Program Requirements
Students receive the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) when they fulfill the following program requirements:
• Completion of 60 credits of course work (normally in 3.5 years)
• The minimum residency requirement consists of two consecutive long semesters (fall or spring) at CAU with a minimum of nine graduate hours in each term.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
• Doctoral essay
• Oral qualifying exam.
• Lecture Recital
• Solo Recital (or a dissertation if required)
TOTAL COST FOR DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS: (60 Units x $690 = $41,400)
DMA Degree Requirements: 60 credits
MUCO-551 Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training – 2 credits
MUCO-552 Analytical Approaches to Tonal Music – 2 credits
MUCO-553 Songwriting and Arranging I – 2 credits
MUCO-554 Songwriting and Arranging II – 2 credits
MUCO-555 Modern Improvisation Techniques – 2 credits
MUCD-551 Chamber Choir and Conducting I – 3 credits
MUCD-552 Chamber Choir and Conducting II – 3 credits
MUHL-551 Music History I – 2 credits
MUHL-552 Music History II – 2 credits
MUHL-553 Research and Writing Seminar – 3 credits
MUHL-554 Music Appreciation and Criticism – 2 credits
MUPF-551 The Trend of Contemporary Music – 3 credits
MUPF-552 Science of Rhythm – 2 credits
MTEC-551 Music Technology and Production I – 2 credits
MTEC-552 Music Technology and Production II – 2 credits
MTEC-553 Computer Assisted Recording and Editing – 3 credits
MUEN-551 Ensemble I – 2 credits
MUEN-552 Ensemble II – 2 credits
MUS-651 Individual Instruction I – 2 credits
MUS-652 Individual Instruction II – 2 credits
MUS-653 Individual Instruction III – 2 credits
MUS-654 Individual Instruction IV – 2 credits
MUS-655 Individual Instruction V – 2 credits
MUS-720 Advanced Major Seminar – 3 credits
MUS-750 DMA Lecture Recital – 3 credits
MUS-751 DMA Solo Recital – 3 credits
Focus Areas
Focus areas of the DMA program. (An area of focus consists of 9 or fewer semester credit hours where all courses are within the same or a related field.) Students should consult their academic advisor to choose one focus area and for details.
Conducting Focus
| MUCD-551 | Chamber Choir and Conducting I | 3 credits |
| MUCD-552 | Chamber Choir and Conducting II | 3 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Conducting | 3 credits |
Composition Focus
| MUCO-553 | Songwriting and Arranging I | 2 credits |
| MUCO-554 | Songwriting and Arranging II | 2 credits |
| MUCO-552 | Analytical Approaches to Tonal Music | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Composition | 3 credits |
Christian Contemporary Music Composition Focus
| MUCO-553 | Songwriting and Arranging I | 2 credits |
| MUCO-554 | Songwriting and Arranging II | 2 credits |
| MUCO-555 | Modern Improvisation Techniques | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: CCM Composition | 3 credits |
Sound Engineering Focus
| MTEC 551 | Music Technology and Production I | 2 credits |
| MTEC 552 | Music Technology and Production II | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Sound Engineering | 3 credits |
Music Business Focus
| MUHL 554 | Music Appreciation and Criticism | 2 credits |
| MTEC 551 | Music Technology and Production I | 2 credits |
| MTEC 552 | Music Technology and Production II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Music Business | 3 credits |
Vocal Performance Focus
| MUCO-551 | Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training | 2 credits |
| MUEN-551 | Ensemble I | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Vocal performance | 3 credits |
E. Guitar Performance Focus
| MUCO-551 | Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training | 2 credits |
| MUEN-551 | Ensemble I | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: E. Guitar performance | 3 credits |
Bass Guitar Performance Focus
| MUCO-551 | Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training | 2 credits |
| MUEN-551 | Ensemble I | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Bass Guitar performance | 3 credits |
Jazz Piano Performance Focus
| MUCO-551 | Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training | 2 credits |
| MUEN-551 | Ensemble I | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Jazz Piano | 3 credits |
Drum Performance Focus
| MUCO-551 | Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training | 2 credits |
| MUEN-551 | Ensemble I | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Drum performance | 3 credits |
Percussion Performance Focus
| MUCO-551 | Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training | 2 credits |
| MUEN-551 | Ensemble I | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Percussion performance | 3 credits |
Strings Performance Focus
| MUCO-551 | Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training | 2 credits |
| MUEN-551 | Ensemble I | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Strings performance | 3 credits |
Woodwinds & Brass Performance Focus
| MUCO-551 | Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training | 2 credits |
| MUEN-551 | Ensemble I | 2 credits |
| MUEN-552 | Ensemble II | 2 credits |
| MUS-751 | DMA Solo Recital: Woodwinds & Brass performance | 3 credits |
Course Descriptions
MUCO 551 Advanced Sight Singing and Ear Training
This course takes comprehensive and integrated approaches to sight singing and ear training.
MUCO 552 Analytical Approaches to Tonal Music
Principles of modern chord progression: deceptive resolutions of secondary dominants; dominant seventh chords without dominant function; contiguous dominant motion. Review of melodic construction, form, and melody/harmony relationship; modal interchange; pedal point and ostinato; modal harmony and modal composition; compound chords; constant structures.
MUCO 553 – 554 Songwriting and Arranging I – II
Proper integration of lyrics and melody on arranged harmonies. Expansion of tonal materials used in songwriting including modulation and modality. Study of form including the transitional bridge and the primary bridge. Setting for lyrics in various styles.
MUCO 555 Modern Improvisation Techniques
To understand advanced performance techniques and characteristics of modern improvisation.
MUHL 551 Music History I
This class covers western classical music in a historical perspective from the 20th to the classical period dealing with the major styles, composers, works, and their features.
MUHL 552 Music History II
This class analyzes styles, techniques, performers and songwriters of pop, jazz, and contemporary music throughout history.
MUHL 553 Research and Writing Seminar
Introduction to music research and writing techniques.
MUHL 554 Music Appreciation and Criticism
Listening to a variety of music and critique makes it sensibly aware of the changes and unification of the various components of music. This course is intended for students to distinguish the characteristics of different types and forms of music along with different sounds and voices of musical instruments.
MUPF 551 The Trend of Contemporary Music
Research and understand the trends by era of contemporary applied music and techniques behind every musician and instrument performance.
MUPF 552 Science of Rhythm
Understand and apply advanced rhythmical characteristics of contemporary applied music to utilize them in practice.
MTEC 551 – 552 Music Technology and Production I – II
In-depth overview of recording technology and production.
MTEC 553 Computer Assisted Recording and Editing
A study of recording and editing techniques using Digi-design Pro Tools with primary focus on applications to arranging and composing. Topics include handling of tracks, importing audio, recording of play lists, equalization, and effects as well as virtual instruments, midi recording, sequencing, trimming, fading, tempo, meter maps, time stretching, and plug-in automation, culminating in the mixing of a fully arranged song applying all of the studied techniques.
MUCD 551 – 552 Chamber Choir and Conducting I – II
Integrated approaches for choir and conducting. This class covers conducting techniques, patterns, score analysis, problems of tempo, dynamics, articulation, and text. Students will be able to experience harmonious performance with others who have different personalities based on individual skills, thereby improving the ability to integrate different musical interests and develop more mature performances.
MUEN 551 – 552 Ensemble I – II
Study for repertoire and performing practice for ensemble. Students will also give a presentation about the music including composers, background story, musical form and features of the music they play.
MUS 651 – 655 Individual Instruction I – V
Principal instrument study. Instrumentalists will learn at least four musical works from different period. Composers will compose at least 40-minute music.
MUS 720 Advanced Major Seminar
Advanced major seminar will enable DMA students to practically apply and execute performance planning and production.
MUS 750 DMA Lecture Recital
Recital for both lecture and performance making total at least 40 minutes. Half of the recital should be a lecture.
MUS 751 DMA Solo Recital
Recital for solo performance. Required to perform at least 50 minutes (Jazz musicians may perform in a group). Composers required to compose at least 50-minute music.
- Doctoral Essay/Dissertation: All DMA students must submit at least a 35-page research paper to the DMA director.
- Oral Qualifying Exam: All DMA students will sit for one-hour oral examination, which covers in greater depth the topics discussed in the research paper and other related fields.