This degree requires the following proficiencies.
To receive full consideration for admission and graduate assistantships, the application deadline is December 1. The School of Music cannot guarantee an audition, interview, admission, or graduate assistantship if application is received after the deadline.
Per Graduate College policy 8.2.1.1, "The student must be in residence at OU for at least two consecutive 16-week semesters during the pursuit of the doctoral degree while enrolled and engaged in coursework or research activities as prescribed by the major academic unit."
There is no separate application for assistantship. Unless the applicant indicates otherwise, we assume that all applicants are interested in being considered for assistantships. Please note that assistantships are usually awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters together. We very seldom have assistantships available for anyone entering in a Spring semester. We do not award assistantships for Summer sessions.
All interested applicants should email Dr. Connor Stevens several weeks or months in advance to express interest and begin a dialogue regarding audition procedures, repertoire, and expectations.
Submit the online application (see Graduate Admissions page) and all application materials described below.
After submitting the online application, applicants who pass prescreening will work with Dr. Stevens to schedule an audition. More details about the audition can be found at the bottom of this page.
These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.
This degree requires you to submit a sample of your scholarly writing.
A prescreening video audition must be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media. You can upload video files or submit links to online videos in this section.
After submitting the online application and all materials described above, applicants who pass prescreening will work with Dr. Stevens to arrange an audition. Although live, on-campus auditions are preferred, video recordings will be allowed under special circumstances.
Applicants should be aware that a live audition must be completed before an applicant will be considered for assistantship. Further, applicants submitting recorded auditions should be aware that, if the faculty believes the recording is not an accurate representation of the applicant’s abilities, the applicant may be required to perform a live audition to remain in consideration for admission. Audio or video files or links to online recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.
All applicants must perform solo pieces for snare drum, marimba, and timpani. Orchestral excerpts for snare drum, keyboard, and timpani are also required. Drum set is optional.
Repertoire examples:
Applicants with questions regarding appropriate repertoire may contact Dr. Connor Stevens.
The applicant is encouraged to spend at least 2 days in Norman to allow time to observe lessons, meet with current students and faculty, and experience OU.
With Dr. Stevens’ approval, a current master's student at OU who plans to apply to the DMA program within twelve months of his/her planned graduation from the master's program may use his/her MM degree recital as the DMA audition if the recital meets DMA audition requirements. In order for a faculty committee to be organized to attend the recital to evaluate it for DMA application purposes, the student must inform Dr. Stevens at least two weeks before the recital.
