Chapter III.3
Academic Policies for all doctoral Degrees

Mission

The School of Music offers two types of doctoral degrees: the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in academic areas and the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in applied areas. The doctoral programs prepare graduates to function at the highest professional levels as scholars, conductors, composers, and performers. The degrees also prepare students to teach at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

All School of Music doctoral degrees follow a common roadmap. The first two to three years are spent fulfilling course requirements. Upon completion of these requirements (or during the final semester of coursework) the student takes their preliminary examinations. After passing these exams, the student applies for admission to candidacy and officially becomes a candidate for the doctoral degree. The last phase of the degree program then begins: the dissertation project followed by the oral defense of the dissertation. From beginning to end, the normal time for completion of the degree is three to five years of work beyond the master’s degree, depending on the specific degree program.

Satisfactory Progress

The admission of all graduate students is continued at the discretion of the Associate Director for Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate School, consistent with the policies and practices of the Graduate School and graduate program. Students must make satisfactory progress in meeting programmatic requirements, must demonstrate the ability to succeed in their course of study, and must meet the academic and performance standards specified by their program. Failure to maintain satisfactory progress, which is generally determined at the program level, may result in the termination of enrollment. 

Time Limits and Benchmarks

Graduate School policy establishes a set of time limits for the completion of doctoral programs. The entire program, including the dissertation and final examination, must be completed during a four-year period after admission to candidacy, but no later than nine years after admission to the doctoral program. In addition, students must be advanced to candidacy within five years of admission to the doctoral program. Admission to the degree program terminates if the requirements are not completed in the time specified. 

In addition to these time limits, the School of Music has established its own set of benchmarks for completion of various steps in the doctoral programs. A student who falls behind these benchmarks may be declared lacking in satisfactory progress, and risks being terminated from the program. These benchmarks are outlined below:

          

Ph.D.

                          Complete the required pre-candidacy coursework:                    semester 4

                          Pass the preliminary exams and advance to candidacy:              semester 6

                          Complete and defend the dissertation proposal:                         semester 6

                          Complete and defend the dissertation:                                      semester 12

DMA

                          Complete the required pre-candidacy coursework:                    semester 4

                          Pass the preliminary exams and advance to candidacy:              semester 5

                          Complete and defend the dissertation project:                           semester 8

          

A motivated, well-qualified DMA student can complete the degree in three years.

Some fields of study may require longer timelines. Such exceptions are only made with the approval of the advisor and the Associate Director for Graduate Studies.

Transfer of Credits

No credits earned at other institutions may be transferred to University of Maryland doctoral programs.

Waiver of Course Requirements

The Associate Director for Graduate Studies has the sole authority to grant waivers of course requirements.

Waiver of the Seminar in Music Research (MUSC 648) 

Waiver of the MUSC 648 course requirement at the doctoral level will be considered by the Associate Director for Graduate Studies according to the following policy:

Limit on Studio Instruction

DMA students are limited to no more than seven semesters of studio instruction.

DMA Pre-Candidacy Recitals

Most DMA degrees require that two recitals, taken under the course numbers MUSP 815/816, be performed prior to advancement to candidacy. While unusual and imaginative formats for both recitals are welcome (with the approval of the studio teacher, advisor, and division coordinator), the MUSP 815 recital usually takes the form of a standard professional concert program containing a representative variety of styles, while the MUSP 816 recital must contain a combination of performance, scholarship, and public speaking. Both recitals usually last approximately one hour. The MUSP 816 recital (commonly known as the lecture recital) should contain approximately equal proportions of performance and public speaking. Most successful MUSP 816 recitals present some combination of biographical information, stylistic analysis, and cultural background regarding the repertoire performed, as well as some discussion of the performance challenges and choices surrounding that repertoire. Both the performance itself and the lecture must be prepared under the supervision of the studio instructor. In most cases, the written text of the lecture provides some of the material used in the pre-candidacy scholarly paper (described below). See the individual degree programs for further details.

Pre-Candidacy Scholarly Paper

The School of Music requires that all doctoral students demonstrate the ability to complete written research prior to advancing to candidacy. For students in Ph.D. programs, this ability is demonstrated through the papers written for the various seminars. For students seeking DMA degrees, it is demonstrated through the completion of a pre-candidacy scholarly paper. This paper, which is usually between twelve and sixteen pages in length, must be approved by the advisor and submitted to the Office of Student Services, along with the Pre-Candidacy Paper Certification Form. Both the paper and the signed certification form must be submitted at least thirty days before the student takes the November or March preliminary examinations, and by the last day of classes in the spring semester preceding the August exams.

