The degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in performance or composition is intended for candidates with outstanding ability as performers or composers who demonstrate deep and detailed knowledge of their major fields. The program is both comprehensive and highly flexible, adapted to and reflective of the needs of individual students. An applicant for admission to the DMA program must possess a Master of Music degree or its equivalent, with a major in the same principal area in which admission is being sought. The standard time to complete the Doctor of Musical Arts is three years.
Residence Requirements
Although a minimum of one academic year in residence (two consecutive semesters) is required as a full-time student, applicants should expect to spend three years of full-time study in this program.
Degree Requirements
CIM purposefully limits enrollment in most areas to ensure maximum performance opportunities in preparation for professional life. This policy creates for the student a responsibility to provide performance services that may go beyond the minimum amounts indicated in the curricular requirements. Along with performance requirements, a minimum of 33 credits of academic course work (typically eleven three-credit courses) must be completed. Course work typically includes music theory, history, and literature in the student’s principal area, and related non-musical subjects. Students are required to enroll in ensembles, secondary performance areas, and other focused areas as appropriate to their fields. Additionally, voice majors must show proficiency—demonstrated either by passing one semester of collegiate-level study, including at the undergraduate level, or by department examination—in French, German, and Italian.
The entering DMA student, during their first year of study, has qualifying status. During this period, the student must demonstrate the capability to balance successfully the myriad components entailed in pursuing doctoral study. Through close interaction with the major teacher, the DMA Coordinator, and academic faculty (particular the CWRU music history faculty), the student must demonstrate superior time-management skills, scholarly writing skills, the ability to undertake graduate research, and, most importantly, measurable progress in their applied performance area.
To remain in satisfactory academic standing and to avoid being placed on academic probation, DMA students must maintain a 3.0 grade-point average, receiving no grades below “B” in any course work, applied or otherwise. A student receiving a grade lower than “B” in any class is placed on academic probation until they regain satisfactory academic standing.
Students must remain enrolled in their major area for the duration of full-time study. For all DMA students, the maximum time between enrollment as a DMA student and the completion of all degree requirements is not to exceed six consecutive years. Note that DMA students are not eligible for Leaves of Absence except in extraordinary circumstances, as determined by the Dean of the Institute. Students must be enrolled for at least one credit hour until all degree requirements are met.
Students in performance must present four solo recitals, one of which may be supported by a scholarly research document. Students are assigned a document advisor for this project. Advisors are assigned from appropriate CWRU Music Department faculty or CIM Music Theory faculty; note that advisors must themselves hold a doctorate.
In order to maintain correct sequencing, students may not give the fourth performance recital until the document is completed. In certain instances, and with approval of the major department, a lecture recital may be substituted for one of the recitals. A recital performed in fulfillment of degree requirements cannot be considered retroactively as a recital requirement for any other degree or program. Students should work closely with faculty in advance to ensure that recital content aligns appropriately with degree expectations.
Students in composition must present a chamber music recital consisting of less than sixty minutes of original music and in which the composer participates as performer or conductor. Students must submit a substantial research/analytical document, under the supervision of an appointed document advisor, dealing with some aspect of twentieth-century music, typically focusing on one or several works by a single composer. The composition thesis must be a major orchestral work of at least fifteen minutes’ duration. A thesis written for another large genre (such as opera or wind ensemble) might be approved in lieu of an orchestral work at the discretion of the major teacher.
All students must pass the qualifying written examinations in music theory and music history. Once the written examination requirements in both areas have been met, the candidate is scheduled for the oral examination. Additional information is available in the DMA Handbook.