchestra, opera, choral, solo, chamber, and electroacoustic).
- Students will be able to write effectively about their own compositions.
