DMA Music Performance: Music at University of South Carolina

Programme overview

Hone your musical talents by working one-on-one with our world-class faculty, who are ready to help you build a successful and rewarding career in performance, teaching and research. Receive faculty-level training and gain an outstanding doctoral education through rigorous training and performance experiences in a creative environment committed to musical excellence. Performance candidates must present four full recitals and submit a research document along with passing a comprehensive exam.

Faculty: School of Music | Duration: 23-28 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Columbia, SC, United States

What you will study

Prepare for faculty positions and demonstrate expert-level knowledge of performance techniques and musicianship in final recitals of primary instrument or voice. Complete doctoral-level study of music history, music theory and compositional styles. Choose any doctoral minor.

Career pathways

Potential careers include Faculty, Performer.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admissions (University of South Carolina Academic Bulletin): The general requirements for admission are: completion of 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) 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 weight...

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

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