The D.M.A. degree is designed for qualified graduate students with an M.M. in music seeking a professional degree in performance or composition that culminates with a final project (performance/dissertation).
The University of Maryland School of Music offers D.M.A. degrees in the following:
- Composition
- Conducting
- Choral Conducting
- Orchestral Conducting*
- Wind Conducting*
- Performance
- Piano Solo
- Collaborative Piano
- String
- Voice
- Voice Pedagogy
- Voice/Opera
- Wind & Percussion
For specific policies and requirements in the above D.M.A. degrees, please refer to our most recent academic Graduate Handbook.
D.M.A. students generally complete the following:
Coursework completed before admission to candidacy:
- Performance, Principal Medium Requirement (3 courses, 10 credits, 2 recitals)
- Performance Related Courses Requirement (4 courses, 12 credits)
- Academic Courses Requirement (3 courses, 9 credits)
- Pass Preliminary Examinations
Coursework completed after admission to candidacy:
- Dissertation (12-18 credits)
Dissertation Options for Performance D.M.A. degrees:
There are two dissertation options for a D.M.A. in Performance for all instruments, except vocal programs and choral conducting (vocal and choral conducting students should check individual programs for specified option):- Performance Dissertation Option: 3 recitals after admission to candidacy (18 credits).
- Written Dissertation Option: 1 recital after admission to candidacy, plus a written dissertation (12 credits).
*NASM PLAN APPROVAL for this degree is in progress (October 2013).