DMA Composition: Music at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Prepare to help students explore their original ideas in a rigorous and creative environment committed to musical excellence. Advance your professional composition skills through one-to-one instruction. Receive faculty-level training in composition and related areas, and study in the corollary areas of theory and history.

Faculty: School of Music | Duration: 30 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Compose music by studying, listening to existing music and hearing the music you have created. Work with digital technology to create and produce music. Discuss topics related to creativity, composing and musical analysis.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Composition Professor, Composer, Arranger, Entrepreneur.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): The general requirements for admission are: completion of a master’s degree in music (or the equivalent); evidence of an ability to pursue doctoral study in the desired area (see information online); and fulfillment of the general requirements for admission to The Graduate School, including the submission of three recommendations. Applicants whose native language is not English are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the TOEFL or the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam. Normally, the minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 100 (internet-based test) or 600 (paper-based). The minimum acceptable overall band score on the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam is 7. Additional admission requirements for specific areas are listed online. The D.M.A. in Performance is offered in selected areas. Admission decisions are based upon the applicant’s total portfolio with particular...

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applications are accepted for Fall, Spring and Summer terms; Fall applications open the prior September, Spring applications open in January and Summer applications open in May.

The graduate application fee is $50 per primary application, reinstated effective August 1, 2026. Deadlines are programme-specific and listed per programme on the Degree Programs and Application Requirements pages.

Apply through the official page: https://www.sc.edu/admissions-at-sc/applications/index.php

Explore more study programmes

Arts & Humanities