Doctor of Musical Arts - Definition and Overview

The Doctor of Musical Arts degree (D.M.A., or A.Mus.D.), like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.M.A. is intended for musicians who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music. D.M.A. students typically complete applied studies culminating in several solo recitals, take courses within their area of specialization (as well as related courses in music theory and music history), and write a thesis or dissertation.

The D.M.A. program is generally designed to prepare students to be artist-performers and conductors in either university settings, or in the professional arena. The D.M.A. is widely available in performance (sometimes with a specialization in pedagogy and/or literature), composition, and conducting; the D.M.A. in music education is less common. The terminal degree in music theory, musicology, and ethnomusicology is typically the Ph.D.; music education doctoral programs may grant the Ph.D. and/or the Ed.D..

While the Ph.D. is the most common doctoral degree, and even often (mis)understood to be synonymous with the term “doctorate,” the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) recognize numerous doctoral degrees as equivalent, and do not discriminate between them.

A list of doctoral degree designations can be found at: doctorate.