phd in music history

The PhD with an emphasis in historical musicology requires a minimum of 60 units beyond the bachelor’s degree and consists of course work in music history; electives in history, language, literature or arts other than music; and general electives. After completing an adaptable collection of courses suited to the student’s research interests, the program culminates with a dissertation. This PhD degree with a major in music is granted by the Graduate School. Candidates for the PhD in music should also refer to the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations.

Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process. Applicants are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees. Specific entrance requirements are reviewed on an annual basis and published online at  music.usc.edu .

Music Graduate Entrance Exams

All students entering a graduate-level degree program (MA, MM, DMA and PhD) at USC Thornton, who have not previously completed a degree at USC Thornton, must take a series of entrance exams in core music subjects. These exams are called Music Graduate Entrance Exams (MGEEs). Information regarding which exams are required for specific majors is available from the Thornton Student Affairs office. Also see the Thornton School of Music Admission to Graduate Standing section of this catalogue for specific policies relating to these exams.

Foreign Language

An academic reading knowledge of a language other than English is required of all Thornton doctoral students. This requirement can be met in any of the following ways:

• Completion of a prior degree, as verified on an official transcript, from an accredited institution of higher education at which the primary language of instruction is a language other than English.
• Completion of at least three semesters of college-level language instruction in a language other than English, as verified on an official transcript, at an accredited institution of higher education.
• Completion of one or more USC language course(s) (in a language other than English) as approved by the Thornton School.
• Earning a passing score on a written examination (in a language other than English) as approved by the Thornton School.

Departments within the Thornton School may require additional language skills. All language requirements must be fulfilled before entering the third semester in the program. Students who have engaged in extensive study of one or more languages other than English that does not meet this requirement as described above may request an exception.

Screening Procedure

Before the completion of 24 units of graduate work at USC and with the approval of the department chair, students must be interviewed by the curriculum committee of the School of Music. Continuance in course work will be contingent upon approval of the committee. PhD candidates in musicology who did not receive an MA degree from USC must take the MA comprehensive examination in historical musicology prior to the interview. Continuance in course work will be contingent upon passing these examinations.

Historical Musicology Emphasis

Curriculum requirements, program intensive courses (24 units).

• MUHL 570 Research Materials and Techniques Units: 2

Select 22 units from the following:

• MUCO 501 Introduction to the Analysis of Tonal Music Units: 2
• MUCO 502 Introduction to the Analysis of Post-Tonal Music Units: 2
• MUHL courses numbered 500 - 699

Electives in history, language, literature or arts other than music (8 units)

Electives (24 units), dissertation (4 units).

• MUHL 794a Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2
• MUHL 794b Doctoral Dissertation Units: 2

Total Units: 60

Master of Arts / PhD

Innovative Music Scholars

UCLA’s Department of Musicology is one of the most successful graduate programs in American musicology. Recent alumni of the department teach at the University of Michigan, UT Austin, UC Irvine, Michigan State, Dalhousie University, Bates College, and other schools across the nation and the world. Our intellectual community is strikingly diverse, with U.S. graduate students from all regions of the country, international students from Canada, Mexico, Holland, Bermuda, Guatemala and Korea, and visiting scholars from as far away as China and the Ukraine.

As a training-ground for the next generation of adventurous, inventive music scholars, our Ph.D. program develops students’ creative and critical voices in a wide variety of chosen subfields; provides them with rich opportunities for establishing intellectual and professional networks; and gives them pedagogical training and experience second to none. Our graduate seminars explore topics and theories from musical Nationalism to the history of improvisation, musical camp to Dufay, opéra-comique to hands-on explorations of “public musicology.” Current graduate research interests include (but are by no means limited to!) David Bowie, Soviet music theory pedagogy, early modern anglophone devotional poetry and song, proto-punk musical experimentalism, music as cultural diplomacy during the Pan American era, 17th- and 18th-century operatic adaptations of Shakespeare’s works, music in marginal cinemas (horror, slasher, etc.).

The UCLA Musicology department normally enrolls 4-5 students per year. We accept applications for the Ph.D. only (an M.A. is normally awarded to eligible students after two years). The department is committed to competitive multi-year packages of support, and at the present time can usually guarantee a minimum of one year of fellowship and three plus years of teaching assistantship to incoming students. Students normally graduate 5-6 years after matriculation.

“I’ve always been interested in how people use music of the past – the historical past and their own personal past. At UCLA I got to study nostalgia and uses of the past in rock music of the early 70s, allowing me to think about music that I’ve heard my entire life (for example, “American Pie” or “Led Zeppelin IV”) in a completely new way.” – Caitlin Vaughn Carlos Ph.D. ’21 | Musicology

Musicology Resources

Related news, graduate opportunities, explore other degrees.

Ph.D. in Music

General info.

