DMA Music at University of California, Los Angeles

Programme overview

DMA Music is a doctoral programme in Music Performance, Education, and Composition, Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA. Areas of study: The department offers two specializations for the M.A. degree in the fields of composition and composition for visual media. In consultation with their faculty adviser, students select their area of specialization in the second or third quarter of their first year of study.

Faculty: Herb Alpert School of Music | Department: Music Performance, Education, and Composition | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall | Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States

What you will study

Areas of study: The department offers two specializations for the M.A. degree in the fields of composition and composition for visual media. In consultation with their faculty adviser, students select their area of specialization in the second or third quarter of their first year of study. Composition Specialization Students are required to complete 48 units (normally 14 courses) of which 44 units (normally 13 courses) must be at the 200 level. Only four units of Music 596A may be applied toward the total unit requirement. No more than four units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Application deadline: Pre-screening application: December 1, 2026 Application for Graduate Admission: December 1, 2026. GRE: Not required. Letters of recommendation: 3, from former instructors and/or professionals with whom applicant has worked (for the D.M.A. In addition to the University's minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose and sample of work as described below. M.A.: Bachelor's degree, or equivalent, in Music. Other fields of study are accepted if applicants have the musical training and musicianship necessary to pursue graduate work. Transcripts must show an average grade of at least B in the basic areas that normally constitute the undergraduate core curriculum in music (harmony, counterpoint, music history, analysis, and musicianship). Applicants for the M.A.

Most graduate departments and schools have deadlines in November and early December for the following fall term.

Graduate application fee: $135 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, $155 for all other applicants; deadlines are set by each programme, mostly in November and early December for the following fall.

Apply through the official page: https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/steps-to-apply/

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