Doctor of Musical Arts

Plan Description

The Doctor of Musical Arts degree represents the highest level of academic and musical achievement at UNLV. The program is designed for those students who choose to pursue careers in both performance and college-level teaching.

Our program provides intensive academic preparation and teaching of the type that will enable students to be effective pedagogues and to function successfully in an academic environment while continuing their development as performing artists.​

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes please visit the Degree Directory.

Learning outcomes for specific subplan tracks can be found below:

• Applied Brass, Piano, Strings, Woodwinds
• Applied Music: Applied Conducting
•  Applied Music: Applied Percussion
• Applied Music: Applied Voice

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

Students applying for admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program must submit an application through the Graduate College. There are different deadlines for international students, and for students who wish to apply for assistantships, which are also found on the Graduate College website. In addition to submitting an application and transcripts of all college-level work to the Graduate College, prospective students must have a Master’s degree in music from a NASM accredited institution.

 All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.  In addition to submitting an application and transcripts of all college-level work to the Graduate College, prospective students must present the following credentials:

1. An overall undergraduate GPA and master’s GPA of at least 2.75 (or 3.00 in the last two years of undergraduate study).
2. An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 in music.

Prior to registration, all School of Music graduate students must take placement examinations in music history, theory, and aural skills/sight- singing, regardless of their area of concentration. Passing scores on these exams, or passing grades in the appropriate history or theory review courses (B or above) are required before students may enroll in graduate-level history and theory courses. Credit for review courses will not be applied towards the degree.

Prospective students must also present credentials to the School of Music. Under the Program Information section of the online application, please be sure to list your specific concentration. The following credentials must be presented to the School of Music:

Performance Tracks

1. Three confidential letters of recommendation from former instructors attesting to the student’s ability to complete graduate work at an acceptable level.
2. A 500-word essay defining career goals and explaining how graduate studies in music will advance the applicant toward these goals.
3. A successful on-campus performance audition.
4. All auditions must be presented by April 15 for fall semester admission and by October 15 for spring semester admission. Audition length, requirements, and contact information vary by area. Please consult the area coordinator for further information.

Conducting Tracks

1. Three confidential letters of recommendation from former instructors attesting to the student’s ability to complete graduate work at an acceptable level.
2. A 500-word essay defining career goals and explaining how graduate studies in music will advance the applicant toward these goals.
3. A videotape or DVD of a rehearsal and performance under the applicant’s direction.
4. An on-campus conducting audition.
5. All auditions must be presented by April 15 for fall semester admission and by October 15 for spring semester admission. Audition length, requirements, and contact information vary by area. Please consult the area coordinator for further information.

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

See Subplan Requirements below.

Subplan 1: Brass Track
Subplan 2: Piano Track
Subplan 3: String Track
Subplan 4: Woodwind Track
Subplan 5: Conducting (Wind Band) Track
Subplan 6: Conducting (Orchestra) Track
Subplan 7: Percussion Track
Subplan 8: Voice Track

Subplan 1 Requirements: Brass Track

Total Credits Required: 60

Subplan 2 Requirements: Piano Track

Total Credits Required: 60

Subplan 3 Requirements: String Track

Total Credits Required: 60

Subplan 4 Requirements: Woodwind Track

Total Credits Required: 60

Subplan 5 Requirements: Conducting (Wind Band) Track

Total Credits Required: 60

Subplan 6 Requirements: Conducting (Orchestra) Track

Total Credits Required: 60

Subplan 7 Requirements: Percussion Track

Total Credits Required: 60

Subplan 8 Requirements: Voice Track

Total Credits Required: 60

Plan Degree Requirements

1. The student must complete a minimum of 60 credits.
2. Throughout work for the degree, the student must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 with no course work receiving a grade of B- or below. If a student receives a grade of B- or below, the course must be retaken. If the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.00, the student may be separated from the program.
3. The School of Music reviews the academic performance of graduate students at the end of the academic year and reviews the academic performance of graduate students on assistantships at the end of each semester. If the School of Music determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress toward the degree, it will request that the Graduate Dean separate the student from the department or place the student on probation. The department will provide the student with the specific requirements, including deadlines, which must be completed for the student to be removed from probation.
4. In consultation with his/her advisor, a student will organize a thesis committee of at least four departmental members. In addition, a fifth member from outside the department, known as the Graduate College Representative, must be appointed. An additional committee member may be added at the student and department’s discretion. Please see Graduate College policy for committee appointment guidelines.
5. Advisors are assigned by the Graduate Coordinator and are usually the student’s major teacher. New graduate students should schedule an appointment with their advisor before registering for classes to determine course of study and will be advised upon matriculation as to which, if any, areas need special attention. Advisors take an active role in assisting to correct any student deficiencies by suggesting appropriate course work. Meetings should continue on a regular basis to assure appropriate progress towards the degree.
6. Participation in large ensembles is required throughout the student’s residency. Some areas may have more specific large and small ensemble requirements. Students should consult their advisor for more details.
7. Reading knowledge of at least one foreign language is required for the DMA: French, German, Spanish, or Italian. With permission of the School of Music Graduate Committee, another language may be substituted. Students whose native language is not English may not use English or their native language to fulfill this requirement. This requirement must be fulfilled before the student schedules their qualifying exams. Students may fulfill the language requirement by doing one of the following:
   1. Pass the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam in one of the approved languages.
      1. The Foreign Language Proficiency Exam typically involves the translation of a 350 to 500-word text in a 90-minute period – the student may use a dictionary during the exam.
      2. Students interested in this option should first contact the Graduate Coordinator to schedule the exam. The exam content will be selected from a Departmental set of translation excerpts.
      3. Once complete, the exam is graded by a member of the Foreign Language Department, and the results are documented in completion of the DMA Foreign Language Evaluation form by the person overseeing the exam and should be sent to the Graduate Coordinator for the student’s file.
      4. If the student does not succeed in passing the Foreign Language Proficiency Exam, they must fulfill the foreign language requirement by completing option b below.
   2. Complete two successive semesters of regular undergraduate foreign language courses while in residence for the DMA at UNLV in French, German, or Italian with a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course. Students may choose as a starting point the course that best suits their current level of competency.
      1. Contact the School of Music for a list of UNLV courses that may be taken to fulfill this requirement.
      2. Students must formally petition the School of Music Graduate Committee in advance if they wish to substitute a language for French, German, Spanish, or Italian.

Plan Graduation Requirements

1. The student must submit all required forms to the Graduate College and then apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing his/her degree requirements.
2. The student must submit and successfully defend his/her doctoral document by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
3. After the defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their document to the Graduate College for format check. Once the document format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here.