• Faculty working with students: 13
• Students: 31
• Students receiving Financial Aid: 100% for five years
• Part time study available: No
• Application terms: Fall
• Application deadline: January 9

Nicholas Stoia Director of Graduate Studies Department of Music Duke University Box 90665 Durham, NC 27708-0665

Phone: (919) 660-3300

Email:  [email protected]

Website:  http://music.duke.edu/graduate/

Program Description

This is a small, collegial department with individualized curricula. The approach is interdisciplinary, emphasizing the study of music history, theory, ethnomusicology, and performance within the framework of cultural and intellectual history, as well as original composition. Students are encouraged to include work outside their main area of concentration in their degree programs. Beyond the general areas of Composition and Musicology, specialization is defined by the expertise of individual faculty members, including performance practice and ethnomusicology. Resources for study include an excellent library and media collection housed in the Mary Duke Biddle Music Building, a diverse collection of instruments from around the world and a new multi-media inter-arts facility. Each year the department sponsors a series of concerts which, added to the other concert offerings by Duke, neighboring institutions, and arts organizations has created a rich music life in the community.

Other Requirements

Applicants in Musicology and Ethnomusicology: substantial paper on a musical topic; applicants in Composition: three to five samples of compositions with workable URL/links to scores and recordings. Musicology applicants with special interest in performance practice: include a recording (URL/link), in addition to a substantial musicological paper. These additional materials should be uploaded with your online application in the "Optional Supplemental Uploads” section.

• Music: PhD Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
• Music: PhD Completion Rate Statistics
• Music: PhD Time to Degree Statistics
• Music: PhD Career Outcomes Statistics

Application Information

Application Terms Available:  Fall

Application Deadline:  January 9

Graduate School Application Requirements See the Application Instructions page for important details about each Graduate School requirement.

• Transcripts: Unofficial transcripts required with application submission; official transcripts required upon admission
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 Required
• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Résumé: Required
• GRE Scores: GRE General (Optional)
• English Language Exam: TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test required* for applicants whose first language is not English *test waiver may apply for some applicants
• GPA: Undergraduate GPA calculated on 4.0 scale required

Department-Specific Application Requirements (submitted through online application)

Statement of Purpose Guidelines The Graduate School provides standard guidance for Statements of Purpose . To these general guidelines, we add that the applicant’s statement is one of the main ways the Department of Music considers applicants.  Together with submitted compositions, papers, and other documents, vital and detailed statements help the faculty to understand a student’s potential match for our program.

Writing Samples/Additional Requirements Applicants in Composition are required to submit three to five samples of compositions with workable URL/links to scores and recordings. Applicants in Musicology and Ethnomusicology are required to submit a substantial paper on a musical topic. Musicology applicants with special interest in performance practice should include a recording (URL/link) in addition to a substantial musicological paper. These additional materials should be uploaded with your online application in the Departmental Requirements section.

We strongly encourage you to review additional department-specific application guidance from the program to which you are applying: Departmental Application Guidance

List of Graduate School Programs and Degrees

Department of Music

Introduction.

As a unit of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Music offers Ph.D. degrees in Music History, Music Theory, and Ethnomusicology, as well as a joint Ph.D. program with the Department of African-American Studies .  The graduate program has traditionally prepared its students for careers as scholars and teachers in colleges and universities. Some graduates have successfully pursued professional work in music criticism, publishing, data science, music librarianship, and the recording industry.

Students interested in graduate degrees in performance, composition, or conducting should direct their inquiries to the Yale School of Music.

A minimum of five years is needed to complete the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. Funding is guaranteed for five years. Students making demonstrated progress on their dissertations after five years are eligible for a sixth year of funding.  Currently, the main requirements are:

• Fourteen seminars or courses, spread over the first two years of residency
• Reading proficiency examinations in two languages other than English
• Qualifying examination at the beginning of the third year
• Dissertation

For a more complete description of our program and requirements, please download the Graduate Student Handbook .

Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program qualify for the M.A. degree “en route” upon the successful completion of seven courses, at least six of which are seminars given in the Department, along with passing an examination in one foreign language. An M. Phil degree is obtained upon the passing of all of the departmental requirements short of the dissertation itself.

Six to eight students, divided between history, theory, and ethnomusicology, are normally admitted to the graduate program each year, and classes and seminars are of limited size, usually having fewer than twelve students enrolled. Proseminars in Musicology, Music Theory, and Ethnomusicology are required of all students. A record of other recent graduate courses may be found in Yale Course Search .

The Department also offers a non-funded one-year program leading to the degree of Master of Arts, suitable for students wishing to augment previous graduate study, to study further in such disciplines as music history, theory, or librarianship, or to prepare for non-academic careers in journalistic criticism, curatorship, or arts administration. Students in this program must pass eight term courses, complete a special project, and pass an examination in one foreign language. Unlike the Ph.D. program, Yale does not provide financial support for students in the one-year Master of Arts program.

Prospective Graduate Students

Questions for Admissions? 617-495-5315 [email protected]

PhD programs

The Harvard Department of Music does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry or any other protected classification.

Musicology at Harvard offers intensive training in historical and cultural approaches to the study of music. While our program has an emphasis on Western music, students increasingly explore wide-ranging geographies and subjects. We take an expansive view of the field and encourage our students to do the same. Most graduate courses in musicology are research seminars; many treat specific topics and theoretical approaches, while others deal with methodology and recent trends in the field. The musicology faculty also offer proseminars that are open to both graduate and undergraduate students. At the end of two years of study, graduate students take a General Examination. In year three, having passed the General Exam, students begin to teach and craft a Ph.D. dissertation proposal; subsequent years are devoted to teaching, research, writing, and professional development. An important aspect of the Harvard program in musicology is its interdisciplinary breadth, which includes training in ethnomusicology and music theory. Students often also take seminars in other departments – and are encouraged to do so. Accreditation in secondary fields is available through many programs, such as  American Studies ,  Critical Media Practice ,  Medieval Studies ,  Romance Languages and Literatures , and  Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality , to name a few.

Special Resources

The deep holdings of the  Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library  include a substantial recording archive, and the  Isham Memorial Library  houses rare original books, scores, and personal archives ranging from the Randy Weston Archive to Sir Georg Solti’s annotated conducting scores. Additional resources on campus include the Special Collections at  Houghton Librar y and the  Harvard Theater Collection , one of the largest performing arts collections in the world. The department also maintains a selection of musical instruments for study and performance, including early keyboards and a consort of viols. The  Mahindra Humanities Center ,  Film Study Center ,  Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies , Harvard University  Center for Italian Renaissance Studies at Villa I Tatti  (Florence),  Hutchins Center  for African & African American Research,  David Rockefeller Center  for Latin American Studies,  Charles Warren Center  for the Study of American History, and several other campus institutions provide additional intellectual resources and funding for graduate student research. Faculty and graduate students hold conferences each year on a variety of topics; artists in residence and visiting artists often enrich coursework, and some courses provide opportunities for students to perform.

Language Requirements for Musicology

Two languages are required. The languages will be chosen in consultation with the program’s graduate advisor, and wherever possible should be relevant to future research. We encourage students to pass both languages before taking the general exam. In the event this is not possible, both languages need to be passed by the end of the fall semester of the third year.

Ethnomusicology at Harvard offers intensive training in ethnographic method as well as study of theories, problems, and approaches relevant to the study of any living musical tradition in its cultural setting. By the end of the second year of study, students select primary and secondary fields of specialization, which may be defined by region (for example, Turkish or West African music); by musical styles (such as jazz or popular music); or by topic or theoretical approach (organology or aesthetics). The Harvard program has particular strengths in regions stretching from the Mediterranean to India, in Africa and African diasporas, and in urban America. There are excellent resources both in the music department and across the disciplines at Harvard in critical theory. Collaborations are encouraged among ethnomusicology and  other music department programs in historical musicology, music theory, composition, and creative practice and critical inquiry. Six to eight ethnomusicology courses—usually four seminars and four proseminars or undergraduate classes—are offered each year as part of the regular curriculum. Graduate seminars explore ethnomusicological methods and theories as they are applied to the study of music, as well as a wide range of issues and materials, while proseminars focus on music styles or distinctive musical settings. An important aspect of the Harvard ethnomusicology program is that students receive training in Western music and its history as well as exposure to the methods and theories of historical musicology and music theory. A vital aspect of ethnomusicological training at Harvard is exposure to other disciplines, with particular emphasis upon anthropology, history, area studies, linguistic training, and theoretical frameworks related to the student’s specialization.

The Ethnomusicology laboratory ,  Archive of World Music , special library collections,  Peabody Museum , musical instrument collection (India, Iran, Mali, Zimbabwe), extensive sound and video archives (including the Archive of World Music and  Hiphop Archive & Research Institute ). The  Asia Center ,  Reischauer Institute ,  Center for African Studie s,  Center for Middle Eastern Studies ,  Hutchins Center  for African & African American Research, South Asia Institute,  David Rockefeller Center  for Latin American Studies, and several other campus institutions provide additional intellectual resources and funding for student research and language study. Faculty and graduate students hold conferences each year on a variety of topics; music faculty, artists in residence, and visiting artists often enrich coursework and provide opportunities for students to perform. 

