DMA Degree Requirements & Assistantships

The Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music with specializations in composition or performance is a four-year program that requires a minimum of 66 hours beyond the master’s degree. Any required remedial work in history, theory or research methodology will be added to the applicant’s program and will not be counted in the required 66 hours toward degree completion.

Required Coursework

1. Specialization: Private study in composition or performance (16 credits)
2. Cognate in one of three minor areas of study (12 credits): Culture, Digital Media, or Music Cognition

   The cognate in culture emphasizes aesthetics, history and philosophy. The digital media cognate is concerned with the utilization of technology in new performance and creative contexts. The music cognition cognate focuses on theory, perception and pedagogy.

3. Multidisciplinary music seminars focusing on the collaborative process in the development and creation of new works and the examination of common issues in culture, digital media and music cognition (9 credits)
4. Off-campus internship designed to develop nonacademic career options (4 credits; approximately 160 hours)

   Internship examples include work with foundations, symphony orchestras and opera companies, new music ensembles, museums, recording studios and production companies, and festivals. For a list of past internships, click here.

5. Electives in and outside of music (9 credits)
6. Culminating experiences (16-30 credits)
   1. Composition
      1. Recital of original works
      2. Composition project (original work for large resources)
      3. A dissertation that combines the individual’s major and minor areas of study
      4. A portfolio (professional materials; papers written during the degree program; as well as scores, recordings and programs of works written and/or performed in addition to the required recital)
   2. Performance
      1. Three solo/chamber music/ensemble programs composed of contemporary music (at least one off-campus). In some cases a major concerto performance with orchestra may be substituted for one of the recitals. Permission for any alternative to this requirement must be secured from the doctoral committee.
      2. A dissertation that combines the individual’s major and minor areas of study.
      3. A Portfolio (professional materials; papers written during the degree program; as well as programs and recordings from performances in addition to the three required recitals).

Examinations

1. Preliminary examinations (written and oral) are taken after completing 40 hours of course work, not including the internship. These examinations will test the student’s knowledge in music history and theory, with particular emphasis on contemporary music. The examinations will also cover the student’s area of specialization, composition or performance. Successful completion of these exams will admit the student to candidacy. Upon admission to candidacy, the student will be allowed to begin the culminating experiences in composition or performance.
2. Depending upon their area of specialization and/or dissertation topic, students may be required by their committee to demonstrate proficiency in one (or more) foreign languages.
3. Final examinations/defense (oral) are taken in the last semester of study and focus on the culminating experiences.

Assistantship Information

All students admitted into the DMA in Contemporary Music program are fully funded for four academic years with a graduate assistantship, meaning they receive a full-tuition scholarship and a stipend. Current (2026) first-year, nine-month assistantship contracts provide a stipend of $17,000. Domestic students who are not Ohio residents will be required to apply for Ohio residency after the first year of study. The total value of the assistantship in 2026-2027 ranges from $25,419 to $36,213. (Note: student health insurance and some university fees are not covered by the assistantship.)

DMA assistantships entail a maximum of 20 contracted hours of work each week during the academic year. The work assignment generally follows the formula of 10 hours per week of teaching, 5 hours per week of service, and 5 hours per week for research/creative activity. Teaching assignments vary from semester to semester, and are based on the needs of the College of Musical Arts as well as the expertise and professional development goals of the students. The work assignment is made by the DMA Coordinator in consultation with Department Chairs, the student’s Mentor, and the Director of Graduate Studies.

The tuition scholarship includes full payment of the student's instructional and non-resident fees. The Graduate College does not pay for general fees. They also do not pay for excess credit fees. Assistantships do not cover health insurance. For more information on student health insurance, go to: http://www.bgsu.edu/student-insurance-program.html.

Funding as a graduate student is available for a maximum of four years. To retain an appointment, graduate assistants must be appropriately enrolled, must make satisfactory progress toward a degree, and must perform duties satisfactorily according to the terms of the appointment. A student’s funding is terminated if they are suspended for ethical or legal misconduct as specified in the Student Code. Funding for the fourth year of study is contingent upon the student having a document proposal approved by the Graduate College by the end of the third year.