Program highlights
- The pinnacle of musical expertise. A Doctor of Musical Arts is the highest practice-oriented degree in the music field. Graduates are prime prospects for top roles as creators, thought leaders, performers and professors.
- Preeminent program. BGSU’s College of Musical Arts is one of the premier academic institutions in the field of contemporary music. It has hosted an annual new music festival since 1979. BGSU is also home to the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music (MACCM).
- Exceptional faculty and peers. Learn from – and alongside – the best. The music faculty are established performers and composers. Doctoral candidates, having met our highly-selective admissions standards, are also exemplary. Collaborate on advanced creative assignments, peer-reviewed research and professional performances, presentations and projects.
- Showcase your skills. The BGSU College of Musical Arts offers 350+ performance opportunities annually. The Ear|Eye: Listening and Looking – Contemporary Music and Art concert series, in partnership with the Toledo Museum of Art, is a particular point of pride. It features gallery artwork paired with music composed and performed by doctoral students for an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Other local performance partnerships include the Toledo Symphony, WGTE Public Media and The Sandusky Cultural Center.
- Modern facilities. Take advantage of more than 70 practice rooms, an 822-seat concert hall, a 221-seat recital hall, fully-equipped computer labs and an Electroacoustic Studio. The MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music serves as an essential hub for new music innovation, research, production, promotion and performance.
- NASM accreditation. The BGSU Doctor of Musical Arts in contemporary music degree program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music Commission on Accreditation.
Career opportunities
DMA alumni have their pick of prime roles at the finest colleges and universities, performing arts venues, media companies, nonprofit organizations and more.
Contribute novel ideas, educate the brightest stars of new generations, publish groundbreaking works and deliver acclaimed performances. Graduates with a doctor of music are more than just members of the music world: They are the trailblazers, showstoppers and foremost experts with a direct hand in defining its future.
Career paths
- College or university professor
- Composer
- Performing artist
- Music director
- Music conductor
- Arts administrator
- Music producer
- Creative director
- Music researcher
- Music consultant
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
Students earning a BGSU doctoral musical arts degree in contemporary music are expected to:
- Demonstrate a high level of competence in the technical aspects of contemporary music and culture.
- Demonstrate high competence in aesthetic, technical and philosophical knowledge – and apply all that in a real-world, non-academic setting musical internship.
- Analyze relationships among multiple traditions, histories and styles of contemporary music, arts and other disciplines.
- Conduct original scholarship in the field of contemporary music.
- Broaden entrepreneurial skills through practical training and outreach endeavors outside the classroom.
Intensive coursework trains those pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree to be:
- Outstanding music conversants
- Excellent teachers with ample classroom and studio experience
- Meticulous researchers with sizable professional portfolios providing evidence of great scholarship and multidisciplinary work
Capstone project
Doctoral students must register for a minimum of 16 hours in Dissertation Research while working on their doctoral dissertation. Approved for distance education.
Required courses - composition
Required courses - performance
Admissions information
The fall application deadline is Jan. 5. Applicant reviews start soon after, so students are encouraged to submit all required documents prior to the deadline.
Required documents include:
- A professional resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- A writing sample/sample research paper
- Repertoire list and artistic materials
Precise portfolio parameters depend on your specialization. Full details are available in the admissions catalog for the composition and performance specializations or by contacting the BGSU College of Musical Arts.
Sample courses
- Applied Music
- Multidisciplinary Seminar-Culture
- Multidisciplinary Seminar-Digital Media
- Multidisciplinary Seminar-Cognition
- Internship in Contemporary Music
The Doctor of Musical Arts in contemporary music is a program in the College of Musical Arts.
Updated: 10/14/2024 10:44AM