Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements.
Interim Director: Melissa Malde, D.M.A.
Interim Associate Director: Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.
Location: Frasier Hall 108
Telephone: 970-351-2993
Website: arts.unco.edu/music/
Graduate Coordinator: Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.
Doctor of Arts in Music candidates will take written and oral comprehensive examinations at a time approved by the major advisor.
This program emphasizes philosophy, psychology, contemporary and past history, and research. It also includes scholarship and musicianship through study in the areas of music history and literature, theory, composition, and performance.
This program area places primary emphasis on a comprehensive working knowledge of contemporary music education practices in public schools and college music programs, and/or community cultural life.
Each new student entering a graduate program in music at the University of Northern Colorado is required to take graduate advisory examinations in Music History and writing skills, and placement examinations in Music Theory and Aural Skills, and the student’s major area. For students entering the Music Education degree, the major area will be Music Education. 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.
Prospective music education graduate students, in addition to following current Graduate School and School of Music application procedures, should submit the following directly to the Music Education Chair in order to be considered for admission to the UNC Music Education Graduate Program:
- One 30-45 minute video or DVD that is representative of the applicant's teaching abilities. Applicants should include a 10-15 minute performance segment that is representative of their performing ability on their primary instrument or voice. Applicants should select two pieces of contrasting style for the performance segment.
- Three letters of recommendation addressing teaching abilities, potential for success in graduate studies, musicianship, and collegiality.
Degree Requirements — 66 Credits
Required Concentration Credits — 25 credits
Primary Concentration — 15 hours
| EDF 640 | Psychological Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDF 685 | Philosophical Foundations of Education | 3 |
| MUS 519 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| MUS 533 | Curriculum Trends in Music Education | 3 |
| MUS 612 | Psychology of Music Teaching and Learning | 3 |
Secondary Concentration — 10 hours
Elective Credits — 13 credits
Electives will be selected by advisement based on candidate's needs identified through advisory examination and special interests. Electives may be selected from courses offered by the School of Music, or from areas outside of music, such as Educational Administration, Special Education or Psychology.
Research Core — 12 credits
Research Proposal/Dissertation — 16 credits
| MUS 797 | Doctoral Proposal Research | 1- 4 |
| MUS 799 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-12 |
NOTE: The dissertation should include goals such as extension of the student's knowledge and improvement of their teaching ability in the field, development of new knowledge that will contribute to music education and implementation of music education theory to the practical aspects of ongoing school music programs.
Secondary Concentration courses may be selected from courses offered by the School of Music, or from areas outside of music, such as educational leadership, special education or psychology. A project integrating one or more subject areas with music education will be part of the secondary concentration expectation. The project is given on a directed study basis and may be extended into the framework of the dissertation.