5. Special Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

5.1 Residence Requirements & Overview of Requirements

Two consecutive semesters in which the student completes at least six hours of doctoral coursework per semester will satisfy the residence requirements of the degree. 

The Ph.D. in Church Music is designed to foster in students the highest levels of knowledge and skill in the practice of church music and in research.  The curriculum of the Ph.D. program will be composed primarily of research-oriented courses in Church Music and related fields.  The D.M.A. in Church Music is designed to provide students with much of the same knowledge base and critical thinking ability as the Ph.D., but with the addition of strong performance skills.

As with most university doctoral degrees, the doctoral program in Church Music will require approximately 80 hours of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree.  The Ph.D. and D.M.A. (48 hours) will both be based upon Baylor’s Master of Music in Church Music degree (36 hours), for a total of 84 hours beyond the bachelor's degree.  Appropriate leveling work may be required for students whose master’s degree concentration was in an area other than Church Music.  This leveling work may consist of a short-term seminar to be taken in late summer before the student begins classes in the fall; other leveling options may be utilized as well.  Diagnostic examinations in music history, music theory, conducting, voice, and piano will be administered to each student.  Deficiencies in these areas may be remediated through leveling work. For more details about the exams, see sections 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3.

5.2 Degree Proposal

During the first semester each student will prepare a degree proposal in conjunction with their advisor.  The degree proposal will list the courses currently being taken, the courses that will be taken in the future, and the timeline for taking these courses.  It will also list the proposed schedule for the completion of all language, preliminary, and other examinations, as well as for ultimate graduation.  Once the proposal is approved it becomes the official program of study for that student and may be amended only by action of the Church Music faculty and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies in the School of Music. 

5.3 Interview with Church Music Faculty

Upon the completion of approximately nine hours of study, the student will have an interview with the Church Music faculty and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.  This interview will assess the student’s progress to that point and their future in the doctoral program.  The student will be notified in writing of the faculty’s decision. 

5.4 Language Requirements

All doctoral students must demonstrate satisfactory ability to translate German or another foreign language approved by the Church Music Faculty.  The language requirement must be successfully completed before admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is filed.  Foreign language proficiency may be demonstrated by the following means: (1) presenting an official undergraduate transcript from Baylor University or another regionally accredited institution of higher learning showing that while enrolled the student received a grade of “B” or better in the Baylor University GER 2302 course or its equivalent course in the foreign language taken at another institution not more than five years before matriculation into the Baylor graduate program; (2) after matriculation into the Baylor graduate program, and after having satisfied the necessary prerequisites, enrolling in GER 2320 and receiving a grade of “B” or better; (3) enrolling in GER 5370/5371 and receiving a grade of “B” or better in 5371; (4) taking the reading examination offered by the Department of Modern Foreign Languages; (5) presenting a degree from a foreign university where German is the principal language.  With the approval of the Church Music faculty, another language more appropriate to the student’s dissertation research area may be substituted, in which case the equivalent courses in the other language may be substituted for those listed above. 

5.5 Preliminary Examinations

Preliminary examinations qualify the student as a candidate for the Ph.D. or D.M.A. in Church Music.  Preliminary examinations may not be taken until all leveling requirements are satisfied, the German or other foreign language requirement is completed, and 39 credit hours toward the degree have been finished. 

Preliminary examinations will consist of: (1) two written examinations in Church Music; (2) an examination in music history/literature/theory; (3) an examination in the applied major (D.M.A.) or minor area (Ph.D.); and (4) a comprehensive oral examination.  While the examinations generally focus on the areas of the student’s doctoral seminars, they may range through the whole field of music and are designed to explore the breadth and depth of the student’s total musical knowledge.  The student will be evaluated on the integration of knowledge from different fields, the organization of the knowledge, and the clarity of presentation in response to the questions.  The examinations are designed to be passed by students who have thoroughly mastered the subjects of their seminars and prepared themselves for a lifetime as a professional in the field of music.  Students must pass the written examinations before the oral examination will be scheduled.  Students who pass three of the written examinations may retake the failed portion. Failure of two or more examinations means that all written examinations must be retaken.  Failure to pass the oral examination requires that the student retake only the oral examination.  No portion of the examinations may be taken more than twice. 

5.6 Dissertation (Ph.D.)

The dissertation is the opportunity for the Ph.D. student to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and skill in conducting original research, the use of primary and secondary documents, the synthesis of information, and clarity of writing style. The purpose of the dissertation is to make an original contribution to knowledge in the field of church music. 

While work on the dissertation project may begin informally before the completion of the preliminary examinations, students may not enroll in dissertation for credit until all preliminary examinations are passed, and the student has been admitted into candidacy. After completion of the examinations, the student will meet with their advisor to determine a proposed subject for the dissertation. This topic must be directly related to the field of church music. After determining the basic subject and form of the dissertation, the student will prepare a prospectus for the project under the guidance of the advisor.

The prospectus should establish the purpose, need for, and feasibility of the study.  The scope and limitations of the study should be made clear, together with reasons for the boundaries.  The prospectus should also address methodology and approaches to anticipated problems.  A proposed outline for the work will be included, showing the title and content of each chapter.  A comprehensive bibliography of primary and secondary resources to be used in researching the topic should be appended. 

When completed, five copies of the prospectus will be delivered to the student’s dissertation committee. The dissertation committee will consist of five members of the graduate faculty, at least one of whom must be external to the School of Music.  Upon approval of the prospectus, first and second readers will be assigned by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the Church Music faculty.  The readers will be chosen based on the unique scope and subject of the dissertation. The first reader will be from the Church Music faculty, while the second may be from outside the Church Music area. 

The dissertation must be approved by the first and second readers and submitted in multiple copies to the dissertation committee at least sixty days before the anticipated date of graduation.  If the work is found acceptable, a final oral exam will be scheduled according to the Graduate School’s guidelines and timetable to defend the dissertation. 

5.7 Recitals and Document (D.M.A.)

The recitals are the opportunity for the D.M.A. student to demonstrate knowledge and skill at the highest level on their particular instrument, voice, or conducting in a variety of repertoire.  The first recital will normally be given near the middle of the student’s doctoral study.  The student may not enroll for the second recital and its accompanying document until all preliminary examinations are passed.

The document that accompanies the second recital must be completed and approved by first and second readers before the recital is scheduled.  The document will consist of a description of the overall theme of the recital (if any), an exposition of the historical background of the pieces to be performed, biographical information on the composers represented, a musical (and textual) analysis of the pieces, rehearsal plans (for conducting recitals), and a description of how each particular item fits into the overall scheme of the recital. 

The repertoire for both recitals will be developed by the student in consultation with the applied teacher, but must be approved by the student’s graduate committee before the recital is scheduled or the document written. 

If the second recital is found to be acceptable, a final oral exam will be scheduled according to the Graduate School guidelines and timetable for dissertation defenses.  The oral exam will cover both the actual performance and the supporting document.  The final examination committee will consist of five members of the graduate faculty, at least one of whom must be external to the School of Music.