For DMA students in performance disciplines, the pre-candidacy paper is normally prepared in support of the pre-candidacy lecture recital, and some or all of the paper may provide the text for that recital (with the permission of the advisor, the student may submit a paper of similar length in support of another performance requirement). DMA students in composition normally submit a substantially revised and expanded version of a paper prepared for a course requirement in music theory, musicology, or ethnomusicology. Please note: this requirement means that all DMA students will complete two major papers (the pre-candidacy paper described above and the written portion of the dissertation project as described below). Both of these documents must follow the guidelines set forth in the DMA Scholarly Research Paper Guidelines.

Preliminary Examinations 

Written preliminary examinations (sometimes called prelims, comps, or qualifying examinations) are required of all doctoral students. In the School of Music these examinations are designed to assess the student’s mastery of the broad field of music as well as the area of specialization. In most areas these examinations are taken in or immediately following the final semester of coursework, but not before. In areas where a pre-candidacy scholarly paper is required, that paper must have been approved and filed with the Office of Student Services prior to the exams. 

For most programs, the preliminary examinations are scheduled three times each year, on two consecutive days in November, March, and August. The student must apply for the examinations at least four weeks in advance of the examination seating for the November and March exams, and by the last day of spring classes for the August exams. In order to sit for the November and March examinations, all pre-candidacy degree requirements must be fully completed at least two weeks prior to the first testing day. (In cases where students take the examinations during their last semester of coursework, they must be registered for their final pre-candidacy course requirements and making acceptable progress.) In order to sit for the August examinations, all pre-candidacy degree requirements must be fully completed by August 1. Students must be registered for a minimum of one credit during the semester in which the examinations are taken (students taking the August exams should register for one credit in the fall semester, but do not need to register for Summer Session II). The advisor and the Associate Director for Graduate Studies must approve the application for examination.

School of Music DMA Preliminary Examination

The School of Music DMA Preliminary Examination (sometimes called the "score" exam) is prepared and periodically reviewed by the School of Music faculty, and it must be taken during the time scheduled by the School of Music (some Ph.D. programs also require this exam). Students may use a translation dictionary to assist in translating from their native language to English. No other study aids are permitted. This examination consists of two three-hour periods taken on the same day. In each period, students are presented with a package consisting of seven unidentified scores from across the history of western music (fourteen scores for the day). In each period, the student will select three scores (six total) and will spend approximately one hour crafting an essay on each score. Successful essays usually do the following for each score: identify a reasonable genre, time period, and composer; explain elements of musical style; and place the piece and its genre within a historical context. In reading the essay answers, the faculty committee is looking for clear and well-organized English prose, evidence of the ability to successfully analyze a musical text, and the ability to correctly place an unknown musical score within an appropriate historical context.

Divisional Preliminary Examination

Divisional Preliminary Examinations are required of all doctoral students and are prepared and periodically reviewed by the faculty in the student’s division. For most divisions, these examinations are given on the day following the School of Music examination, although some divisions allow students to schedule divisional examinations at other times. For details on divisional examinations, see the individual program requirements in this handbook.

Evaluation and Appeal

Each part of the examinations will be evaluated by a committee of three faculty members. The readers of the DMA "score" exam are selected by the Associate Director for Graduate Studies; those of the divisional exams are selected by the student’s division coordinator. The anonymity of both the students and the readers is maintained during the grading process. Each faculty reader will provide a grade of pass or fail and a series of brief comments. A student may review faculty comments in the Student Services Office upon request. Under no circumstances, however, may the examinations or faculty comments be removed from the office. 

The majority opinion of the three readers on each section constitutes a decision. A student who fails one or both parts of the examinations with two grades of fail and one of pass may request a re-evaluation. A request for re-evaluation will not be considered if all three readers return a failing grade. The Associate Director for Graduate Studies has the right to accept or reject the request to re-evaluate an examination with a mixed verdict. If rejected, the student has the right to appeal to the Graduate Committee. 

In the case of a failed examination, the student’s advisor may request a meeting with the committee of faculty readers and the Associate Director for Graduate Studies (the student does not attend this meeting). Such a meeting is scheduled only if the advisor feels that it might provide guidance for the student in preparing for subsequent testing. At the meeting, the student’s identity may be revealed, and any information or circumstances relevant to the student, the overall academic program, and the examinations themselves may be discussed. In a subsequent meeting with the student, the advisor will share a summary of the discussion insofar as the advisor thinks it will be useful in retaking the examinations.