Language Requirements for Ethnomusicology

The PhD in music theory is characterized both by a deep involvement in the inner workings of music and by an engagement with the wider philosophical, cultural, and psychological questions surrounding music. The program reflects this interdisciplinary interest of our students, and its structure is designed to explore the links of music theory to other areas of critical engagement. The graduate curriculum in music theory was fundamentally revised in 2018 with the view to the specific needs of professional music theorists in the twenty-first century.  The diverse dissertation projects that our doctoral students propose reflect the unique combination of interests. Recent and current PhD topics include microtonality and colonialism in the 19th century, musical forgery and forensics, the practice of recomposition in music theory, Scandinavian death metal, transformation theory and Hollywood film, and musical and visual lines in the early 20th century. Many of our students establish their interdisciplinary credentials by taking formal qualifications in a  secondary field  outside of music. Students receive a solid basis for their research by honing their musicianship and analytical skills, particularly during their first year in the program. All students take courses on Schenkerian theory and on a range of tonal and post-tonal analytical practices, as well as an introductory course to explore current issues in the field. At the same time, the program also encourages students to build a framework in which to place these techniques and to reflect on the underpinnings of music theory. Regular courses on questions in psychology, temporality, history of music theory, hermeneutics, and aesthetics round off our course offerings and often take music theory into interdisciplinary territory. In addition to studying canonic repertories, graduate courses on challenging repertoires—e.g. modal theory, non-Western music, or very recent composition—expand the field in new directions.  Our course offerings are complemented by a regular workshop in music theory, currently called Theory Tuesdays, in which faculty and students discuss current work, practice analytical techniques, or engage disciplinary and transdisciplinary questions in an informal setting. Our faculty are actively engaged in Harvard’s numerous interdisciplinary centers ( MBB ,  Medieval Studies ,  CES ,  HUCE , etc.). Harvard’s state-of-the-art  Sound Lab  provides the tools and expertise for digital and media-based research, and provides a conduit for music theory to the field of sound studies.

Language Requirement for Theory

Theorists must pass translation exams in two relevant research languages. The languages will be chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor, and should reflect, wherever possible, languages that will be useful to future research. One language requirement must normally be completed before generals, and the second must be completed in the fall semester of the third year.

Harvard’s program in composition is designed to give students the time and opportunity to develop as composers by offering general musical guidance as well as specific individual criticism of their works. The program is centered around the students’ achieving clarity of expression through developing their command of compositional technique. In addition, acquaintance with the literature of the past and present through analysis and performance is considered indispensable. Most courses are seminars and deal with specific topics or student works.PhD candidates in composition take 16 courses throughout their first two years. Students get a weekly individual composition lesson, and choose from composition and electronic music courses and other offerings within the department in theory, historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and CPCI, or graduate courses from other departments at Harvard. When needed, in the first year there is also a remedial course in harmony and analysis. Students of all years are required to attend the weekly composition colloquium.

The third, fourth, and fifth years are devoted to work on the dissertation and teaching, as well as active participation in composition colloquia and Harvard Group for New Music concerts. Composers may spend one term during their 4th year at another art institution or university if a particular research project or artistic residency can be obtained.

On the completion of preparatory training and the passing of the General Examinations (during the summer before the third year), PhD dissertations comprising a substantial portfolio of between five and seven pieces of varied scoring and length may be submitted.

Language Requirement: once enrolled, Composition students must pass a language exam in German, Italian or French unless an alternative language is approved in writing by the graduate advisor.

The program in  Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry  is designed as a special opportunity for exceptional, engaged artist-scholars. Such individuals might frame themselves as composer-performers whose work is driven by a research sensibility, or as committed scholars whose concurrent active involvement in music-making informs and propels their intellectual projects. Candidates interested in this category should clearly lay out their academic interests and musical experience, including research goals and a portfolio of creative work. They should present a clear rationale for the integrated, cross-disciplinary nature of their work.

In the first two years of coursework, students survey multiple fields of intellectual inquiry while nurturing and refining their creative work. Students in the program may take any of the graduate courses offered by the Department of Music, and occasional courses in other departments and programs with approval from the graduate advisor, as well as practice-based music-making courses (composition, improvisation, creative music, and interdisciplinary collaborations). 

During the summer after the second year of study, candidates will take three to four exams, to be determined in close consultation with the faculty. These include a preliminary portfolio of creative work, written exams on theoretical/analytical and historical/cultural topics relevant to the candidate’s individual research goals, and an oral exam encompassing all of the above.

The dissertation should offer original research and creative work that strikes a balance within this unique combination of interests.

Language Requirement: Once enrolled, CP/CI students must pass a language exam in a language relevant to their research interests, to be approved in writing by the graduate advisor.

Admission to the Graduate Program: Frequently Asked Questions

The Music Department does not require applicants to submit GRE scores. Submission of scores is permitted, and when submitted, GRE scores are taken into account during the admissions process. But those who do not submit such scores will not be penalized.

Note: Those who choose to take the GRE and submit their results do not need to take the Music GRE test, and should take the general GRE (math/language).

We take GRE scores into consideration along with the entire dossier, not as a single factor that determines the outcome of an application.

The annual deadline is usually January 2 for entrance the following fall term. Check the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin GSAS website for each year’s deadline.

Yes. If you are accepted into our PhD program, the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will offer you a financial package that guarantees funding for six years, and includes both tuition and living expenses. Teaching stipends may make up part of the package from the student’s third year on. There are also opportunities for additional funding. The Department (and Harvard Griffin GSAS) awards prizes, fellowships, stipends, and grants each year to graduate students for language study, dissertation completion, research assistance, and travel, among other pursuits.

Yes. You need to support your application with samples of your work, be it scholarly or creative.

Students whose native language is not English or who do not have an  undergraduate  degree from English-speaking university are required to take and pass the TOEFL. The recommended passing score is 80.

