Doctor of Arts in Music

Guidelines to the Doctor of Arts in Music

revised 7 March 2005

The Doctor of Arts (D.A.) degree is designed to prepare graduates for careers in higher education. It emphasizes the development of innovative and creative teaching and includes research and performance activities. An emphasis may be chosen in music education (choral, elementary or instrumental), music theory, music history/literature, or pedagogy of applied music (voice, piano, woodwind, brass, percussion or strings). Students will also choose a minor area of emphasis in an additional area of music study.

I. Requirements For Full Standing

Complete the application for admission form issued by the Graduate School. On-line application is recommended.
Present evidence of having taken the GRE Aptitude Test (verbal and quantitative). Students from other countries must submit a score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Bachelor's and Master's transcripts must be filed at the University of Mississippi Graduate School. The Master's Degree must be in music.
Present evidence of having acquired an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better. A GPA of 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale) is accepted with provisions.
Students who elect an emphasis in Music Education must present evidence of three years' music teaching experience at the K-12 level.
Students who elect an emphasis in music education must present a writing sample and video tape of their teaching.
Students who elect an emphasis in piano pedagogy must have earned four hours of piano pedagogy (graduate or undergraduate) or present evidence of at least one year's successful teaching of private or class piano. Additionally, students will be examined in keyboard pedagogy and literature and demonstrate their teaching ability, either in a group or private setting.
Students who elect an emphasis in woodwind, brass, percussion, or string pedagogy must have presented at least one solo recital.
Complete the Preliminary Examination (see below)

The status of students not in full standing after having successfully completed 18 hours is changed from Graduate Unclassified to Graduate Unclassified (non-degree). While thus classified, no additional work may be applied toward a graduate degree.

II. Preliminary Examinations

The purpose of the preliminary examinations is to aid in formulating the student's program of studies, and must be taken immediately prior to the beginning of classes during the first semester of enrollment. Times for the exams will be posted on the bulletin board outside the music department office. Students should contact the graduate Coordinator at aspurg@olemiss.edu for specific times and places.

1. Aural Skills: The Aural Skills Test tests the ability to recognize standard tertian chords (triads, seventh and ninth chords), take melodic dictation, recognize traditional meters and notate a well-known melody.
2. History/Literature: The music history test covers information about composers, forms and styles from the medieval period to the present day. In addition to brief definitions, matching and multiple choice elements, students will be required to write two essays. There is no listening or score identification. Students may wish to prepare for this exam by reviewing undergraduate class notes, or consulting standard music history texts or references.
3. Theory: The theory test is a multiple choice exam that includes question on subjects from lower division courses in theory, counterpoint, form and analysis, and orchestration. When preparing to take this exam, students might review their undergraduate class notes and texts.
4. Performance Audition: The performance audition for students electing programs in performance is described in section C below. All other students are expected to demonstrate performance skills equal to that of a junior at The University of Mississippi. Students may want to consult with an appropriate member of the applied music faculty for more information.
5. Preliminary Interview: The Preliminary Interview is an oral interview that tests the ability to speak clearly about music in general, and about his or her specific interests and aspirations. The interview is taken during the first year of course work at the university.

All preliminary exams (except the preliminary interview) will be given each term immediately before the beginning of classes. The time for the exams will be posted on the bulletin board outside the music office. Students should contact the Graduate Coordinator at aspurg@olemiss.edu for specific times and place.
The performance skills audition is to be scheduled with the appropriate area head (piano, vocal, instrumental) as soon as possible because it must be completed before the end of the first full week of classes. A student who has previously auditioned at the University of Mississippi may petition to waive this requirement.
1. Students with three or more years of experience as a conductor may submit recording their orchestra, band, or chorus to the respective University of Mississippi director.
2. Students whose major emphasis is applied vocal pedagogy must prepare an audition of appropriate material not to exceed 30 minutes. Applied keyboard pedagogy students must prepare a 30 minute memorized solo recital. The student and keyboard faculty must agree on the content of the recital (equivalent to a late Beethoven Sonata, Variations of Brahms, Bach Suites, etc.).
3. Students whose major emphasis is applied pedagogy in woodwind, brass, percussion, or strings should prepare a 30 minute recital to be performed within the first week of the student's first semester. The content of this program should be approved by the teacher that will serve as the student's advisor. The music should consist of Master's level repertory in a variety of styles, i.e. baroque, classical, romantic, etc.
The preliminary interview should be scheduled with the Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible after completing all other preliminary exams.
Deficiencies revealed by the preliminary exams may require undergraduate or graduate remedial courses. Such work shall not be included in the program of studies, must be taken at their first offering, and must be completed with a grade of B or higher in each course. In the case of extreme deficiencies, students may be denied admission to the D.A. program.

III. Major Professor

A. After completion of the preliminary exams, a major professor from the student's emphasis is assigned following consultation with the student and the professor requested.

B. Based on the results of the preliminary exams, the major professor will design the program of studies in consultation with the student.

IV. Program of Studies

A. Students may choose any of the tracks listed below:

Track Emphasis
(16) Music Ed.
(9) Theory
(6) History
(6) Minor
(10) Music
Elective

#1 Mus.Ed.(16) (6) (6) Theory or History (4) (13)

#1a Mus.Ed.(16) (6) (6) Applied Ped. (10) (7)

#2 Theory (16) (9)* (6) History (4) (10)

#2a Theory (16) (9)* (6) Applied Ped. (10) (4)

#3 History/Lit. (16) (9)* (6) Theory (4) (10)

#3a History/Lit. (16) (9)* (6) Applied Ped. (10) (4)

#4 Applied Ped. (16) (9)* (6) (6) Theory or History (4) (4)

#4a Applied Ped. (16) (9)* (6) (6) Applied Ped. (10) (0)

*Three of these nine hours must be either MUS 619, 620, or 625.

