Doctoral Minor - 12 credits

Doctoral students are encouraged to develop an area of musical expertise outside the doctoral major. A doctoral minor is therefore available in the areas listed below. A doctoral minor requires the completion of a minimum of 12 post-master's graduate credits, of which at least nine must be completed at USC, and approval from the minor area faculty and the graduate director prior to declaring the minor. During the Comprehensive Examination students who have been approved for a doctoral minor will also be tested in that area. The following are general guidelines for a doctoral minor:

Community Engagement Minor Completion of MUSC 595, MUSC 718, 6 hours of courses in entrepreneurship, advocacy, or teaching artistry, and one Lecture Recital. Recital must occur outside of the School of Music in a community venue involving elements of community engagement and audience interaction. Performance must utilize methods and best practices of audience engagement from MUSC 595. May not include repertoire performed on another doctoral degree-required recital but can be comprised of solo repertoire, chamber music repertoire, or a mix of the two. Inclusion of chamber music is encouraged. Recital may be used to fulfill a degree requirement in any doctoral degree that allows for MUSC 892 to fulfill a recital requirement.

Composition Completion of at least 12 credits of composition, including 4 credits of applied composition (MUSC 716) and 6 credits of closely related classroom study (e.g., arranging, orchestration)

Conducting Completion of at least 12 credits of conducting, including 4 credits of applied conducting (MUSC 711) and 6 credits of related studies (e.g., area literature, methods, score reading, performance practice); credit for one public conducting recital (MUSC 796) may be included if scheduling permits

Contemporary Performance Minor Completion of 3 hours of approved music theory, 2 hours of approved music history, 3 hours of contemporary music advocacy skills, and 3 hours of contemporary performance and composition skills. Any recital performed as part of the requirements in the doctoral degree (MUSC 892– MUSC 896) must include at least 50% repertoire of music written since 1950. Some repertoire written before 1950 may qualify, but the student must secure the approval of their major professor and the Graduate Director before the recital prospectus is approved.

Jazz Studies  Completion of at least 12 credits in the chosen area

Music History, Music Theory, Piano Pedagogy, or Music Education Completion of at least 12 credits in the chosen area (no teacher certification is required for the Music Education minor)

Opera Theater Completion of at least 12 credits in opera-theater studies, including MUSC 545, 3 credits of approved studies in the Department of Theatre, 2 credits each in MUSC 734 and MUSC 780, and either 2 credits of MUSC 781 (for an emphasis in voice performance) or THSP 759 (for an emphasis in stage direction); dual credit for MUSC 793-796 or MUSC 891-896 when enrolled in MUSC 781 is not permitted

Performance Completion of at least 12 credits in the chosen area, including 6 credits in applied music (MUSC 711) and 4-9 credits in the area literature and pedagogy; credit for one public solo recital (MUSC 796) may be included

Sacred Music Minor Completion of 6-9 hours of Music Literature/Liturgy courses with an emphasis on sacred choral literature, and 3-6 hours of performance in ensemble, applied organ, service-playing and/or conducting.