While many of our entering students do have degrees in music, backgrounds and degrees vary widely. We look at all-around preparation of our applicants and their overall excellence. As a Music Department, we do look for training and expertise in one or more music traditions and an ability to deal successfully with a curriculum that has requirements across the music subdisciplines as well as interdisciplinary studies.

The Harvard graduate program in Music is a doctoral program. The subdisciplines of musicology, ethnomusicology, composition, creative practice/critical inquiry, and music theory do not admit candidates for the Master’s Degree only.

We permit transfer of credit for no more than two courses. Students are allowed to request transfer credit if they are in good standing after the first year of coursework at Harvard and on submission of details about the course for which credit is requested. Graduate courses taken as an undergraduate student may not be presented for credit if those courses counted toward the undergraduate degree.

Our programs both require and encourage coursework in other sub-disciplines of music.

We have graduate programs in historical musicology, ethnomusicology, theory, creative practice/critical inquiry, and composition. Our programs are small, so it is important that you apply to the program closest to your major interests. If the faculty feel your application would be better served in another sub-discipline, they will direct it there.

Harvard has extraordinary course offerings across the disciplines and we encourage our graduate students to take courses that will enhance their knowledge.

You can enroll in language courses to meet the language requirements of our programs, but these courses do not count toward credit for the PhD.

The Harvard Griffin GSAS offers admitted Music students six years of full funding, in the form of stipends, teaching fellowships and finishing grants (this amount covers living expenses as well as tuition). Departmental resources include special funds for summer research and some additional fellowships.

Although we encourage performance, our graduate program is an academic one and performance activities do not count towards a degree (with the exception of creative practice/critical inquiry). As a Department of Music which does not have a performance faculty, we are not able to provide vocal or instrumental lessons. There is a lively musical scene on campus and graduate students are welcome to join many University ensembles, including those sponsored by Dudley House. Graduate student musicians sometimes perform on the special noontime University Hall Recital Series. The Harvard Group for New Music performs student compositions. Boston is home to an active musical world and many students participate as performers in music traditions ranging from early music to jazz.

No. Unfortunately, faculty are not usually available to meet with prospective students.

Prospective graduate students can email [email protected] to ask questions. If you visit the campus you may be able to talk with other students, sit in on a class, or attend a concert or lecture; email ahead to see what is possible.

Admissions Requirements

Phd program.

To apply to the PhD program in musicology, ethnomusicology, theory, composition or CPCI, you must make an application to the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). All applications are online, and may be found (along with all the requirements, fee information, and procedures) at  http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/apply All recipients of a four-year college degree or its international equivalent may apply (students with and without master’s degrees may apply). If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please read the Harvard Griffin GSAS guidelines. Admissions decisions are made by Music Department faculty, who weigh a combination of factors such as past academic record, strength of scholarly (or compositional or performance) work, and recommendations. The TOEFL test may be required if English is not your first language (recommended minimum score is 80). Detailed information pertaining to requirements for admission are on the Harvard Griffin GSAS site listed above. The GRE General Examination is optional for all applicants.

Samples of previous work

Applicants to the all programs must submit, along with their applications, samples of their previous scholarly work (for composition applicants, this means scores and recordings; see below). The online application will allow you to upload up to 20 pages of material.

Applicants to the Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry PhD program must also submit 20 to 30 minutes of original creative work, in the form of links to online audio or video streams (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) or links to a file download (via Dropbox or similar). You may upload or share accompanying scores in PDF format to SLATE. Students should include a one page PDF containing links to online recordings. Applicants to the composition PhD program must submit three compositions in the form of links to online audio or video streams (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, etc). Recordings can be submitted as links to SoundCloud or other online resources. Students should include a one page PDF containing links to online recordings and PDF scores where applicable. The year of composition must be marked on all scores and recordings.

Submitting an Application

Harvard Griffin GSAS handles the admissions materials. All questions about the admissions process, as well as all application supplementary materials, should be sent to them by December 31 for candidates who seek entrance in the following fall term.

Admissions and Financial Aid Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Harvard University 1350 Massachusetts Avenue Holyoke Center 350 Cambridge, MA 02138-3654

Download an application electronically:  http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/apply You are required to upload all supporting documents (transcripts, writing samples, recommendations, etc) to the online application. If you have questions about your application, call 617-496-6100 (2-5pm EST) or write  [email protected] For financial aid questions call  617-495-5396  or email  [email protected] NOTE: Please do not call the Music Department about the status of your application or the return of your materials. Application materials only come to the Music Department at the very last stages of the process, and are held here in complete confidentiality until admissions recommendations are made.

We have a robust graduate student community, including through the Graduate Music Forum, weekly colloquia and lunch talk series, and performances ensembles in the GSAS Student Center. For more information about community activities happening in the music department, please consult the resources for graduate students page .

Visiting the Department

You are welcome to visit the Department at any time, although we in no way require or expect you to make the trip. We regret that we are not able to make appointments with individual faculty members during a pre-admissions visit.

