DMA Conducting at Arizona State University

Programme overview

In the Doctor of Musical Arts program in music with a concentration in conducting, you have the opportunity to improve your art, craft and scholarship while you become well versed in multiple areas of conducting. You take several common courses regardless of emphasis and become acquainted with the repertory and conducting issues for each medium.

What you will study

90 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam and a research paper Conducting Core (18 credit hours) Specialty Courses (9 credit hours) Electives (9 credit hours) Cognate (integrated conducting, instrumental performance or music learning and teaching) (9 credit hours) Music History and Music Theory (21 credit hours) Recitals and Research (24 credit hours) Other Requirement Completion of diagnostic exams in musicology and music theory is required of all new graduate music students before course enrollment in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre.

Career pathways

School of Music, Dance and Theatre graduate programs inspire and empower students to become creative leaders who transform society through music. Musicians with expertise in performing, composing, teaching and researching; in arts advocacy; and in music therapy are in high demand across many sectors. Career examples: artistic director, arts administrator, community arts advocate, performing musician, public or community school teacher, university professor.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution. Students seeking admission typically hold a Master of Music. Applicants with other degrees are considered if they have received graduate training similar to that normally expected in a MM program. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,327 a year (2026-27). Arizona resident tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads Source

International applicants: USD 24,780 a year (2026-27). International tuition. Tuition only for the graduate on-campus (Tempe/Downtown Phoenix/Polytechnic/West Valley) rate band in the ASU tuition estimator, 2026-27: Fall 2026 plus Spring 2027 term tuition summed (full-time flat rate; part-time credit loads ar Source

Entry terms: Fall, Spring and Summer; the terms available for each programme are listed in Degree Search.

Graduate application deadlines are set by each programme office and listed in Degree Search. The nonrefundable application fee is $75 for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA and international online students outside the U.S., and $120 for international students on a nonimmigrant visa studying in the U.S.

Apply through the official page: https://admission.asu.edu/apply/graduate/admission

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities