Doctor of Arts in Music

The doctor of arts in music (DA) degree is designed to prepare superior musicians for careers in college teaching. The philosophy of the program is to integrate depth of preparation in one of the traditional disciplines of music with general studies in the remaining fields of music and several supervised teaching experiences at the college level. Graduates will be effective and productive artists and scholars qualified to teach specific music disciplines at the college level and to assume the more diverse responsibilities characteristic of faculty positions at small colleges and universities. The program requires a total of 90 hours of graduate credit beyond the bachelor’s degree. The School of Music core includes foundational course work in music education, music theory, and music history, such as studies in the history and philosophy of music education, principles of music theory, and the history of American music. The area of primary emphasis may be in music performance, conducting, piano chamber music/accompanying, music theory and composition, or music education. The area of secondary emphasis may be in music performance, piano chamber music/accompanying, conducting, music theory and composition, music history and musicology, music education, or outside the School of Music in a subject that relates to the primary field of study. The area of college teaching and learning includes a college teaching internship and an externship, and courses in such subjects as the role of music in college education, teaching music for the listener/non major, cognition and learning theory, and foundations of higher education. The dissertation may make an original contribution to knowledge in the primary field, produce innovative teaching materials or methods, or focus on a problem identifiable with college teaching.