Academic Program
Students may pursue the Doctor of Church Music degree with a major in either organ or choral conducting.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 72 semester units of course work beyond the bachelor’s degree is required for the degree. In addition to the courses outlined above for the master of arts degree in church music , the following are required:
MUS 309 Words and Music in the Middle Ages (interdisciplinary) 4 units
MUS 401-406 Era Courses (choose two) 8 units
Music Electives 8 units
Individual Lessons 12 units
REL 307 Basic Aspects of the Study of the First Testament, or REL 303 Basic Aspects of the Study of the New Testament 3 units
REL 301 Major Christian Doctrines, or REL 302 Backgrounds of Twentieth Century Theology 3 units
Elective in Theology 4 units
Recitals (3)
DCM Paper
Transdisciplinary course requirement.
Grades. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade average of B.
Qualifying Examinations. All music students are required to take written and oral qualifying examinations at regularly scheduled, posted times during the academic year. In the case of failure to pass either the written or oral examination, the student may take a second examination upon recommendation of the student’s advisor and dean of the school. The second examination will be taken at the regularly scheduled time during the following semester. The “Degree Regulations ” section of this Bulletin may contain further information concerning qualifying examinations.
Participation and Attendance. All music students are encouraged to take part in the performance groups of The Claremont Colleges. Please see the heading “Ensembles” at the end of the Music Courses for further information. Students also are expected to attend concerts, lectures, and symposia presented by the Music Department.
Language Requirements. Doctoral students must demonstrate reading proficiency in two languages, selected from French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Latin (depending upon degree program and research interest). For voice majors, 2 units of diction are required. The diction requirement may be waived if taken as part of undergraduate voice studies. It is recommended that the language requirement be completed within the second semester of doctoral work. Successful completion of the language requirement is a prerequisite to the scheduling of written and oral qualifying examinations.
Transfer Units. Doctoral degree students may request the transfer of a maximum of 24 units of appropriate coursework, completed with a grade of B or better at other accredited graduate institutions. Up to 30 units of credit for master’s degrees in music received from Claremont Graduate University may be applied toward doctoral degrees. Transfer units to be applied toward a degree should be requested within the first two weeks of the semester in which a student enters a graduate program.
Recitals and projects must be approved by the faculty of the Music Department. Students must be enrolled for individual lessons during any semester in which a recital is to be presented, unless the major teacher and the department chair have approved an appropriate waiver.
Transdisciplinary Course Requirement. All students who enter the doctoral program after the fall 2004 semester are required to complete the transdisciplinary course requirement within the first two years of their program. For details on the requirement, see the “Doctor of Philosophy Degree ” section in this Bulletin.
Other Degree Requirements
For residence and other general requirements, see the “Degree Regulations ” section in this Bulletin.
Links to Other Programs and Details
Information for Music
Music, MA
Music, Professional MA
Doctor of Musical Arts, DMA
Music, PhD