If you do decide to make a visit prior to the admissions deadline there are optimum times to visit, such as between October and our December holiday break. If you visit at another time of the year, check the academic schedule to avoid reading/exam periods and semester breaks. It is not necessary to visit, nor should you see it as a way to improve your chances of admission.

Rather, a visit is simply a good way to learn about our Department’s intellectual environment and infrastructure. We urge you to consult the  course schedule  so that you can plan to sit in on one or more graduate seminars (please ask permission of the instructing professor first: music professors can be reached via email at [email protected]). This is the best way to get to know the professors and students.

You may also want to attend any colloquia, lectures, or faculty seminars that coincide with your visit (check our  calendar ), or to tour the Music Library and other Harvard libraries. It may also be possible to chat informally with some of our current graduate students, who are apt to be working in the department and library during the academic year.

Admitted students  are invited to visit as part of our admissions process (usually in March). At that time, admitted students meet with faculty, get to know our current students, and are introduced to other students who have also been admitted. This is not required, but is a good way for admitted students to get a sense of the program before they make their final decision.

Secondary Field in Musicology/Ethnomusicology

• Completion of a minimum of four courses in Music. • One of these courses must be an introductory course: Music 201a: Introduction to Historical Musicology, Music 201b: Introduction to Ethnomusicology, or Music 221: Current Issues in Theory. • The remaining three courses may be chosen from other graduate courses (200 level: “Primarily for Graduates”) or intermediate courses (150 level or above: “For Undergraduates and Graduates”). (No more than two courses may be chosen from the 150 or above level.) • Neither Pass/Fail nor audited courses will count towards a secondary PhD field. Contact the advisor in Ethnomusicology or in Musicology in the Department of Music for additional information on a secondary PhD field.

Declaring a Secondary Field

Students interested in declaring a secondary field in music should submit the “GSAS Secondary Field Application” to the Director of Graduate Studies as evidence of their successful participation in four appropriate courses in the Music Department. Once they obtain the approval of the DGS they and the registrar will receive certification of successful completion of secondary field requirements.

For further information contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Harvard University Department of Music, Music Building, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138  617-495-2791   [email protected]

For additional information  click here

• Graduate Studies

PhD in Musicology

The PhD in Musicology at Case Western Reserve University is designed for students seeking to achieve an advanced understanding of music history and the methodologies of musicology.

Program Overview

This program aims to cultivate leadership at local, regional, national, and international levels within the field of musicology. By emphasizing research, offering broad exposure to various approaches to music analysis, and providing teaching experience, the program prepares students for a wide range of careers related to music history.

The PhD program in Musicology attracts world-class faculty and holds a strong reputation for successfully placing its graduates in prestigious musicology and related programs across the country. Students in this program are actively engaged in the broader academic community, frequently presenting papers at national and international juried conferences, publishing articles in major refereed journals within the discipline, and receiving competitive awards, including fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies, the American Musicological Society (AMS 50), and the Fulbright Program.

Accreditation and Program Review

The PhD program in Musicology underwent a review by the Ohio Board of Regents in 2016, with the next review scheduled for 2024. The program's goals and objectives were updated in the summer of 2016 to ensure continued relevance and leadership in the field.

The PhD in Musicology is awarded in recognition of exceptional scholarly ability and achievement, focusing not only on course completion but also on distinguished research work. While many applicants enter the program after earning a master’s degree in Musicology or Music History, highly qualified candidates may be admitted directly after completing a bachelor’s degree.

For more details on the graduate application and audition process, please refer to the  Graduate Applications  page.

Start Your Application

Program Requirements

All programs of study are formulated to suit the individual needs of the student and require the consent of the research advisor and Coordinator of Graduate Studies. The PhD requires 36 credit units of coursework and an additional 18 credit units of  MUHI 701  Dissertation Ph.D.. Students must submit the "Pre-Doctoral Standing" form in the spring of the second year in order to register for 6 credit units (3 credit units per semester) of  MUHI 701 . Required coursework includes three doctoral seminars  MUHI 590  Seminar in Musicology,  MUHI 610  Research Methods in Music, and  MUHI 612  Analysis for Music Historians. In the first two years, students will be expected to take three seminars (9 credit units) per semester, for a total of 36 units.

Find detailed program requirements, course distribution, and a sample plan of study in the  General Bulletin . 

Music Handbook and Advising

Current graduate and professional students in music should review departmental policies and procedures in the  Graduate Music Handbook . The handbook provides additional information regarding graduate assistantships, general expectations and responsibilities, program outcomes, decision points, performances, scholarly activity, outside work, prizes/awards, deadlines, petitions, examinations, advancement to candidacy, and student record-keeping.

Additional resources and forms are available on the  Current Graduate Students  page.

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The PhD in Music is available as a full-time programme lasting three years, or a part-time programme lasting five years. It is available in all areas in which we can offer supervision, including historical musicology, analysis, ethnomusicology, sound studies, music cognition, composition and practice-based research in performance.

