Graduate Programs in the School of Music

The School of Music offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) with specialty areas or emphases in musicology or theory; Master of Music (M.M.) with specialty areas in performance (including choral or instrumental conducting), composition, sacred music, or music education; Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) with specialty areas in performance (including choral or instrumental conducting), or composition; and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) with specialty areas in musicology, music education or theory. The applicant for the masterʹs degree is expected to have earned an appropriate undergraduate degree, and the applicant for the doctoral degree is expected to have earned an appropriate masterʹs degree or equivalent.

Graduate work is also  provided for persons seeking Rank I and Rank II state certification in music education. Requirements for Rank II coincide with those for the M.M. in Music Education; requirements for Rank I may be completed by a planned and approved 30 semester hour program in addition to Rank II requirements or 60 semester hours of planned and approved graduate credit, including the masterʹs degree.

For complete information on entrance and degree requirement, please see the Graduate School Bulletin.

Click on subject for more information

For information on procedures see the Graduate Student Handbook.

How to apply 

• Please see the School of Music information page with details on How to Apply. Note that you must first apply to the Graduate Admissions Office, then apply to the School of Music using the online forms.

Graduate Degrees

• Master of Arts (MA)
  • Musicology/Ethnomusicology
  • Music Theory
• Master of Music (MM)
  • Performance
  • Conducting
  • Sacred Music
  • Composition
  • Music Education
  • Music Therapy
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
  • Musicology/Ethnomusicology
  • Music Education
  • Music Theory
• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
  • Performance
  • Composition
  • Conducting (instrumental or choral)
• Rank I in Music Education
• Cert. in Music Theory Pedagogy (PDF)
• Certificate in Vocal Music Pedagogy (PDF)
• Graduate Certificate in Orff Schulwerk, a 12-hour curriculum (PDF)

Course Descriptions (Graduate School Bulletin)

Auditions and Entrance Exams

• Audition/Exam Registration Form

Special requirements for DMA applicants:

• Please see the requirements for your program area.

Scholarships, Fellowships, Assistantships and other financial assistance
Out of state students who meet certain merit criteria are eligible for a waiver of the out of state portion of tuition. See also the UK UK Financial Aid Office.