MPCP.DMA - Doctor of Musical Arts - Performer/Composer

DMA students must satisfactorily complete the program of studies formulated each semester by the student and their Mentor, as well as all requirements specified in the "Doctor of Musical Arts Program Description" section of this catalog. Any changes to the student's curriculum requirements must be officially approved by their Doctoral Examining Committee (DEC) and The Herb Alpert School of Music's Doctoral Policy Committee (DPC).

The course requirements for the DMA program are as follows.

MLSN701 Composition and/or Performance Lessons (each semester; no more than three assigned lessons and no more than 8 lesson-units in total per semester)

MCMP700 Doctoral Seminar (6 classes)

MCMP790 Doctoral Project (2 classes)

MCMP791 DMA First-Year Review

MCMP792 DMA Qualifying Examination

MCMP794 DMA Final Review

MHST703 Performer-Composer: History & Aesthetics

MPCD604 Pedagogy: Best Practices

MPCD740 Teaching Practicum (5 classes)

MPRF790 Performance Project (2 classes)

MTHY750 Topic-Driven Research and Exploration (6 classes minimum with 3 different instructors)

Approved Electives (4 classes, approved by mentor as relevant to the student's research direction)

Winter Session (THREE units of coursework completed in January)

Free Electives (to fulfill 60-unit degree requirement)

DMA students must pass a First Year Review (MCMP790). This review is conducted by the student's Doctoral Examining Committee (DEC). This Committee comprises a total of 3–4 faculty members and must include the student's Mentor and MTHY750 (Topic-Driven Research) instructors. During this review, the student's artistic, intellectual, academic, professional and pedagogical development is examined, progress is assessed, problems are discussed, and changes to the curriculum are considered.

DMA students must pass  Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations (MCMP792) before advancing to degree candidacy. The Qualifying Examinations are administered by the student's Doctoral Examining Committee. In preparation for the Qualifying Examinations, the student must enroll in MTHY750 (Topic-Driven Research) at least 6 times with a minimum of 3 different DEC members addressing 3 respective topic areas. This typically takes place over the course of the student's second year in the DMA program. The MTHY750 topic areas are agreed upon by the student and the MTHY750 instructors in light of the student's professional and artistic goals and are subject to approval by the Doctoral Policy Committee. The DMA Qualifying Examinations can be repeated at most once. Any second trial must occur within four months of the first trial. Unsatisfactory performance at the second trial is grounds for dismissal from the Herb Alpert School of Music.

Before the awarding of the degree each DMA student must pass a Final Review (MCMP794), conducted by their Doctoral Examining Committee. This review assesses the student's artistic, intellectual, academic, professional, and pedagogical standing in relation to the Learning Goals and Rubrics for the DMA program, and includes detailed evaluation of all components of the student's Doctoral Project (MCMP790), and particularly of the student's Professional Portfolio.