DMA Music at University of California, Santa Cruz

Programme overview

The Doctor of Musical Arts in music composition develops active composers with broad awareness of 21st-century practices, cultural influences, media and technical means. Seminars include cross-cultural approaches to composition (indigenous, Asian and African-diasporic musics) and computer-assisted composition.

Faculty: Arts Division | Department: Music | Duration: Minimum 9 quarters in residence (entering with bachelor's, 102 credits) or 6 quarters (entering with master's, 72 credits); maximum 6 calendar years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Santa Cruz, CA, United States

What you will study

Required courses include research methods, tonal and posttonal analysis, techniques in composition, graduate seminar in composition and global music composition, plus computer-assisted composition or composing for live electronics, and at least two electives. Students pass written and oral qualifying exams, meet a one-language reading requirement, and complete a dissertation consisting of a substantial composition with an essay, defended publicly.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

UC Santa Cruz graduate admission: bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited university awarded before the entry quarter, a B average or better in the last two years of undergraduate coursework, and demonstrated English proficiency. Applicants whose first language is not English: TOEFL iBT minimum 83 (4.0 on the 2026 scale) or IELTS Academic overall 7; waiver may be requested by applicants with a four-year bachelor's degree from an English-speaking institution. GRE General and Subject tests not required. Transcripts and three letters of recommendation (up to five accepted). Music DMA materials: statement of purpose explaining compositional interests with supporting compositions or essays (and, for computer-assisted composition, a program or evidence of technical competence), personal history statement, composition scores and recordings, writing sample (term paper or senior thesis), and resume. Application deadline: December 9. Application fee $135 domestic, $155 international.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,722 a year (2026-27). California resident graduate tuition; excludes Student Services Fee, campus fees and health insurance Source

International applicants: USD 15,102 a year (2026-27). Nonresident Supplemental Tuition, charged in addition to the 13,722 tuition for non-California residents and international students Source

Duration: Minimum 9 quarters in residence (entering with bachelor's, 102 credits) or 6 quarters (entering with

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