Overview
Students must take a minimum of five full-course equivalents, including MUS 3300Y and MUS 3305Y and MUS3999Y (research project, selected in consultation with the advisory committee). A minimum of two years of residency is required. Students entering from outside the University of Toronto will be given diagnostic tests in musical analysis, counterpoint, and harmony, the result of which may be additional course requirements. Except for MUS3999Y, all coursework must be completed by the end of the second year. MUS3999Y must be started in second year and finished by the end of third year. MUS3999Y forms the basis for the Major Field Examination.
After completion of the coursework, students are required to present a recital of original works (MUS3888Y) to the satisfaction of the Department. This course is in addition to the five full-course requirement. Candidates must complete all requirements for the degree exclusive of the recital requirement and the thesis composition by the end of the third year of registration. The program is designed to take a total of four years.
Residence Requirement
DMA students are required to be in residence for two years except for absences necessary for research and authorized by the Department. To fulfill this requirement a student must be in such geographical proximity as to be able to visit the campus regularly and participate fully in the university’s activities associated with the program.
Course Requirements
All coursework, with the exception of MUS3999Y (Research Project), must be completed by the end of the second year. MUS3999Y must be started in the second year and completed by the end of the third year. The student must obtain a supervisor for MUS3999Y and then submit for approval a research project proposal of 500-1000 words by March 1 of year two. The research and writing for MUS3999Y lays the groundwork for the Major Field Examination, which must be taken no later than April of year three.
Major Field Examination
The purpose of the Major Field Examination is to assess the student’s general knowledge of his or her chosen research field and to examine the theoretical premises and methodological approaches set out in the research project (MUS3999Y).
Based on faculty members’ responses to the research project proposal and on their fields of expertise, the supervisor of MUS3999Y will appoint a Major Field Examination Committee comprising the supervisor and at least two other members of the graduate faculty. The supervisor will determine a grade for MUS3999Y, and the Major Field Examination Committee will pass or fail the student’s performance in the oral examination.
The student must attain at least an A- in MUS 3999Y and a pass on the oral examination in order to proceed with the DMA. In the event that these standards are not met, a second Major Field Examination will be scheduled approximately three months later for the resubmission of the research paper and/or a second attempt at the oral examination. A failure to achieve the standards set for the written paper and/or oral examination at the second attempt results in the student being required to withdraw from the program.
It is the responsibility of the Associate Dean, Graduate Education to inform the student of the results of the Major Field Examination as soon as possible. It is the responsibility of the Major Field Examination Committee to make a recommendation to the Associate Dean, Graduate Education concerning the timing of the second examination if necessary. The committee appointed to conduct the second examination should as far as possible include the same members who examined the student in the first place.
On successful completion of all courses, and Major Field Examination requirements, a doctoral
student becomes a doctoral
candidate and embarks fully on the thesis composition and on the completion of the recital requirement.
Recital of Works (MUS3888Y)
A full program of original compositions composed while in the DMA program at the University of Toronto. Submit a list of works for approval by the Department. In some cases professional quality recordings of performances that in total form the equivalent of a full recital may be substituted, with permission of the Department.
DMA Composition (Thesis)
DMA Composition (Thesis)
The thesis for the Doctor of Musical Arts shall be an extended composition approved by the Department (based on a proposal of about 500 words), prepared under the supervision of an advisory committee, and defended at the final oral examination in accordance with the procedures for final doctoral examinations of the
School of
Graduate Studies at the
University of Toronto.