{"id":8829,"date":"2022-07-20T09:13:21","date_gmt":"2022-07-20T13:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/id-andrea.cms-devl.bu.edu\/cfa\/?page_id=8829"},"modified":"2023-10-13T12:35:25","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T16:35:25","slug":"dma-exams","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/id-andrea.cms-devl.bu.edu\/cfa\/students\/music\/forms-resources\/dma-exams\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctoral Qualifying Examinations"},"content":{"rendered":"

In any semester, after completing at least 30 credits, students may undertake doctoral qualifying examinations (QEs), written and oral. There are three written examinations: one in the area of music theory, one in the area of musicology (Part I and Part II) and the major area. Any of these examinations may be taken in a given semester. Registration is required to sit for any or all exams\u00a0(see below) and student’s must be registered (courses or continuing studies) for the semester in which they take the exam.<\/p>\n

Once a student has passed an individual exam, they need not repeat it even if required to retake another exam. The student proceeds to the oral examination only after passing all written examinations. Requirements vary by concentration. Further details on the qualifying examinations are available in the School of Music Graduate Handbook<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Fall Semester 2023 Exam Dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Exam<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Date<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Time<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Room<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

German Language<\/strong><\/td>\nSept. 26, 2023*<\/td>\n10:00am<\/td>\nCFA 259<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Italian Language<\/strong><\/td>\nSept. 26, 2023*<\/td>\n10:00am<\/td>\nCFA 259<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
French Language<\/strong><\/td>\nSept. 26, 2023*<\/td>\n10:00am<\/td>\nCFA 259<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Musicology<\/strong><\/td>\nOct. 3, 2023<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n9:00am<\/span><\/td>\nCFA 259 + TBD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Major Area<\/strong><\/td>\nOct. 3, 2023<\/span><\/td>\n1:00pm<\/td>\nCFA 259 + TBD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Theory (Chorale and Tonal)<\/strong><\/b><\/td>\nOct. 26, 2023<\/span><\/td>\n10:00am (Chorale)<\/p>\n

1:00pm (Tonal)<\/td>\n

Practice Rooms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Theory (Skills and Post-Tonal)<\/strong><\/td>\nDec. 14, 2023<\/span><\/td>\n10:00am (Skills)<\/p>\n

1:00pm (Post-Tonal)<\/td>\n

Practice Rooms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oral Exam Period, Fall 2022<\/strong><\/td>\nNov. 13 – Dec. 20<\/span><\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Spring Semester 2024 Exam Dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Exam<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Date<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Time<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Room<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

German Language<\/strong><\/td>\nFeb. 6, 2024*<\/td>\n10:00am<\/td>\nCFA 259<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Italian Language<\/strong><\/td>\nFeb. 6, 2024*<\/td>\n10:00am<\/td>\nCFA 259<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
French Language<\/strong><\/td>\nFeb. 6, 2024*<\/td>\n10:00am<\/td>\nCFA 259<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Musicology<\/strong><\/td>\nFeb. 13, 2024<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n9:00am<\/span><\/td>\nCFA 259 + TBD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Major Area<\/strong><\/td>\nFeb. 13, 2024<\/span><\/td>\n1:00pm<\/td>\nCFA 259 + TBD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Theory (Chorale and Tonal)<\/strong><\/b><\/td>\nMar. 14, 2024<\/span><\/td>\n10:00am (Tonal)<\/p>\n

1:00pm (Chorale)<\/td>\n

Practice Rooms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Theory (Skills and Post-Tonal)<\/strong><\/td>\nMay 2, 2024<\/span><\/td>\n10:00am (Post-Tonal)<\/p>\n

1:00pm (Skills)<\/td>\n

Practice Rooms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oral Exam Period, Spring 2023<\/strong><\/td>\nApr. 1 – May 3<\/span><\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\nOnline<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n


\n*May change pending students registered.
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

QE Registration<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

You may register for any of the\u00a0Qualifying Exams<\/strong> by sending an application form, signed by your department chair or your advisor, to courtb@bu.edu<\/a> or in person to room CFA 240. For the 2023-2024 year, applications and department chair approval may also be emailed to courtb@bu.edu<\/a>. Please submit the application by the deadline listed on the application.<\/p>\n

Fall 2023 application<\/a><\/p>\n

Spring 2024 applications will be available early this winter.<\/p>\n

Please note: To be eligible to take the doctoral qualifying exams, you must have no unresolved incomplete grades on your transcript, and have completed at least thirty (30) credits by the semester prior to taking the Language, Musicology, and\/or Major Area exam; and be registered for courses or continuing studies.
\n<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Studying<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

Major Area Study Guides<\/strong> vary by department and can be obtained in CFA 240, or by request from the administrative coordinator (courtb@bu.edu<\/a>). Please note that some programs prefer to give study questions directly to you, the student, in which case you will make arrangements directly with your department chair. These study guides will be available only to students registered for the exam, and starting Fall 2023 no earlier than one <\/b>month before the exam date. For Fall ’23, this means you may receive the study questions once you are registered starting on September 3rd, 2023.<\/p>\n

Tutoring<\/h5>\n

Please check back for information regarding Tutoring for the Musicology exam.<\/p>\n

Facebook<\/strong><\/h5>\n

A Facebook group is available for students to encourage each other and swap studying ideas, here: BU School of Music – Studying for DMA Exams.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Language Exams<\/h5>
<\/p>\n

The language exams generally take place one week prior to the Musicology and Theory exams. To register, as with the qualifying exams, you must bring a completed copy of the application form to room CFA 240. Exams begin at 10 a.m. and last for two hours. You will write in blue books with a pen or pencil. You will be allowed the use of a paper dictionary, but the use of laptops, mobile phones, and all other electronic devices is prohibited.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/b> You have the option of taking a reading course in one of the above required languages in lieu of taking an exam. These courses are graded pass\/fail just like the exams, and a passing grade satisfies the language requirement. The classes are offered by GRS, not by CFA. You can find them by searching the Student Link, and can register for them in the same way as you register for CFA courses:<\/p>\n