Track	Emphasis (16)	Music Ed. (9)	Theory (6)	History (6)	Minor (10)	Music Elective
#1	Mus.Ed.(16)		(6)	(6)	Theory or History (4)	(13)
#1a	Mus.Ed.(16)		(6)	(6)	Applied Ped. (10)	(7)
#2	Theory (16)	(9)*		(6)	History (4)	(10)
#2a	Theory (16)	(9)*		(6)	Applied Ped. (10)	(4)
#3	History/Lit. (16)	(9)*	(6)		Theory (4)	(10)
#3a	History/Lit. (16)	(9)*	(6)		Applied Ped. (10)	(4)
#4	Applied Ped. (16)	(9)*	(6)	(6)	Theory or History (4)	(4)
#4a	Applied Ped. (16)	(9)*	(6)	(6)	Applied Ped. (10)	(0)
*Three of these nine hours must be either MUS 619, 620, or 625.

B. All D.A. students will take internship (MUS 713, 714). The music course in which the student interns must be approved by the major professor and teacher of record for that particular course. A student may not enroll in Internship until successful completion of at least nine hours.

C. All D.A. students will take graduate hours outside music. It is recommended that all nine hours be from the same discipline.

D. D.A. students whose major is music education will take at least nine hours of Doctoral Essay (dissertation) (MUS 796) after having completed the residency. Other D.A. majors require six hours of Doctoral Essay (dissertation) (MUS 796) after having completed the residency and foreign language requirement (if applicable).

E. Sixty hours of the program of studies must show accumulative average of B or higher.

F. The program of studies may be altered only by agreement between the student and the major professor. Under special circumstances, a student's curriculum requirements may be altered by a petition by the major professor to the graduate music faculty. The minor of track #4a must be from a different area than the emphasis (i.e., an emphasis in voice with a minor in piano).

G. Students who have not had a course equivalent to MUS 520 (Introduction to Music Research) must take MUS 520 as early as possible. Failure to do so may jeopardize timely admission into the program.

H. Woodwind, percussion, and string candidates will be required to perform two recitals which should include one solo recital and a second recital which may be one of the following: solo, chanber, or lecture-recital. The first recital will be performend prior to the administering of the comprehensive examinations. The second recital will be performed after successful completion of the comprehensive examination (and admission to candidacy).

V. The Residence Requirement

One academic year of full-time status is required to satisfy the residency. It may consist of consecutive fall and spring semester, or a full summer session and the previous of following regular semester. Full-time status requires at least a nine hour load during a regular semester, or a four hour load during each summer session.

VI. The Foreign Language Requirement

The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by either: (1) a passing grade (35th percentile) on the Graduate School Foreign Language Test, or (2) a grade of B or higher in a second semester, second year undergraduate foreign language course at the University of Mississippi (e.g., GERM 202, FR 202). This may be taken by correspondence. Music education majors are not required to satisfy the foreign language requirement.

VII. The Comprehensive Examination Committee

Near completion of the course work, (usually within six hours) the major professor, in consultation with the student, shall formulate a committee of graduate faculty members to administer the comprehensive examination. Members of the committee will be consulted by the major professor concerning their willingness to serve.

If a student's emphasis is music education, the committee shall consist of the major professor, another representative of the music education faculty, a representative of the minor area, and another representative of the music graduate faculty.

The Comprehensive Exam Committee for all other D.A. students shall consist of the major professor, another representative of the area of emphasis, a representative of the minor area, and a representative of the music education faculty.

VIII. The Comprehensive Exam

A. Upon or near completion of the course work (usually within six hours), comprehensive examinations will be taken on a date set by the Graduate Coordinator and student.

B. Prior to the comprehensive examinations, the student must have satisfied the language and residency requirements.

C. Members of the examination committee will test the students in his or her discipline.

D. After completion of all written examinations, the student will take an oral examination concerning all areas.

E. The comprehensive examinations must be satisfied in three attempts, or within five years of the first attempt.

F. A student is recommended to candidacy only after successful completion of the comprehensive examinations.

IX. The Doctoral Essay

A student may not enroll in MUS 796 (Doctoral Essay) until successfully completing the Comprehensive Exams.

A prospectus must be approved by the essay committee before work on the essay is begun.

For further information concerning format, procedures and other specifications, consult the Graduate Student's Handbook and A Manual of Theses, Doctoral Essays and Dissertations (available at the Graduate School).

X. The Essay (Dissertation) Committee

An essay committee is formed by the major professor in consultation with the student and appointed by the department chair. Ordinarily, the comprehensive exam committee serves as the essay committee, although changes may be made if another faculty member has expertise pertinent to the topic of the essay. Any member of the graduate music faculty may attend the essay defense and participate fully, but only the committee may vote on the success of the defense.

XI. The Essay Defense

The date for the essay defense will be set by the consultation between the student, major professor and Graduate Coordinator, with Graduate School approval.

The essay must be presented to all members of the committee in its completed form at least two weeks prior to the essay defense. The defense will be administered by the essay committee, and will primarily concern the essay.

After successful completion of the defense, two copies of the essay must be presented to the Graduate School before the regular examination period for the semester in which the student intends to graduate.

The University of Mississippi adheres to the principle of equal educational and employment opportunity without regard to race, sex, color, creed or national origin. This policy extends to all programs and activities supported by the University.