DMA IN MUSIC (PERFORMANCE) school of music

INSTRUMENTAL EMPHASIS advising guide

Consult this document along with your degree checksheet, student handbook and faculty advisor to navigate coursework and
degree requirements so that you can graduate in a timely way. Your faculty advisor is your studio instructor.

BIG PICTURE
There are several milestones you need to complete prior to graduating:
1. Take and pass all of the coursework required for your degree and concentration. All work toward a doctoral degree must be
completed within ten consecutive years of the semester of entry.
2. File a Program of Study (mid-point of your studies).
3. Successfully complete three recitals (as approved by your committee).
4. Successfully pass written and oral comprehensive exams at the end of your coursework.
5. Successfully complete and defend a research paper proposal.
6. Successfully complete a research paper culminating in an oral defense within ten years of admission.

A total of 90 credit hours is required. All graduate-level courses are numbered above 500.

GRADUATE COURSES
Every course taken for a doctoral degree must have a graduate course number (500+). You will not receive graduate credit for
courses at the 400-level or below. You may take courses at the 400-level or below, but the courses will not count toward your
degree.

ADVISING AND COURSE WORK

Refer to your program checksheet, which is your guide to the courses you will need to take to complete your degree. The courses
are divided into three categories: Studies in Major Area, Other Studies in Music and Electives. You are allowed 30 “blanket”
hours from your master’s degree to count towards the 90 credit degree requirement. Areas shaded in gray are suggested credits
from your master’s degree.

Studies in Major Area (54 credits)

MUP 727 Studio Instruction (16 credits, four credits per semester for four semesters)
MUP 551 Repertoire (2 credits, required in DMA if not taken in MM)
MUP 581 Pedagogy (2 credits, required in DMA if not taken in MM)
MUP 796 Solo Performance (12 total credits, in any combination. 3 total recitals)
MUP 792 Research (12 credits in any combination over several semesters throughout coursework)

Other Studies in Music (27 credits)

You must take five courses at the doctoral level. Two courses (3 credits each) must be in musicology or ethnomusicology (MHL
prefix). Two courses (3 credits each) must be in music theory (MTC prefix). One theory course must be an analytical course.
The fourth course must be in music theory but may be a non-analytical course. 500-level courses that are double-listed as a
400-level course may not be used toward the MHL/MTC requirement. In special cases, a substitution may be allowed. Visit
the MHL + MTC Course website for more information. MHL 532 Bibliography must be completed at the doctoral level if it was
not taken in the MM level. You must complete all MHL/MTC requirements before you are eligible to take your written and oral
comprehensive exams.

Electives (9 credits)
The elective area of the checksheet allows you to customize the degree to meet your specific career interests and needs.
Ensembles or additional lessons may count here. You may also take courses elsewhere on campus, as approved by your advisor,
but must be at the graduate level to count towards your degree.

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.00 grade point average (GPA) to maintain satisfactory academic progress and to
graduate. The minimum 3.00 GPA must be maintained on all GPAs (iPOS GPA, Overall Graduate GPA and Cumulative GPA):

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 • The iPOS GPA is calculated on all courses that appear on the student’s approved Plan of Study.
• Cumulative ASU GPA represents all courses completed at ASU during the graduate career.
• The Overall Graduate GPA is based on all courses numbered 500 or higher that appear on the transcript after admission
to a graduate program or graduate non-degree. This includes shared coursework if in an approved concurrent master’s/
doctoral program.
• Courses with grades of “D” (1.00) and “E” (0.00) cannot appear on the iPOS but will be included when calculating the
Graduate GPA. Courses with an “I” grade cannot appear on the iPOS.
All graduate students are expected to make systematic progress toward completion of their degree, as determined by their
committee chair and the assistant director for graduate studies

GRADUATION
Complete the following prior to graduation.
• Complete the Steps to Graduation Online Workshop (recommended prior to completing your written comprehensive
exams)
• Confirm that you have an approved full committee in your iPOS.
• Apply for graduation through MyASU by October 1 (fall graduation) or February 15 (spring graduation).
• For information on graduation ceremonies, visit https://students.asu.edu/graduation.

SAMPLE PLAN OF STUDY

Most students take three years (not including summers) to finish the degree. Here is a typical full-time plan.
X = course chosen with faculty consultation
Coursework Priority Tasks
SEMESTER 1
MUP 727 Studio Instruction • Results from your graduate diagnostic exam in theory and history should
MUP 792 Research be reviewed by faculty advisor
MHL or MTC course • MHL 532 Bibliography should be completed if not taken in MM
X • MUP 792 Research and MUP 796 Recital credits should be discussed
X with advisor

SEMESTER 2
MUP 727 Studio Instruction • Begin process to identify a research topic with faculty advisor
MUP 792 Research
MHL or MTC course
X
X
SEMESTER 3
MUP 727 Studio Instruction • Complete your iPOS by the end of the third semester
MUP 792 Research • Students on F-1/J-1 visa should discuss CPT option with advisor
MHL or MTC course
X
X
SEMESTER 4
MUP 427 Studio Instruction • Update any course changes on your iPOS by the end of the fourth
MUP 792 Research semester
MHL or MTC course
X
X
SEMESTER 5
MUP 792 Research • Complete the Steps to Graduation Workshop
MHL or MTC course • Committee Chair reserves space for written and oral comprehensive
X exams
X • Submit Research/Dissertation proposal to Office of Academic Affairs by
end of semester
• All recital result forms should be on file with Office of Academic Affairs

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SEMESTER 6
MUP 792 Research • Committee Chair schedules Defense
X • Apply for graduation through MyASU by October 1 (fall graduation) or
X February 15 (spring graduation).

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