The mission of the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Instrumental Conducting is:

• To provide students with the highest quality training possible to bridge academic training into entry-level careers as professional artists;
• To provide students with performance opportunities that develop and demonstrate the integration of musicianship and performance practice;
• To assist students with identifying opportunities and preparation for competitions, internships, apprenticeships and other professional venues for the classical artist;
• To ensure that students have acquired the type of writing and research abilities required of a terminal degree from a leading research university, enabling them to pursue successful careers as teachers, performers, and researchers at the university level.