A student may take the examinations two times and may petition to receive permission to attempt them a third time. Under no circumstances may a student attempt the examinations more than three times. In the case of a third fail, the Associate Director for Graduate Studies will call a meeting with the student’s advisor and the three readers, and the readers will make a final decision to pass or fail the examination. The written decision will be forwarded to the Student Services Office, and the Associate Director for Graduate Studies will notify the student in writing of that decision.

Admission to Candidacy

After a student has completed all coursework and other requirements specified by their degree program and passed all elements of the preliminary examinations, they are eligible for admission to candidacy (DMA Voice–Opera students should refer to the appropriate degree page in this handbook for information about the distribution of performance events before and after candidacy). The student is responsible for filing an application for candidacy. Upon approval of the application by the advisor and the Associate Director for Graduate Studies, it will be forwarded to the Graduate School for consideration and official action. A student must be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree within five years of beginning the program and at least six months before the degree is conferred.

Dissertation Committee

A dissertation is required for all doctoral degrees, and a minimum of twelve credits in Dissertation Research (MUSC 899 or MUSP 899) must be earned. Different degree programs within the School of Music have different dissertation requirements and options, but all begin with the formation of a dissertation committee. This committee is formed with the consent of the student, the dissertation committee chair, and each committee member. In most cases, the committee should be formed in the first semester of candidacy. No work may begin on the dissertation until the committee is formally approved.

All dissertation committees must have at least five members: the committee chair, the Graduate School dean’s representative (a tenured member of the Graduate Faculty at the University of Maryland outside of the School of Music), and three other members. The committee chair, the dean’s representative, and at least one other member must be full members of the Graduate School faculty (all full-time tenure-track faculty qualify; others generally do not). Normally, the faculty member who directs the dissertation chairs the committee; if that person is not a full member of the Graduate School faculty, the student must find a full member to serve as chair (the research director then becomes one of the three other committee members). Full information about Graduate Faculty membership is available in the Graduate Catalog.

If a student wishes to have a committee member who is not part of the Graduate School faculty, the committee chair may submit an application to appoint that person as an adjunct or special member of the faculty. The application form, a rationale for the prospective member’s value to the project, and a copy of the person’s curriculum vitae will then be submitted to the Associate Director for Graduate Studies, who will present these credentials to the School of Music graduate faculty for a vote. Upon approval of a majority of the music faculty, the Associate Director for Graduate Studies will forward the request to the Graduate School for final approval. Nominations are typically valid for five years; the Office of Student Services can help determine whether a new nomination is required.

Once the committee membership is settled, the student will submit a committee nomination form with the list of nominees for the dissertation committee, signed by the advisor, to the Associate Director for Graduate Studies who will forward the request to the Graduate School. The committee, once approved, then follows the policies and procedures described in the University of Maryland Graduate Catalog. Some programs have additional requirements for the formation of the dissertation committee; see the specific program information for further details. All required forms can be found on the Graduate School’s website. 

Dissertation Prospectus

Prior to beginning work on the dissertation project, including any performance events, the entire committee (minus the dean’s representative) must approve a dissertation prospectus and this prospectus must be filed in the Office of Student Services. A template for the required cover page can be obtained through the Office of Student Services.

The student, in consultation with the dissertation committee chair, will prepare a prospectus that includes a detailed outline of the final project. For details on what is expected in the prospectus, please see individual program descriptions; what follows is a general guideline to the dissertation prospectus. In the case of a written dissertation (Ph.D. or DMA written option), the prospectus should contain a definition of the problem, any necessary background, a discussion of sources, an outline of methodology, the expected conclusions with possible interpretations, an explanation of the project’s contribution to the field, and a bibliography. A prospectus for the DMA performance dissertation option should include a list of and rationale for the proposed repertoire, a discussion of background sources, a selected bibliography of texts and scores, and any other relevant information. A composition dissertation prospectus should include a detailed description of the proposed project. A written dissertation prospectus is normally eight to twenty double-spaced pages in length; a performance or composition prospectus is usually somewhat shorter. All members of the dissertation committee should be consulted during the preparation of the prospectus, and all must sign it (the dean’s representative is not required to take part in the process leading to the proposal, but must sign the approved prospectus at the point of committee nomination). After approval, the prospectus is deposited in the Student Services Office. This is normally done during the first semester of 899. Under no circumstances will a dissertation defense be scheduled for a project that does not have an approved prospectus on file (and no dissertation recitals may be performed until after a prospectus has been approved). If the project changes in any substantial way, a revised prospectus approved by all members of the committee must be deposited in the Student Services Office.

