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I'm beginning my graduate work in the fall on my MM ed. with an emphasis in instrumental conducting and I'm trying to think ahead to possibly pursuing some sort of doctoral degree. Can somebody help explain the differences between the DMA and the Phd degrees. Would one over the other be more marketable as far as job options in the future?

Thanks for helping to clear this up a little. I'm so confused

I don't know. All I know is that as far as degrees are concerned,

BS = B^!! S#!+
MS = More of the Same
PhD = Piled Higher & Deeper

and for Lawyers: JD = Just Deep
and for Physicians: MD = Much Deep

I have no clue what a DMA would be.

Didn't Make Audition is what one professor told me in Undergrad....

DMA = Doctor of Musical Arts

YMMV, depending on where and what program you are proposing.

Flutist says, "back in the day" "best of her recollection", DMA didn't require a thesis, but performance.

It is usually the case that the DMA is considered as a professional degree, while the Ph.D. is considered a research degree.

Typically, Ph.D.s are awarded for significant, original contribution to scholarly knowledge presented in the form of a dissertation or for creative work in the field of composition, while DMAs are awarded for attainment in the practice of music, especially performing, composing/arranging, conducting, and teaching. Depending on the area of specialization, a DMA may or may not require a dissertation.

and, some schools only offer the DMA for everything. Some will offer either for specific areas of emphasis.

bloke wrote:Cannot a person enter a doctoral degree program directly out of a bachelor degree in a discipline?

bloke "If an eventual doctoral degree is desired, a master degree = two additional years of delaying job market eligibility...but perhaps that is sometimes the goal...??"

Now, Joe...without the masters programs in music, who are all those new DMAs and Ph.D.s going to teach? Bachelor degree candidates? Those are for the graduate assistants, who are getting their masters, who are studying with the DMAs and Ph.D.s...

And the self-feeding university degree gravy train keeps on a'rollin' along...

bloke wrote:If someone attains a Ph.D AND A D.D. (Doctor of Divinity), does that make them a phuddie-duddie?

Absolutelie!

(I've gotta keep up better -- last I knew, DMA stood for Direct Memory Access ... )

bloke wrote:Cannot a person enter a doctoral degree program directly out of a bachelor degree in a discipline?

Many programs will occasionally admit individuals holding only a bachelor degree into a doctoral program, but only in exceptional circumstances.

"If an eventual doctoral degree is desired, a master degree = two additional years of delaying job market eligibility.

Depends on the school: some schools offer provisional admission to the doctoral program, in which a student admitted to the masters program is elevated to the doctoral program upon demonstration (generally in the first year) of the requisite competency. Depending on the school, the student may receive full or partial credit toward the doctoral degree for work done while enrolled in the masters program, so in the best-case scenario, a master degree may only delay job market eligibility by a year.

PhD= Doctor of Philosophy. Implication is that the degree is research orientation and scholarly field of study. Usually this is in Musicology (history), theory, music education, or similar. Nearly always requires a full blown dissertation on an original topic and is often a few more credit hours than a DMA.

DMA = Doctor of Musical Arts. Generally a performance or conducting degree. There are some places that offer a DMA in theory or other areas usually associated with PhD. The DMA does not always require a dissertation, but is usually does require a significantly researched "project." This project may be similar to a PhD dissertation, but it is more typically the written component to a lecture recital, or extended program notes, or an analysis of a piece of music. In lieu of the extensive scholarly research of a typical PhD, the student does a series of performances/ recitals.

There are many PhD programs that you start right after the bachelors degree. It is inclusive of the equivalence of a masters degree. Generally a PhD is 90+ credit hours past the Bachelors. Or 60+ past the masters.

I have not seen a DMA program that you begin until completion of a masters.

Just to confuse matters a little, my degree is an EdD (I am just noW finishing my dissertation.)

Eastman School of Music occasionally admits applicants with only bachelor degrees into their DMA program, but, ordinarily, applicants are expected to have earned a master degree.

tubashaman wrote:DMA is nonresearch/academic based

PhD normally includes a long dissertation and academic based degree

Not necessarily.

DMAs in music history, music theory, music education or composition typically contain a significant academic research component, and often involve a dissertation.