Overview

Doctoral degrees are awarded to candidates who display deep understanding of the subject matter of their disciplines as well as the ability to make original contributions to knowledge in their fields. The University of Arizona offers the Musical Arts - Composition degree with concentrations in the fields of Composition, Conducting, and Performance, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree with concentrations in Music Education, Music Theory, or Musicology. The FFSOM does not permit double use of courses in a major and a minor or in a second minor.

Key Features

The School of Music offers programs leading to the Master of Music (MM) degree, the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree, and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.

MM degrees may be pursued with emphases in composition, ethnomusicology, music education, musicology, music theory, and performance (including accompanying and conducting);

The PhD degree can be earned with emphases in music education, music theory, or musicology. According to the National Association of Schools of Music, graduate education in music should foster and develop (1) those talents, interests, and philosophies that preserve and extend our cultural heritage; (2) professional competence in the communication and dissemination of knowledge; and (3) individuals with the potential to solve contemporary problems in various aspects of music.

The University of Arizona, ranked among the nation’s most distinguished research universities, is a particularly invigorating environment in which to pursue such development. The graduate student body within the School of Music is of sufficient size and diversity to permit formal and informal exchanges of experiences, ideas, and knowledge. The internationally-recognized music faculty includes scholars, composers, and performers. Students work individually with faculty members in small seminars and tutorials, in informal studio and coaching sessions, and in intensive consultations relating to the preparation of theses, dissertations, and performance projects. The School of Music and the College of Fine Arts possess considerable resources to foster intellectual and artistic development, and the intellectual diversity of the university as a whole provides a stimulating environment and invites interdisciplinary inquiry.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Composition Lessons

Music Education

Music Theory

Historical Musicology and Ethnomusicology

Diction for Singers

Counterpoint

Analysis of Tonal Music

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 60 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-06-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-13 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-10-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-08-24 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-04-01 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

98 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Tucson, United States

Disciplines

Music Composition View 42 other PhDs in Music Composition in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Academic achievements are one indicator of personal commitment to the chosen discipline and to the highest possible standards of scholarly and creative performance. A minimum grade point average of 3.00 is required by the Graduate College of the UA for regular admission to all graduate programs.
Applicants for doctoral degrees must have a master's degree in music or its equivalent as determined by the FFSoM Director of Graduate Studies and faculty.
Transcripts

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

23400 USD / year

≈ 23400 USD / year
Out-of-State

23400 USD / year

≈ 23400 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

12700 USD / year

≈ 12700 USD / year

Living costs

Tucson

United States

830 - 1140 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for Musical Arts - Composition.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Key Features

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Tucson

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners