Doctor of Musical Arts in Music
The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) at the University of Florida is a terminal degree for musicians committed to excellence in performance, conducting and creative practice. The DMA is designed for students who seek to deepen their artistry, expand their scholarly inquiry and prepare for leadership in higher education, professional performance, or both.
With specializations in performance and conducting, students work closely with distinguished faculty mentors in a rigorous, practice-based curriculum that includes recitals, research and academic coursework. The program encourages innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement—empowering students to explore music as a tool for creative expression and cultural impact. Competitive assistantships are available for qualified applicants.
The degree is distinguished by the requirement of a cognate (to be determined by the end of the first year) in a discipline outside of Music, such as Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Management, Arts in Medicine, Digital Media, or other areas suitable for interdisciplinary partnership. Cognates can be selected from a number of graduate programs across the UF campus, and a comprehensive list of graduate certificate programs is available on the Graduate School website.
As a DMA student, you will:
- Refine advanced performance or conducting skills through recitals and studio work
- Engage in research and scholarly writing to support your creative practice
- Develop a public and professional artistic profile
- Collaborate across disciplines and with guest artists
- Participate in outreach initiatives that connect music to communities
- Prepare for careers in academia, performance, conducting or cultural leadership
See full details and concentrations in the UF Graduate Catalog.