Dissertation Options

Ph.D. Dissertation

Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy will submit a written dissertation, demonstrating the candidate’s ability to conduct original and independent scholarly research, write in a clear and concise manner, and follow a recognized scholarly style manual. The lengths of Ph.D. dissertations varies based on topic and approach, but it is not uncommon for a Ph.D. dissertation to be 300 or more pages in length. The instructions for the preparation and submission of the written dissertation are found in the University of Maryland Graduate Catalog.

DMA Dissertation 

DMA dissertation projects normally require at least one post-candidacy recital to be given in an authorized hall at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Most students seeking the DMA degree in performance areas complete either (1) the performance dissertation option or (2) the written dissertation option (both described below). The process for proposing alternative dissertation formats is also described below. Some programs encourage or require students to complete a specific option. For DMA in Composition requirements, see that program’s description. Please note: for all DMA dissertation projects, both the written and the performed components are considered portions of the final documents. This means that all post-candidacy recitals or other events must be recorded and such recordings must be submitted as part of the dissertation.

Performance Dissertation Option

In this option, the student will normally complete a three-event performance project (recitals, concerts, opera roles, or other appropriate programs). In many circumstances, these three events will explore a particular theme (see individual divisional requirements). This cohesive group of three events is in addition to the two recitals (MUSP 815, 816) presented as part of the pre-candidacy coursework, and is taken under the course MUSP 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research after admission to candidacy (all MUSP courses carry an applied music fee). All performance events must be scheduled in consultation with the dissertation committee members and should normally take place on campus or near enough as not to pose an inconvenience for the committee members in fulfilling their obligation to attend the events. At least one member of the dissertation committee must be in attendance at each recital. A student may propose to have one or more of the recitals take place further away from campus, and all such proposals must be unanimously approved by the dissertation committee (the committee may require pre-recital hearings for such performances). All recitals must be professionally recorded, and these recordings must be deposited as part of the submission of the final dissertation project to the Registrar’s office or through the ETD system. The student’s dissertation committee will determine whether the live-performance recordings may be submitted without editing or if they should be amended with re-recorded material. The dissertation committee chair must approve the final recording. The student is responsible for ensuring that recordings or reproductions of copyrighted material are submitted in accordance with the guidelines published in the Graduate School’s ETD Style Guide and ProQuest’s ETD Resources and Guidelines.

The written portion of the performance dissertation option is a series of scholarly program notes crafted for each of the three performance events. In addition to treating the individual works performed, the notes are expected to discuss the works of the performance series in relation to one another (where applicable). This paper should collectively comprise at least twenty pages. (The notes presented at the public performance do not need to include the required footnotes, however the final submitted dissertation document does. All requirements are outlined below under DMA Scholarly Research Paper Guidelines.) 

 

Written Dissertation Option

This option consists of a combination of one dissertation recital or lecture recital (taken under MUSP 899 and requiring an applied music fee) and a written dissertation (taken under MUSC 899, which does not require an applied music fee). The recital is in addition to the two recitals (MUSP 815, 816) presented as part of the pre-candidacy coursework and the guidelines for the performance event are the same as those for the performance dissertation option, above. The student is encouraged to relate the dissertation recital repertoire to the topic of the written dissertation. Requirements for the written dissertation are generally the same as for the Ph.D. dissertation, although the final document is usually somewhat shorter (approximately 75–125 pages).

 Alternative Dissertation Options

Recognizing that some topics may be best addressed through formats not described above, the School of Music will consider alternative formats. Proposals for such formats should be made as part of the formal dissertation prospectus. All proposed formats must: demonstrate a level of work and expertise equivalent to the performance and written options described above; include at least one on-campus performance event; be unanimously endorsed by the approved dissertation committee; and be approved by the Associate Director for Graduate Studies. Projects likely to receive approval include those in which: one or more of the recitals includes a significant lecture component; is replaced with a significant recorded element; or includes an ambitious community engagement activity. In all cases, alternative formats are expected to form cohesive wholes. If proposing an alternative format, the proposal must clearly explain the value of that format. Students seeking alternative formats are encouraged to consult with all levels of review early in the process, as alternative formats are only approved with substantial justification. Students undertaking an alternative format dissertation project, where a significant recorded element is fundamental to the project itself (as determined by the committee and the Associate Director for Graduate Studies), may receive up to eight hours of uncharged time in Clarice halls (exclusive of hiring an recording engineer).


