Each doctoral student will earn 180 credits (regular education and self preparation), and 240 credits (extramural  education) divided among lecture, research, and pedagogical activity. The structure of the study plan and the content of the discipline assure a high level of pedagogical and specialized competency, personal responsibility and opportunities for expressing a personal connection and a creative position during the learning process, the research, and in preparing the doctoral work. When assigning the different subjects, we strongly considered the requirement to achieve a balance between the educational, research, and pedagogical activities of the doctoral student: 1st and 2nd semester are primarily learning activities, 3rd and 4th give priority to research and pedagogical work, as well as presenting excerpts of the doctoral theses, while during the 5th and 6th semester the student summarises all the work done to-date, formats the theses and defends it.

The doctoral student with professional track Pedagogy of music education prepares for:

• self guided scientific research activity in general pedagogy and specialized pedagogical technology and practice, suited for the contemporary pedagogical science;
• permanent enrichment and perfecting the musical-pedagogical process of various educational systems by utilizing the results of the student's own research;
• scientific educational work at a college level in subjects related to Methodology of music education and other similar ones;
• management activity in the educational system in positions requiring a certain level of pedagogical qualification;
• expert activity in positions that suggest the ability to solve research and practical problems in scientific research institutes and High school, Regional inspekctorate of education,  media, non-government organizations etc.

The study plan allows assigning educational and research tasks with a direct application to the specific research area and theses subject of each student individually.

Competency of the students completed the program:

During the process of their education, pedagogical practice, and research work, the doctoral student with professional track Pedagogy of music education will achieve the following qualifications and competencies:

• rich professional culture and communication skils;
• methodology competency in the area of scientific-pedagogical learning;
• competency in the area of methodology and instrumentation of the scientific pedagogical and specialized research;
• professional preparation for successfully conducting regional, national, and international pedagogical research;
• interpretation skills of scientific these (their own, as well as other scientists), and incorporating them in their own pedagogical practice;
• professional skills to enrich the pedagogical theory and practice in the area of music education;
• professional competency in self guided teaching activities in the area of education, school politics and administration;
• scientific research skills with a high level of development and cognitive thinking;
• fluency in a foreign language and communication technology;
• communication skills and team work;
• self sufficiency and initiative, aptitude towards personal information access and facilitating the professional contacts between Bulgarian and foreign academics;
• social activity, adaptivity and competitive edge in the job market, assuring their realization in competitive social conditions.

Syllabus, curriculum

GRADUATION:

The educational and scientific degree "doctor" in the professional track Pedagogy of music education is given to the doctoral student, who has passed all the exams required by the study plan, and has defended a dissertation according to the conditions and rules of the Law of development of the academic staf