DMA Program Specifics

Major and Co-Major Professor

At the time of admission, each student is assigned a faculty member—typically the student's professor in the major area—who serves as adviser and mentor throughout the program. If the major professor does not have an earned doctorate, a co-major professor with an earned doctorate will be appointed. The major and co-major professor advise the student on all matters pertaining to the program of study and selection of courses.

The major or co-major professor typically serve as chair of the student's Doctoral Committee, guiding the preparation of recitals and research for the document or dissertation. The major or co-major professor chair the oral portion of the general exam as well as the final oral examination.

Doctoral Committee

Each student is counseled by a Doctoral Committee comprising five members of the graduate faculty. As soon as it is practical, the Doctoral Committee is selected jointly by the student and the major professor. The student contacts members of the faculty to secure their willingness to serve on the committee and obtains the signature of each member on the Appointment of Doctoral Committee Form. The committee must include the major or co-major professor (who serves as chair of the committee), another professor representing the major field of study, an approved professor representing music history/literature, an approved professor representing music theory, and a professor from outside of the School of Music.

The committee approves recital programs, evaluates the recitals, conducts the general examination, supervises the preparation of the document or dissertation, and administers the final oral examination. At the document or dissertation stage, the Doctoral Committee may be reconstituted to provide additional expertise appropriate to the project. Any changes in membership of the Doctoral Committee must receive approval by the retiring, continuing and new members of the committee, the School of Music director and the associate dean for graduate Studies.

Doctoral Committee Report

The Doctoral Committee Report affords the opportunity for a thorough review of the student's degree progress. Following approval by the major area of study, it is normally prepared jointly by the major professor and student when the student has earned at least 12, but not more than 30 doctoral credits. It is then circulated to all Doctoral Committee members for approval and/or recommendations.

The report specifies the requirements for the completion of the degree and thus constitutes an agreement between the student, Doctoral Committee, the School of Music and the College of Fine Arts Graduate Office. It must be submitted to and accepted by the College of Fine Arts Graduate Office prior to attempting the general examination. Subsequent changes in the content of the report can be made only with the approval of the major professor, Doctoral Committee, School of Music director and the associate dean for graduate studies.

Residency Requirements

The student must be in residence as a full-time student for two consecutive regular semesters (fall/spring or spring/fall). A minimum of nine hours of approved coursework and/or approved research must be completed each semester of the year of residence. Depending on the area of study, summer study/coursework may or may not be available. Summer coursework does not count toward residency requirements.

Transfer Credit

All TCU DMA programs include 60 semester hours of credit. A master's degree of at least 30 hours is a prerequisite for DMA study at TCU.

Up to 12 semester hours of transfer credit earned beyond the master's level may be applied to doctoral degree requirements in accordance with the following rules:

  1. The credit hours transferred must represent valid graduate credit from an institution accredited to offer the DMA or equivalent degree.
  2. The credit is applicable to the degree program and is approved by the program adviser, the Doctoral Committee, School of Music director and associate dean for graduate studies.
  3. The credit hours transferred may not be in an area where a deficiency exists (as identified by the entrance examinations or any other evaluation process).
  4. Credit hours in the candidate's major area of concentration may not be transferred.
  5. Credit hours transferred must carry a grade of "A," "B" or "S."
  6. Credit hours transferred normally cannot be more than five years old at the time of admission or readmission to the degree program.
  7. Students whose master's degree program included more than 30 hours may be eligible to transfer up to six hours of master's degree work.




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