The Doctor of Musical Arts degree requires the satisfactory completion of a significant body of coursework that, in the student's and Graduate Advisor's judgement, prepares the student for the preliminary examination that leads to admission to candidacy, as well as certain specific courses required in each area of specialization. A grade of B- or better is required in all courses used to fulfill requirements for the degree. A dissertation (whether written, or in project form) is required for all doctoral degrees in music. A principal advisor for the dissertation will be chosen by the student and the academic advisor; the principal advisor and the student will then nominate the remaining members of the dissertation committee. The student must submit a detailed prospectus of the dissertation to the members of the dissertation committee and the graduate director, and must be admitted to candidacy prior to the approval of the dissertation committee by the Graduate School. The dissertation must be successfully defended before the entire dissertation committee. The Doctor of Musical Arts degree requires a Written Dissertation, a Recording Project, a Performance Project, or a Musical Composition. Some Doctoral of Musical Arts degrees have an option of a Written Dissertation or a Performance Dissertation.
D.M.A. in Composition
Non-course requirements for composition students include a pre-candidacy scholarly paper and a recital presentation of original music composed while in the degree program at Maryland. The recital presentation must take place prior to the defense of the dissertation project.
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719T - Lessons) | 8 |
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 5 |
| MUSP899 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 12 |
| Total Credits | 40 |
D.M.A. in Conducting
Non-course requirements for conducting students include proficiencies in diction, voice, and piano. Students must also submit a pre-candidacy paper.
Choral Conducting Specialization
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719U) | 6 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815U) | 4 |
| MUSC659 | Seminar in Repertoire and Pedagogy | 8 |
| MUSC645 | Seminar in Vocal Pedagogy | 3 |
| MUSC757 | Aural Skills for Conductors | 1 |
| MUSC758 | Advanced Aural Skills for Conductors | 3 |
| 1 | 9 |
| MUSC899 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 6 |
| MUSP899 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 6 |
| Total Credits | 46 |
Orchestral Conducting Specialization
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719U) | 6 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815U) | 4 |
| MUSC689 | Advanced Conducting | 2 |
| MUSC659 | Seminar in Repertoire and Pedagogy | 6 |
| MUSP679 | Practicum | 2 |
| MUSC629 | Ensemble | 1 |
| MUSC757 | Aural Skills for Conductors | 1 |
| MUSC758 | Advanced Aural Skills for Conductors | 3 |
| 1 | 9 |
| MUSP899 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 6 |
| MUSC899 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 6 |
| Total Credits | 46 |
Wind Conducting Specialization
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719U) | 6 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815U) | 4 |
| MUSC689 | Advanced Conducting | 2 |
| MUSC659 | Seminar in Repertoire and Pedagogy (MUSC659C) | 6 |
| MUSP679 | Practicum | 3 |
| MUSC757 | Aural Skills for Conductors | 1 |
| MUSC758 | Advanced Aural Skills for Conductors | 3 |
| 1 | 9 |
| MUSP899 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 6 |
| MUSC899 | Doctoral Dissertation Research | 6 |
| Total Credits | 46 |
D.M.A. in Performance
All students in the Performance track must also submit a pre-candidacy paper. Additional non-course requirements may vary in each specialization.
Piano Solo specialization
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719A) | 2 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815A) | 4 |
| MUSP816 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP816A) | 4 |
| MUSC800 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC800P) | 3 |
| MUSC801 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC801P) | 3 |
| MUSC830 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC830P) | 3 |
| MUSC831 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC831P) | 3 |
| MUSC648 | Seminar in Music Research | 3 |
| 6 |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Total Credits | 43 |
Collaborative Piano specialization
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719A) | 2 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815A) | 4 |
| MUSP816 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP816A) | 4 |
| MUSC800 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC800A) | 3 |
| MUSC801 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC801A) | 3 |
| MUSC802 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy III (MUSC802A) | 3 |
| MUSC830 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC830A) | 3 |
| MUSC831 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC831A) | 3 |
| MUSC832 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC832A) | 3 |
| MUSC648 | Seminar in Music Research | 3 |
| 6 |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Total Credits | 49 |
Strings specialization
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719A) | 2 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815A) | 4 |
| MUSP816 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP816A) | 4 |
| MUSC800 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC800S) | 3 |
| MUSC830 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC830S) | 3 |
| MUSC831 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC831S) | 3 |
| MUSC608 | Chamber Music Repertory (2 semesters x 1 cr.) | 2 |
| MUSC629 | Ensemble (2 semesters x 1 cr.) | 2 |
| MUSC648 | Seminar in Music Research | 3 |
| 6 |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Total Credits | 44 |
Voice specialization
Students in the Voice specialization must complete one year each (or its equivalent) of college-level study of Italian, French, and German. Students must also pass the piano proficiency exam.
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719B) | 2 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815B) | 4 |
| MUSP816 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP816B) | 4 |
| MUSC800 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC800V) | 3 |
| MUSC801 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC801V) | 3 |
| MUSC830 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC830V) | 3 |
| MUSC831 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC831V) | 3 |
| MUSC648 | Seminar in Music Research | 3 |
| 6 |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Total Credits | 43 |
Voice Pedagogy specialization
Voice Pedagogy students must complete one year each (or its equivalent) of college-level study of Italian, French, and German. Students must also pass a piano proficiency exam.
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719B) | 2 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815B) | 4 |
| MUSP816 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP816B) | 4 |
| MUSC800 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC800V) | 3 |
| MUSC801 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC801V) | 3 |
| MUSC830 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC830V) | 3 |
| MUSC831 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC831V) | 3 |
| MUSC699 | Selected Topics in Music | 3 |
| MUSC648 | Seminar in Music Research | 3 |
| 6 |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Total Credits | 46 |
Voice Opera specialization
Students in the Voice Opera specialization must complete one year each (or its equivalent) of college-level study of Italian, French, and German. Students must complete an advanced diction course if they do not have prior experience. Students must also complete a piano proficiency exam.
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire (MUSP719B) | 2 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP815B) | 4 |
| MUSP816 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP816B) | 4 |
| MUSP817 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy (MUSP817X) | 4 |
| MUSC800 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC800V) | 3 |
| MUSC801 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC801V) | 3 |
| MUSC830 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC830V) | 3 |
| MUSC831 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC831V) | 3 |
| MUSC811 | Doctoral Opera Techniques | 2 |
| MUSC812 | Doctoral Opera Techniques II | 2 |
| MUSC813 | Doctoral Opera Techniques III | 2 |
| MUSC814 | Doctoral Opera Techniques IV | 2 |
| MUSC648 | Seminar in Music Research | 3 |
| 6 |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Total Credits | 55 |
Winds and Percussion specialization
Course List | Course | Title | Credits |
| MUSP719 | Interpretation and Repertoire | 2 |
| MUSP815 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy | 4 |
| MUSP816 | Interpretation, Performance, and Pedagogy | 4 |
| MUSC800 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC800W) | 3 |
| MUSC801 | Advanced Seminar in Music Pedagogy (MUSC801W) | 3 |
| MUSC830 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC830W) | 3 |
| MUSC831 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Literature (MUSC831W) | 3 |
| MUSC608 | Chamber Music Repertory | 2 |
| or MUSC629 | Ensemble |
| MUSC648 | Seminar in Music Research | 3 |
| 6 |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Doctoral Dissertation Research | |
| Total Credits | 45 |