Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Director: Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.
Associate Director: Erik Applegate, M.M.
Location: Frasier Hall 108
Telephone: 970-351-2993
Website: arts.unco.edu/music/
Graduate Coordinator: Deborah Kauffman, D.M.A.
Select from four concentrations listed below
- Collaborative Piano Concentration
- Conducting Concentration
- Jazz Studies Concentration
- Music Performance Concentration
Doctor of Arts in Music candidates will take written and oral comprehensive examinations at a time approved by the major advisor.
Each new student entering a graduate program in music at the University of Northern Colorado is required to take graduate placement examinations in Music Theory and Aural Skills, and the student’s major area. Graduate students who do not pass the theory placement exam must enroll in MUS 401. Graduate students who do not pass the aural skills placement exam must enroll in MUS 402. All students must either pass the theory and aural skills exam OR pass; MUS 401 and/or; MUS 402 with a grade of C or better before they can enroll in graduate-level theory classes or graduate from their programs.
The Doctor of Arts degree provides options for advanced study in the areas of music history and literature, composition, conducting, and performance (with an optional concentration in pedagogy.
The Doctor of Arts in Music at UNC is part of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) established by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). In most cases, WRGP students pay tuition at resident student rates; prospective D.A. students may direct inquiries concerning the WRGP to the School of Music.
For additional information, see “Doctor of Arts Sequence and Check List” published by the School of Music.
Admission
Location: Greeley
Start Term: Fall
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
Music D.A.
Admission Deadline
Starts Each Fall Term
Audition days fill quickly, so you are encouraged to complete the application as soon as possible in order to secure an audition date and time. Information regarding audition requirements, repertoire and faculty contact information are also available on the application. The School of Music recommends that you complete your application by Jan. 1 for full consideration. Applications submitted after Jan. 1 will be considered, but early application is recommended.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.
Each applicant must:
Take the following steps to be considered for admission:
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete the online application.
- Answer the application questions.
- Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
- Request three (3) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your musical and academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
- Video, recordings or links may need to be uploaded depending on your program and instrument/area while completing the application. For specifics, please visit the School of Music website.
- Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.
Step 2: Request Transcripts
Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.
The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.
UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow therequirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
Step 3: Note About the GRE
This program does not require GRE scores.
Step 4: Supplemental Items
Log back into the Admissions Portal to upload any music specific requirements. Visit the School of Music website for a full listing of supplemental music requirements.
International applicants (non-U.S. citizen/non-U.S. Permanent Resident) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.
Degree Requirements — 67-71 Credits
Required Concentration Credits — 3-9 credits
| MUS 623 | Individual Studies in Effective Teaching | 1- 3 |
| MUS 794 | Supervised Practicum in College Teaching | 2 |
Primary Concentration — 18 credits
The primary concentration area develops a major scholarly and/or performing function for the college and university level in Conducting, Collaborative Piano, Jazz Studies, or Music Performance (with an optional concentration in Pedagogy). Courses are selected by advisement based upon candidate's area of focus and upon the candidate's needs identified through the advisory examinations.
Secondary Concentration — 8-10 credits
This area develops a scholarly and/or performing concentration in an approved secondary area: Chamber Music, Collaborative Piano, Conducting, Jazz Composition, Jazz Pedagogy, Jazz Studies, Music Composition, Music Education, Music History and Literature, Music Performance, Music Theory, Opera Stage Direction, Piano Pedagogy, Vocal Pedagogy, or related areas outside Music with appropriate graduate-level coursework. In addition to coursework, students shall complete a research or creative project as part of the secondary concentration. The secondary concentration and its courses are selected by the candidate with the approval of the program advisor and a secondary concentration advisor.
Elective Credits — 4-7 credits
Research core concentration determined by study in primary area
- Collaborative Piano, Conducting, Performance Concentrations OR
- Jazz Studies Concentration
1. Research Core — 15 credits (Collaborative Piano, Conducting, Performance Concentrations)
| MUS 700 | Introduction to Doctoral Research | 3 |
Music History — 6 credits
Choose 2 of the following courses:
| MUS 507 | History of Instruments and Instrumental Practices | 3 |
| MUS 643 | Seminar: Medieval Music | 3 |
| MUS 644 | Seminar: Music in the Renaissance | 3 |
| MUS 645 | Seminar: The Baroque Period | 3 |
| MUS 646 | Seminar: The Classic Period | 3 |
| MUS 647 | Seminar: The Romantic Period | 3 |
| MUS 651 | Seminar in Music History: Late Romanticism to 1945 | 3 |
| MUS 652 | Seminar in Music History: 1945 to the Present | 3 |
Music Theory (Exam Required) — 6 credits
Choose 2 of the following courses:
Music theory exam required: Coursework dependent upon results of advisory exams
2. Research Core - Jazz Studies Concentration — 16 credits
Music History — 3 credits
Choose 1of the following courses:
| MUS 507 | History of Instruments and Instrumental Practices | 3 |
| MUS 643 | Seminar: Medieval Music | 3 |
| MUS 644 | Seminar: Music in the Renaissance | 3 |
| MUS 645 | Seminar: The Baroque Period | 3 |
| MUS 646 | Seminar: The Classic Period | 3 |
| MUS 647 | Seminar: The Romantic Period | 3 |
| MUS 651 | Seminar in Music History: Late Romanticism to 1945 | 3 |
| MUS 652 | Seminar in Music History: 1945 to the Present | 3 |
Music Theory (Exam Required) — 3 credits
Choose 1 of the following courses:
Music theory exam required: Coursework dependent upon results of advisory exams
Dissertation — 16 credits
Students may choose one of two paths toward completion of Dissertation Credits.
