Both the DMA and the Ph.D. require the successful completion of an approved program of graduate-level study (minimum of 48 credits beyond the master’s degree), including twelve (12) hours of dissertation credit or the equivalent. Unless approved by the student’s doctoral committee and the Music Graduate Director, all credits taken beyond the master’s degree must be at the 700 level or higher. Transfer of appropriate postmaster’s credits from another institution (maximum of 12 credits) may be permitted as long as the final 36 credits of doctoral work (including all credit for the dissertation or dissertation requirement) are taken on the Columbia campus.

After a student has been admitted to candidacy, specific course requirements for a particular degree program must be approved through submission of a program-of-study proposal approved by the student’s doctoral committee and filed in both the Music Graduate Office and the Office of the Graduate School. The candidate must satisfactorily complete all courses and studies as specified by the School of Music. No more than 12 credits with grades of C+ or below that have been taken at the doctoral level may be accumulated within an eight-year period. In addition, an average grade of B (3.0) is required for all courses numbered 700 or above as well as for all courses taken in the major area. Grades earned on credits transferred from other schools do not count in the grade-point average. An accumulation of grades of C+ or below on 12 credits of graduate course work taken at the University within an eight-year period will disqualify a student for a doctoral degree. For further information about academic regulations see the Graduate Studies Bulletin.

DEGREE PROGRAMS
The curricula given below outline normal expectations for the successful completion of the chosen degree and emphasis. A doctoral degree can be earned in as few as two years of work beyond the master’s degree, though the usual time is three or more years. It is expected that all students in DMA performance, piano pedagogy, and conducting degree programs will include at least two 700-level music history courses and at least three 700-level music theory courses in their programs of study. No more than three credits of ensemble and chamber music (MUSC 734 and 735) may be included under “Cognate Studies.” Area literature courses may be used in the “Cognate Studies” area of the degree but do not substitute for required music history courses. Students who have developed extensive research and writing skills may petition the Music Graduate Committee to exempt MUSC 747 (for further information contact the Music Graduate Director).

DMA Conducting

DMA Composition

DMA Performance

DMA Piano Pedagogy

DOCTORAL MINOR

Doctoral students are strongly advised to develop at least one area of musical expertise outside the doctoral major. A doctoral minor is therefore available in the areas listed below. The chosen doctoral minor may not have been the student’s major at the master’s level nor may it be in another area of the degree major (performance majors may not choose a doctoral minor in another area of performance, and conducting majors may not choose another area of conducting). A doctoral minor requires a minimum of 12 post-master’s graduate credits, of which at least nine must be completed at USC after admission into the minor program. Procedures and requirements for acceptance into a doctoral-minor program are the same as for admission into the equivalent major at the master’s level. During the Comprehensive Examination students who have been approved for a doctoral minor will also be tested in that area. The following are general guidelines for a doctoral minor:

DOCTORAL-DEGREE FLOW CHART

ADMISSION TO DEGREE PROGRAM
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DEGREE CANDIDACY
(second semester of full-time study or the equivalent)
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USC GRADUATE SCHOOL PROGRAM OF STUDY
(submitted within one year after admission to degree candidacy,
but absolutely no later than beginning of last semester)
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FOREIGN LANGUAGE
(requirement to be met before taking Comprehensive Exams)
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RECITALS
(DMA-conducting, DMA-performance, and DMA-piano pedagogy/recital track)
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WRITTEN AND ORAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS
(after completion of the foreign-language requirement and all
coursework except for recital and research credit)
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DISSERTATION RESEARCH PROJECT
(document and composition for DMA-conducting; DMA-conducting and DMA-performance; treatise
or dissertation for DMA-piano pedagogy; dissertation for Ph.D.-music education)
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ORAL DISSERTATION EXAMINATION (DEFENSE)

Application for graduation should be made early in the semester.