Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online at https://utexas.box.com/v/UTAustinGraduateHandbooks. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.

Master of Music

The Master of Music degree with a major in music includes the following areas of concentration: performance (including collaborative piano, opera coaching/directing, and chamber music), composition, theory, literature and pedagogy, musicology, and ethnomusicology. The Master of Music degree is also offered with a major in conducting and a major in music and human learning. Entering students should have a bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) from an accredited institution.

Most programs of study leading to the Master of Music require between 30 to 36 semester hours of coursework depending on the degree major and area of concentration. The program of work for music degrees with a concentration in musicology, ethnomusicology, music theory, and literature/pedagogy includes a three-hour Master's Report (Music 398M) in lieu of the six-hour Master's Thesis (Music 698A, Music 698B). A comprehensive examination is required of all master’s degree candidates, usually in the final semester of study.

Further information about master’s degrees is given in Degree Requirements. Details of departmental requirements in the various areas of concentration are available from the graduate admissions coordinator.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in music is offered with concentrations in musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory. The PhD degree is also offered with a major in music and human learning. Candidates for PhD degrees are required to pass a comprehensive examination and to write a dissertation based on original research. Information about requirements in the various areas of concentration is available from the graduate admissions coordinator.

Doctor of Musical Arts

The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree allows for three majors: music, conducting, and music and human learning. The DMA degree in music offers concentrations in composition (including a jazz emphasis) and in performance (including opera, collaborative piano, jazz, and voice pedagogy emphases).  The DMA degree in music and human learning includes jazz pedagogy and piano pedagogy emphases. Candidates for the DMA degree must pass a comprehensive examination. They must demonstrate outstanding professional competence, artistic maturity, and exceptional knowledge of the historical and practical aspects of their major field. Each candidate must prepare a scholarly treatise in a field appropriate to the major or complete the alternative requirements of the non-treatise degree option. For music majors pursuing a concentration in composition, an original musical work replaces the treatise. A jazz emphasis is also available in the performance and the composition majors.

Further information about requirements in various areas of concentration is available from the graduate admissions coordinator.

Artist Diploma in Music Performance

The Artist Diploma is a highly specialized and performance-oriented non-degree graduate certificate program for exceptional musicians who have great potential for a professional career in music performance at the international level. To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the admission requirements for performance majors. The program requires completion of at least 27 semester hours of graduate coursework, including but not limited to courses in performance, performance practice, and advanced music literature, as well as an artist recital course taken for each of three required recitals. Additional information is available from the graduate admissions coordinator.