Doctorates in music are typically from one of two branches: Doctor of Music Arts, or D.M.A., and Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D. D.M.A. degrees cover subjects about music performance -- the art of performing various instruments in different instrumental families such as brass, string, woodwinds and percussion. On the other hand, Ph.D. degrees cover musical history and philosophy with a focus on music education and therapy.
Princeton in New Jersey was tied as the No. 1 college in the "U.S. News and World Report" rankings for 2010. Offering a Ph.D. in musicology and composition, this school is nationally recognized as a source of several modern music theories that are currently used in both the art and psychology fields. Before being allowed to start a dissertation, doctorate students are required to take an exam that tests the student's knowledge of their specific musical focus. This can include an opinionated analysis of a certain repertoire of music or facts about the music in a particular time period.
One of the world's most respected universities, Harvard is known for giving a high quality educational career path for aspiring music students. Harvard offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs covering performance practice, music theory, composition and historical musicology among others. Harvard requires its doctorate students to finish four to six years of study and complete a dissertation during the final year of study. This dissertation must be worked with and approved by all members of the dissertation committee. In 2010, "U.S. News and World Report" ranked Harvard as No. 1 in the country, which effectively made Harvard the best school to offer a music program.
Ohio State offers D.M.A. degrees and is known for imposing rigorous study requirements on its graduates. Aside from standard doctorate requirements such as a thesis and dissertation, Ohio State also requires an oral examination from its students. Appointed committee members must unanimously approve a student's requirements before a doctorate is given. Some D.M.A. courses that Ohio State offers are music education, music theory and composition.
The University of Minnesota is one of the few music schools that has a foreign language requirement. This requirement can be fulfilled by a composition or thesis written in the student's language of choice. D.M.A. students are required to perform four recitals and complete a four-unit project, and Ph.D. students must complete a 24-credit thesis. Doctorate courses include conducting, performance and music education/therapy.