1. Dissertation - Traditional Research Path - 16 Credits
| MUS 797 | Doctoral Proposal Research | 1- 4 |
| MUS 799 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-12 |
NOTES:
- All DA students must have a doctoral interview, choose a path to degree completion, and file a plan of study by the end of the first semester in residence.
- The 12 credits allotted to the doctoral dissertation (MUS 799) will be divided between performance and dissertation requirements according to the plan of study as outlined and approved by the candidate's committee.
- Performance, Conducting, Jazz Studies, and Collaborative Piano majors will perform two recitals for 3 credits each and complete a 6-credit dissertation. Students seeking the DA in Music Composition, Music Education, and Music History and Literature will complete a 12-credit dissertation. No more than 6 credits of MUS 799 may be taken before the student is admitted to candidacy.
2. Dissertation - Major Project Path - 16 Credits
MUS 790: Take 4 credits
MUS 791: Take 4 credits
MUS 792: Take 4 credits
MUS 793: Take 4 credits
NOTES:
- All DA students must have a doctoral interview, choose a path to degree completion, and file a plan of study by the end of the first semester in residence.
- Candidacy
- To be admitted to candidacy, students must have passed their comprehensive written and oral examinations, language proficiency (if required), and two of the three recital projects (790, 791, and 792).
- DA students may not complete more than 10 credits of MUS 790 – 793 before being admitted to candidacy.
- MUS 793 may not be completed until the student has been admitted to candidacy.
- DA Committee
- The DA committee must be formed before the first doctoral project may be completed.
- The chair of the DA committee must hold the Doctoral Research Endorsement. All members of the committee must have Graduate Faculty status.
- For MUS 792 and 793, the student will select one member of the faculty advisory committee to serve as the main advisor (not necessarily the committee chair), who will guide the student in preparing a written prospectus, which is then submitted to the DA committee for their suggestions and approval. Deadlines for submission depend on the project and are detailed in the syllabi but in all cases, the written portion of the project must be in its final form before any public presentation. A second dissertation committee member must be assigned as reader for MUS 792. The entire DA committee must evaluate MUS 793. The method of that evaluation will depend on the project chosen.
- Credits and order of projects
- Students may earn dissertation hours throughout the entire program, while taking other coursework.
- Students must register for 4 credits for each project (MUS 790-793).
- No grade will be assigned for a project until four credits are amassed for the course number.
- Recital projects (MUS 790-792) may be completed in any order, according to the guidance of the major advisor and the student’s committee.
- MUS 793 may not be completed until admission to candidacy.
- Students are encouraged to propose projects that have a practical application for the beginning stages of their professional careers.
- Taken together, DA dissertation projects must meet the standards of scholarly research and writing as understood at UNC; they must be based upon original investigation, show critical discernment, and make a significant contribution to the knowledge in the student’s field.
- For each project MUS 790-793, there are four possible outcomes:
- Pass
- Pass with conditions
- Fail, retake permitted
- Fail, no retake permitted
Program Notes
Composition majors will present a recital of their compositions written as part of their degree program.
A reading knowledge of one foreign language (typically French, German or Italian) is required by the following areas: brass, history and literature (a second language may be required through advisement), piano, strings, theory and composition, voice, woodwinds and instrumental conducting. Students in the areas of choral conducting and vocal performance should have skills in translation of vocal literature in one foreign language (French, German or Italian) as well as diction mastery of all three. In the woodwind and jazz studies areas a substitute research tool may be permitted after consultation and approval by the candidate's committee. For the collaborative piano concentration, language proficiency will be examined upon entry. Candidates must demonstrate pronunciation proficiency in French, German, Italian and the International Phonetic Alphabet as well as reading proficiency in French, German, and Italian. Candidates with deficiencies will meet with their major advisor and other appropriate faculty to determine the best way to remedy those deficiencies. Students should contact the Graduate Coordinator or appropriate area faculty to clarify language requirements.
The candidate must complete two consecutive semesters (minimum of 9 semester credit hours per semester) of graduate work on the University of Northern Colorado campus in order to satisfy the Doctor of Arts residency requirement.
The Program Advisor or Graduate Coordinator will provide information concerning how the student's oral and research committees are formed, the student's responsibility in the committee process and the means of scheduling comprehensive examinations and the doctoral defense.
The Music Performance Concentration has an optional concentration in pedagogy.