Doctoral students are encouraged to develop an area of musical expertise outside the doctoral major with the addition of a doctoral minor. The requirements for doctoral minors are given below. Students are encouraged to review the requirements of those minors they are interested in early in their doctoral study and to discuss the possibilities with their advisor, major professor, and point of contact. Admission to a doctoral minor requires a grade point average of at least 3.0 from doctoral study at USC, and approval of the advisor, the doctoral minor area faculty, and the Graduate Director. While students cannot officially declare a minor until their second semester of study, they may begin to take coursework related to a minor in their first semester of study with advisor approval. At least nine credits of the minor must be completed at USC. Credits from the doctoral minor may also count toward the completion of a doctoral degree. During the Comprehensive Examination students who have been approved for a doctoral minor will be tested in that area. 

To apply for a doctoral minor, send a signed letter of interest to Traci Hair, who will generate a doctoral minor approval form to be signed by the advisor, point of contact, and Graduate Director. Doctoral minor approval forms require review by the area faculty. Minors marked with an asterisk include applied study (MUSC 711), which requires an audition. Audition requirements vary by area. The signature of the point of contact on the doctoral minor approval form serves as confirmation that a successful audition took place (if required), and that the area faculty have reviewed and approved the student’s application. Faculty availability may be a factor in the approval decision process.

Points of contact for each minor are given below:

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.