Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Composition

Boston University

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Composition

The Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition at Boston University is a comprehensive professional program in the College of Fine Arts. Composers work to attain a personal compositional aesthetic and the techniques to express it through sound, as well as a broad knowledge of contemporary and historical compositional practices and a mastery of analytic techniques for tonal and post-tonal music. Students develop the skills necessary to navigate the professional world, and the Center for Music presents them with an array of opportunities to hear diverse musical styles.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students are expected to demonstrate:

Advanced knowledge of current compositional trends and repertoire and development of a personal voice.

Advanced proficiency in tonal and post-tonal score analysis.

Knowledge and skill in related fields such as music theory, musicology, and ethnomusicology.

Superior proficiency in verbal communication of musical ideas and concepts.

Capacity for producing professional-level written documents such as program notes or scholarly essays.

Capacity for artistic growth and skills for navigating the professional world.

Post-Master's DMA in Composition

The Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition is granted upon successful completion of a program of study, written and oral qualifying examinations, and terminal projects appropriate to the student's field of specialization. Students must complete a minimum of 48 term units with grades no lower than B– in graduate-level coursework. Graduate music elective courses may include ME, MH, MP, and MT courses numbered 500 and higher. PDP courses (e.g., tennis, dancing, or yoga) do not count as graduate music electives for graduate students. All degree requirements must be completed within seven years of the date of matriculation. Please see also the College of Fine Arts policies for graduate students, which apply to this program.

All Doctor of Musical Arts students must take at least 15 units combined in music theory (at least 9) and musicology (at least 6), including CFA MT 701 (Doctoral Proseminar: Skills) and CFA MT 702 (Doctoral Proseminar: Analysis). All MH and MT courses used for the component must be 600 level or higher. Double majors are not permitted at the doctoral level.

Proficiency Examinations

All entering Doctor of Musical Arts students are required to take proficiency examinations in the areas of music theory and musicology. These examinations are administered online before the start of classes. Incoming students are notified of the exam dates and contents in advance and are responsible for taking them by the specified deadline. Exam results are used for purposes of advisement and may establish prerequisite or required coursework. Material covered in these examinations is commonly presented in most undergraduate degree programs in music. No retakes of the exam will be permitted.

Required Courses

Any deficiencies identified by the proficiency exams must be addressed as soon as possible, regardless of whether or not the student plans to take other courses in these areas. Students may not take advanced graduate courses in a particular area OR graduate until all deficiencies have been addressed. Prerequisite and other required courses may include:

CFA MH 401 Graduate Music History Review

CFA MT 401 Graduate Music Theory Review

CFA MT 601 Analytical Techniques 1

CFA MT 602 Analytical Techniques 2

Composition Program Outline, Post-Master's DMA

CFA MT 621 Graduate Composition

9 units

CFA MT 861 Seminar in Tonal Music

3 units

CFA MT 862 Seminar in Post-Tonal Music

3 units

CFA MT 632 Advanced Orchestration

2 units