Scheduling a Defense

Once the committee has been formed and approved, the work for the dissertation project is nearly complete, and the student and dissertation research director and/or committee chair agree that the work will soon be ready to defend, a student may schedule a defense. Normally defenses are scheduled between the first and last day of classes for the spring or fall semesters, and in planning for a defense date students should consult the Provost’s Academic Calendar as well as the Graduate School’s graduation deadlines. Students should then find several dates and times that work for themselves and their committee and send a request for a room reservation to the School of Music’s scheduling office at music-schedule@umd.edu. The office will confirm the date with the student and with the Office of Student Services, from which the student can expect to receive further information about the process of preparing for the defense.

It is recommended that students schedule a defense no later than one week prior to their expected date of final dissertation submission. All requests for exceptions relating to a defense must be submitted to the Office of Student Services before the defense scheduling request is sent to the scheduling office.

Before the Defense

Students must provide all dissertation project materials (written, performed, etc.) to the full committee no fewer than ten business days in advance of the date of the defense. Committee members may request this material earlier.

Graduate School policy requires that all defenses be announced at least five business days in advance to the School of Music graduate students and faculty. Once the committee is approved by the Registrar, paperwork is sent to the Office of Student Services. A packet is prepared containing all the required paperwork, which may be picked up by the student or chair in advance of the defense. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have provided all the required personal information and signed all forms. It is the responsibility of the committee chair to ensure the entire committee has indicated their decision and signed all forms.

The Defense

An oral final examination in defense of the doctoral dissertation is required upon completion of the project. The examination is administered by the student’s dissertation committee, all members of which must be present. Defenses occurring outside the fall or spring semester require the approval of the Associate Director for Graduate Studies. The student must be registered in the semester of the defense. Procedures for the defense are described in detail in the Graduate Catalog.

The Graduate School has set formal policies for the format of a defense.  

The report of the dissertation committee, signed by each member, must be submitted to the Graduate School following the examination. Two or more negative votes constitute the failure of the candidate to meet the dissertation requirement. A second defense is permitted; if it is failed, the candidate’s admitted status is terminated.

After the defense

After the defense, the committee will indicate their decision on the interim report of the examining committee. The committee chair must submit all paperwork to the Office of Student Services. In some cases, the committee chair may wish to hold on to the report of the committee until the student has made all required edits on their document. In all cases, the student, the chair, and the Office of Student Services will receive a copy of the interim report of the examining committee.

All final defense paperwork must come to the Office of Student Services by 4pm on the date due. For graduation deadlines, see the Graduate School calendar. It is the responsibility of the student to determine whether copyright restrictions require that they submit recordings in hard copy or if they may submit them with the rest of their dissertation materials through the ETD System. When the dissertation is correctly submitted through the ETD System, the student should receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive confirmation, contact the Office of the Registrar. All questions about the submission process should be directed to the Office of the Registrar. Be aware that there are no extensions to the Graduate School’s graduation deadlines.

Written Dissertation Component Guidelines

Ph.D. dissertations (and DMA written-option dissertations) should conform to the guidelines for scholarly publications in the appropriate field. Consult the Graduate School’s Style Guide for details on preparing and submitting the dissertation manuscript. 

DMA Dissertation and Research Paper Guidelines 

In total, the written components associated with the DMA research requirement includes: the pre-candidacy scholarly paper (usually prepared in connection to the lecture recital), the dissertation prospectus, program notes for the dissertation performances, an annotated bibliography (for the performance option) or the written dissertation (for the written option), a listing of the repertoire from the dissertation recitals (i.e., not the pre-candidacy recitals), and the dissertation abstract. All components must demonstrate a command of scholarship and writing, and each of the two papers must be a work of greater substance than a paper typically submitted for a seminar or course. The guidelines below apply to both the pre-candidacy scholarly paper and the program notes prepared for the DMA performance dissertation option.

The Pre-Candidacy Scholarly Research Paper has its own certification form. This form must be completed, signed, and submitted to the Student Services Office along with a copy (electronic preferred) of the paper. The signatures of the dissertation committee on all graduation defense forms constitute certification that the submitted document meets the above expectations. No additional forms are necessary and the Student Services Office does not need to receive a copy of any part of the dissertation project.

Submission of the Dissertation to the Graduate School

It is a requirement of the Graduate School that all components of a defended dissertation—including all recorded elements—be submitted through the ETD system for evaluation and final approval by the Office of the Registrar. Details on the formatting of audio/visual files, as well as on copyright issues, are outlined in the Style Guide. 


Doctoral Degree Program Sheets

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Musical arts