• Introduction to Graduate Study in Music (MUS:5300), 2 semester hours
•  Seminar in Music Research (MUS:7140 ​​​​​​​), 2 semester hours 

Students exempt from MUS:5200 through the advisory examination in music theory must complete 6 semester hours from the following:

• Counterpoint Before 1600 (MUS:4200), 3 semester hours
• Counterpoint After 1600 (MUS:4201), 3 semester hours
• Jazz Theory (MUS:4730), 3 semester hours
• Tonal Analysis (MUS:5235), 3 semester hours
• Non-Tonal Analysis (MUS:5236), 3 semester hours
• Analysis of Popular Music (MUS:5237), 3 semester hours
• Special Topics in Theory and Analysis (MUS:5240), 3 semester hours
• History of Ideas in Music (MUS:6210), 3 semester hours
• Theoretical Approaches to Music (MUS:6211), 3 semester hours
• Theory Pedagogy (MUS:6215), 3 semester hours
• Advanced Tonal Theory and Analysis (MUS:6250), 3 semester hours
• Advanced Non-Tonal Theory and Analysis (MUS:6251), 3 semester hours
• Advanced Theory and Analysis of Popular Music (MUS:6252), 3 semester hours

Nine semester hours, up to 6 semester hours, can be counted from the master's degree, upon written approval of the associate director for graduate studies. Students: select from the courses listed below. Only one 4000-level course, taken at the University of Iowa or equivalent transferred in from another institution, may count toward the 9 semester hours required. 

• Medieval and Renaissance Music (MUS:4325), 3 semester hours
• Baroque Music (MUS:4330), 3 semester hours
• 18th-Century Music (MUS:4335), 3 semester hours
• 19th-Century Music (MUS:4340), 3 semester hours
• 20th-Century Music (MUS:4345), 3 semester hours
• American Music (MUS:4355), 3 semester hours
• Studies in Film and Music (MUS:4610), 3 semester hours
• Topics in Musicology (MUS:6310), 3 semester hours
• Historical Approaches to Music (MUS:6312), 3 semester hours
• Topics in Ethnomusicology (MUS:6314), 3 semester hours
• Foundations of Ethnomusicology (MUS:6315), 3 semester hours
• Renaissance Music Notations (MUS:6326), 3 semester hours
• Music 1945-Present (MUS:6350), 3 semester hours
• Music Editing (MUS:6375), 3 semester hours

Major Ensemble (four semesters required), 1 semester hour each

27-31 semester hours of these courses are required.  

• Advanced Wind Conducting (MUS:6589), four semesters required, 2 semesters hours each, 8 semester hours 
• Seminar in Advanced Band Literature/Band History (MUS:6590), four semesters required, 2 semester hours each, 8 semester hours

Choose a minimum of 3 semester hours from the following courses:  

• Applied Lessons (MUS:xxxx), 1 semester hour 
• Arranging for Band (MUS:3665 ), 2 semester hours 
• Marching Band Techniques (MUS:3666), 2 semester hours
• Advanced Choral Conducting III (MUS:6583 ), 3 semester hours 
• Advanced Choral Conducting IV  (MUS:6584 ), 3 semester hours
• Score Reading (MUS:6585), 1 semester hours 
• Advanced Orchestral Literature/Professional Development (MUS:658), 2 semester hours

Additional requirements for the degree:

• DMA Recital (MUS:7900), three recitals required, six semester hours
• DMA Essay/Thesis (MUS:7970), 2 semester hour minimum; six semester hours maximum
  • If a student started coursework prior to fall 2019, the range is 4-8 semester hours. 

French or German proficiency (other languages must be approved by the band area). Students can satisfy the proficiency requirement in one of the following ways: 

1. Completion of the fourth semester of the language at the undergraduate level with at least a grade of B, within the last 10 years.
2. Testing out of the fourth semester of the language at the University of Iowa. Placement exams in French, German, and Italian are offered each semester by the UI Examination Service, 300 Jefferson Bldg.
3. Completion of graduate language courses 009:205 and 206 French for Reading and Research or 013:128 German Reading for Graduate Students (prerequisite 013:012, 013, or 014).  

Or

• Secondary Area of Music: Minimum of 6 semester hours (attach the Secondary Area contract).

The Secondary Area of Music option of the DMA program is an opportunity for students to individualize their course of study according to their strengths, personal interests, and career aspirations. The Secondary Area will enhance their viability in the job market and broaden the student’s professional profile and competence. 

The student, the major advisor, and a professor from the secondary area will define this individualized component of the DMA course of study by the end of the first year of study. A contract listing the required coursework will include a minimum of six semester hours. These hours may not include any courses required to fulfill other degree requirements.

The student’s Comprehensive Examination committee will include a secondary area advisor, who will provide questions pertaining to the secondary area.    Possible secondary areas include conducting, music education, jazz studies, theory, music history, or a secondary applied area.  Secondary areas may not be specialized areas of the primary performance/pedagogy or conducting area.