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Applicants are expected to have educational backgrounds equivalent to the B.M. in music theory or composition from KU. Applicants should submit copies of compositions and/or research papers in music theory as well as recordings, if available.
M.M. Degree Requirements
Recommended programs of study are as follows:
Music Theory
Composition
Download degree program course check sheet for M.M. in Music Theory or Music Composition.
Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition
This degree is intended as a recognition of high professional attainment. Since only exceptionally well-qualified candidates are admitted to the program, the doctoral studies are devoted primarily to developing professional quaalifications for teaching at the college level. The applicant is expected to have a master's degree, or its demonstrated equivalent, in composition. In addition to official transcripts and letters of recommendation, all applicants should submit resumes of their training and experience in teaching and performing. Composition applicants should submit scores of original works (including master's thesis), recordings, and lists of past performances.
D.M.A. Degree Requirements
Diagnostic Tests
Diagnostic tests in music history and music theory are required for all graduate students who are enrolling at KU for the first time. These tests are administered during enrollment week to determine whether any need exists for remedial work in these areas and to assist the adviser in planning an appropriate course of study for each student. Students who show the need for remedial work must complete certain course work carrying undergraduate credit or must show mastery of the material by examination.
Research Skills
Before being admitted to the comprehensive examinations, all D.M.A. students must present satisfactory evidence of research skills relevant to completion of the document or lecture-recital. These skills must include one of the following with the approval of the adviser, division, and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies:
Reading proficiency in a foreign language(s).
Proficiency in computer techniques by completing one of two tracks:
Advisory Committee
A faculty advisory committee is selected by each graduate student, in consultation with the major adviser, subject to the consent of the faculty members involved, and approved by the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. This usually occurs during the second semester of full-time enrollment. All committees must have at least four members from the graduate faculty in the Department of Music and Dance. This committee participates with the major music division faculty in evaluating required recitals and administers the comprehensive and final oral examinations. One additional committee member from outside the major department must be selected to participate in the oral comprehensive and final examination. All candidates for graduate degrees must pass the final oral examination at least four weeks before the date on which they expect to receive the degree.
Doctoral Theory Comprehensive Examinations
All students must complete two projects. One must be post-tonal, and the other either tonal or pre-tonal, usually centered on literature from the student's primary area of study. Students may begin the projects any time after completing the first theory course.
Music History and Oral Comprehensive Examinations
When the D.M.A. aspirant has fulfilled the foreign language and research skills requirement, completed most course work, and maintained the quality of work at a level satisfactory to the major division and the Graduate School, he or she may request the Graduate Division to schedule the comprehensive examinations. These consist of a written test in music history (some major divisions also may require a written examination in the major area) and an oral examination administered by the graduate advisory committee.
Large-scale Composition
No later than the end of the semester after successful completion of the comprehensive examination, candidates in composition must submit a prospectus for a large-scale composition. The composition prospectus should outline a large-scale work for orchestra, with or without soloists, a work for chorus and orchestra, or an opera, and should include a preliminary analysis. Upon satisfactory completion of all other degree requirements, candidates must schedule a final oral examination. For students in composition, the examination is devoted primarily to a defense of the large-scale composition. The student must receive at least a grade of B on the composition for satisfactory completion of degree requirements. Two unbound copies of the work must be submitted to the Graduate Division of the School of Fine Arts.
Composition
Typical program:
Composition majors must present a public program of original compositions, approximately 45 minutes in duration, before being admitted to the comprehensive examination.
Download degree program course check sheet for D.M.A. in Music Composition.
Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory
The applicant is expected to hold a Master of Music degree with emphasis in music theory from the University of Kansas or an equivalent master's degree from another accredited institution. In addition to the required transcripts and letters of recommendation, the applicant for admission to the Ph.D. program should submit a summary of professional training and experience, and samples of original scholarly writing.
Ph.D. Degree Requirements
Foreign Language Requirements
Aspirants to the Ph.D. degree in music theory are expected to demonstrate reading knowledge of both French and German. Reading proficiency must be demonstrated before scheduling the oral comprehensive examination. The student also may be advised to develop reading proficiency in another language or languages in order to pursue research for the dissertation.
Course of Study
Specific course work for each student is arranged individually in consultation with the student's adviser. The Ph.D. program normally requires four years of full-time study beyond the master's degree, with the first two years devoted to the dissertation, an original contribution to knowledge in the student's research.
Although the Ph.D. program does not include a minor area, students are encouraged to continue their study of performance and/or composition, and may be advised to take non-music courses that are directly applicable to their chosen fields of research for the dissertation.
Scholarly Presentation
Each candidate for the Ph.D. degree in music theory must make a public presentation of no less than 20 minutes on a scholarly topic. This requirement may be fulfilled by reading a paper at a national or regional meeting of a society in the student's discipline or in a colloquium at the University of Kansas.
Doctoral Theory Comprehensive Examinations
All students must complete two projects. One must be post-tonal, and the other either tonal or pre-tonal, usually centered on literature from the student's primary area of study. Students may begin the projects any time after completing the first theory course.
Music History and Oral Comprehensive Examinations
Comprehensive written and oral examinations are given when the student has satisfactorily completed most of the course work and has fulfilled the language requirements. The written examination tests the student's general knowledge of music history and her or his ability to discuss, in depth, specific aspects, issues, and developments in music. Music theory students must take an additional examination in the major field. Upon successful completion of the written examination and the theory comprehensive examination, an oral examination of about two hours is administered by the student's graduate advisory committee and a representative of the Graduate School. With the satisfactory completion of both written and oral comprehensive examinations, the aspirant is admitted to the candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in music.
Dissertation Proposal
No later than the end of the semester after successful completion of the comprehensive examinations, the candidate, in consultation with the faculty dissertation committee, must submit a dissertation proposal of several pages with a preliminary bibliography, outline, and description of the project and research plan.
Final Oral Examination
Following the completion of the dissertation, a final oral examination is scheduled in which the candidate presents and defends the results of dissertation research and is expected to respond to questions from the faculty committee. A grade of at least B must be achieved on the dissertation for satisfactory completion of the degree requirements.
Download degree program course check sheet for D.M.A. in Music Composition.
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