The majority of postgraduate students in the Faculty undertake research that is directly connected with the particular research interests of specific Faculty members. If you are planning an application, we recommend that you initially get in touch with the member of staff whose interests seem most in line with yours. Our  Research Themes page gives an overview of the principal areas of the Faculty’s research and the academic staff who work in these areas.

Because of the diversity of research topics pursued, the PhD programme in music at Cambridge does not involve a core taught component. There are a variety of skills training opportunities, and some incoming research students audit courses offered within our MPhil programme, but in general you will be working primarily with your individual supervisor. Your formal studies will be complemented by attendance at Faculty colloquia and seminars, while membership of a college will enable you to socialise with students and others from a wide variety of disciplines. Studying for a PhD at Cambridge gives you access to facilities and a range of  Research Resources  that compare favourably with anywhere in the world.

Recorded performances may now be included within a doctoral submission, along with an academic thesis of the standard length. Students who wish to pursue this possibility are encouraged to make contact with the member of staff most relevant to their particular performance-related interests.

We realise that for many potential applicants, funding is a major issue; see  Funding Postgraduate Study  for information on costs and funding options. Applicants whose proposals involve fieldwork, performance tuition, or other substantial additional expenses should include an indication of approximate total costs as part of their application.  While small grants may be available for research and travel purposes, these should not be expected to cover funding for your case studies, performance tuition or major fieldwork expenses. Some support for doctoral students undertaking fieldwork is also available from the School of Arts and Humanities.

The PhD programme is available on a part-time basis over five years, but please note that this is not a distance learning course and you will be expected to attend supervisions and participate in other Faculty activities in person, even if you don't live in Cambridge. If you come from outside the EU, please note that it is not possible to obtain a student visa for part-time study. See the University’s Graduate Admissions pages for further details on part-time study .

Further details of postgraduate life at Cambridge may be found on Cambridge Students webpages.

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You will have access to an incredible array of resources, including the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, the John Knowles Paine Concert Hall, the Isham Memorial Library, the Harvard University Studio for Electroacoustic Composition, and the Sound Lab, which offers media production suites and equipment.

With a large endowment fund, the program is able to offer you funding from sources outside Harvard Griffin GSAS. You will also have the opportunity to take advantage of many available fellowships and travel, research and writing, and conference funding throughout the year.

Examples of theses and dissertations that graduates have completed include “Activism and Music in Poland, 1978–1989,” “Art of Noise: Sound and Media in Milan, ca. 1900,” “Black Musics, African Lives, and the National Imagination in Modern Israel,” and “Technologies of Transgression and Musical Play in Video Game Cultures.”

Most graduates go on to positions in academia at institutions like the University of Southern California, Michigan State University, and University of Cambridge in England.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Music , and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies .

Areas of Study

Composition | Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry | Ethnomusicology | Music Theory | Musicology

Admissions Requirements

Please review the admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Music .

Samples of Previous Work

Applicants to all programs must submit samples of their previous scholarly work by uploading it in the Additional Materials section of the application. Applicants to the creative practice and critical inquiry PhD program must also submit 20 to 30 minutes of original creative work in the form of links to online audio or video streams (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) or links to a file download (via Dropbox or similar) by using the Digital Portfolio section of the application. Applicants to the composition PhD program must submit three compositions in the form of links to online audio or video streams (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). Recordings can be submitted as links to SoundCloud or other online resources by using the Digital Portfolio section of the application. Students should include a one-page PDF containing links to online recordings and PDF scores where applicable. The year of composition must be marked on all scores and recordings.

Personal Statement

Standardized tests.

GRE General: Optional

Theses and Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Music

See list of Music faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

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Main Resources

Main utility, degree requirements, phd in music: music theory and cognition, program of study – 18 units.

Music Theory Foundations – 8 units 

• MUS THRY 505 Methods of Music Theory 
• MUS THRY 510 Music Theory Pedagogy, second year 
• MUS THRY 515 History of Western Music Theory 
• MUS THRY 520 Readings in Music Theory and Cognition 
• MUS THRY 550 Research Seminar, 4 units 

Survey of the Field – 5 units 

A selection of Music Theory and Cognition courses depending on prior experience and to be determined in advising with the program coordinator.

• MUS THRY 313/413 Analytical Approaches to World Music 
• MUS THRY 321/421 Classical Form 
• MUS THRY 325/425 Style and Phrase 
• MUS THRY 335/435 Theory of Melody 
• Music and Emotion 
• Memory, and Attention 
• Music, Thought, and Language 
• MUS THRY 340/440 Analysis of Recorded Performance 
• MUS THRY 345/445 Experimental and Empirical Methods in Music Theory 
• MUS THRY 348/448 Corpus Studies 
• MUS THRY 355 Analysis of Post-Tonal Music 
• MUS THRY 422 Rhythm and Meter 
• MUS THRY 530 Music Semiotics 
• MUS THRY 551 Seminar in Music Cognition

Cognate – 3 units 

Three courses to be taken in a related department outside of music relevant to the student’s research interest(s). 

