Doctor of Arts in Music

Ball State University

The Doctor of Arts (DA) degree in music is unique in the industry in that it combines a strong primary study area, a robust secondary emphasis that is more significant than most other programs, and an emphasis on integrating teaching, performance, and scholarship appropriate to your area of study. Students spend 24 out of 90 credits in the Primary Area, allowing for a robust emphasis on their area of greatest interest. Additionally, the Secondary Area is 15 credit hours in one of our other graduate areas or in graduate study across campus. This allows a typical student to graduate with the equivalent of a master’s degree in a secondary area of study, thus increasing their marketability for future faculty positions. In addition to conducting, accompanying, music education, or another graduate music area, recent graduates have pursued sociology, musical theatre voice or musical direction, stage direction, higher education administration, and more as their Secondary Area. Recent graduates have also won positions integrating their Primary and Secondary Areas, for example as a voice teacher/director of choral activities or a conductor/music education specialist at a university.

College of Fine Arts