06.03.07 Comprehensive Exam & Candidacy (DMA)
Before completing the degree, all students the Doctor of Musical Arts program must pass the comprehensive examination and must demonstrate to their major department(s) and the Graduate Professional Committee that they have attained broad competency as practitioners of music.
The comprehensive examination will consist of a written examination in the fields of music history, literature, and theory, and an oral examination of a broad nature covering the student’s major field of study, and minor (where applicable). Students must pass the written portion of the exam before taking the oral exam, but once the written portion is passed, the oral exam must occur within the same academic term. In addition, scheduled dates for the oral exam are firm commitments on the part of the student, as well as the faculty, and may be altered only under extraordinary circumstances and upon approval of the Senior Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.
For students who entered their doctoral degree program prior to fall 2009, the written exam consists of four parts: I – identification of terms, people, etc.; II – essays(s); III – analysis and skills; and IV – score identification. Jazz and Contemporary Media (JCM) majors are required to take a jazz-based Part III in lieu of Part III of the standard exam (analysis and skills).
Students who enter their doctoral degree program in fall 2009 or later will not be required to take the theory skills section of part III of the exam. DMA Theory Skills Exam will instead be given as a placement exam during orientation week. See section 05.03 (Placement Examinations and Remediation) for further information.
Students will be required to complete the comprehensive exam on a computer using standard word processing software. Students will not be allowed to hand write any portion of the exam, except for answers requiring musical notation. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.
The committee of examiners for the comprehensive examination will normally consist of at least four faculty members.
Students who will not be writing a dissertation or doctoral research project will sit for the comprehensive examination after the following have been completed:
- all academic coursework of the degree
- language exams, if applicable
- at least two of the performance requirements
- departmental jury, if applicable
Students who will submit a full dissertation to satisfy the requirements of the degree must pass the comprehensive examination at least six months before submitting the final document and scheduling the oral defense. A student in this category will not be considered a candidate for the degree or permitted to begin work on the dissertation until he or she has passed the comprehensive examination.
If a student fails the comprehensive examination, she or he may not retake it until five calendar months have elapsed. The exam may only be taken a third time with the permission of the Graduate Professional Committee.