General Electives – 2 units 

General Electives are courses at the 300 level or above within or outside of the Bienen School of Music, and may include Music Studies courses (Composition, Music Education, Music Technology, Music Theory and Cognition, Musicology), or courses in non-music fields relevant to the student’s research interest(s). All general electives may be courses outside Music Studies.

Students should take as many electives as needed to complete the required number of units. Students who are exempt from one or more core courses (pending transcript review and faculty approval) need to take more electives to complete the required number of units.

Colloquium – 0 units, 6 registrations 

• MUS THRY 490 Music Theory Colloquium

Qualifying Exam and Candidacy

The qualifying examination consists of two parts:

Part One – An analytic paper on one or more musical works selected by the student and using methodologies also determined and deemed relevant and essential by the student in consultation with their advisor. The paper should be 4,000 to 5,000 words, not including the bibliography, captions, tables and figures, or appendix, if any. It must include annotated music examples with captions, and may include supplementary materials in the form of tables, figures or graphs.

Part Two – Two papers on two agreed-upon topics. Each topic must be approved by the student’s dissertation advisor, and one other member of the Music Theory and Cognition faculty, usually another member of the student’s dissertation committee. The papers should be 6,000 to 8,000 words, and involve literature review and critical assessment of the research on the topic. The papers’ focus may relate to the student’s emerging dissertation topic in some way, but should have breadth in relation to the concerns of music theory and cognition as fields. 

Students must complete Part One by the end of fall quarter of their third year. The examination is graded pass/fail. Students who fail are required to re-take the exam at the beginning of winter quarter. 

Students must pass Part Two by the end of the third academic year. To pass, each paper must be approved by the student’s advisor and at least one other member of the Music Theory and Cognition faculty, usually another member of the student’s dissertation committee. 

The Graduate School requires all PhD students to achieve candidacy by the end of the 12th quarter of study. Students who fail to achieve candidacy by this deadline may be placed on academic probation.

Dissertation Prospectus

Students must identify a primary advisor by the end of their second year. Identification of an advisor should begin with a verbal agreement between the student and prospective advisor. 

The Graduate School requires the dissertation prospectus to be completed and approved by the end of the fourth year. However, the Music Theory and Cognition faculty encourage students to complete the prospectus sooner when possible, ideally by the end of fall quarter of the fourth year. 

Students must submit committee names in GSTS prior to the prospectus defense.

Prospectus Guidelines

The prospectus consists of 25-30-pages, and outlines the topic, significance, and methodologies of the dissertation, and surveys the relevant scholarly literature and primary sources to be considered. A comprehensive bibliography, chapter outline, and a timeline for completion of the project should also be included.

Students should work with their advisor on the prospectus until the document is deemed ready for defense. The prospectus is then distributed to the remaining committee members to read. The student presents the prospectus in a private defense with the committee members. Revisions may be required before the document is approved.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

Students complete the dissertation under the direction of a committee comprised of three or four faculty, at least two of whom, including the chair, must be members of the Northwestern University Graduate School faculty.

Students are encouraged to apply for funding for dissertation research through TGS and the Office of Fellowships. Dissertations must be formatted according to TGS Dissertation Formatting Guidelines . Students should submit the PhD Final Exam form in GSTS following a successful defense.

Contact Graduate Services:  [email protected]   847-491-5740

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Graduate Programs

The links to individual graduate programs and the  Doctoral Certificate in Composition  provided in the menu to the left provide a basic accounting of the major academic milestones associated with each particular graduate program.  Links to outside sources and forms are included to assist you with locating proper forms and instructions guiding the policies involved with each milestone. These pages contain  some, but not all,  department-specific policies, procedures, and degree requirements. The department reserves the right to make changes at any time without prior notice. Further information and resources are available in the  Department of Music Graduate Handbook , from the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee and from student services staff.

It is the responsibility of each student to familiarize themselves with this information and to seek clarification as needed. Additionally, it is the student's responsibility to review the  Department of Music Graduate Handbook  on an annual basis.

Masters Programs

Master of Arts (MA) in Music, Science, and Technology

The MA in Music, Science, and Technology (MA/MST) degree is a two-year degree granted at the successful completion of specific coursework.  The MA/MST program is designed for candidates having an undergraduate engineering, science, music, or arts degree, or a degree that includes course work in engineering mathematics. Courses and research topics include music perception, music-related signal processing, human-computer interaction, synthesis, and inter-media among others.

[N.B. The MA/MST program is the only terminal Master's degree offered by the Department; it is two years in duration. It is available to current Stanford undergraduates as a  Coterminal Master's , current Stanford graduate students, and external applicants.]

Master of Arts (MA) in Composition

Master of Arts (MA) in Computer-Based Music Theory and Acoustics

Master of Arts (MA) in Music History

[N.B. The three MAs listed above are available only to current doctoral students in Music who wish to add a Master’s degree to their existing doctoral program. ]

Learn more about the Master's programs in the Stanford Bulletin

Doctoral Programs

The DMA in composition is offered to a limited number of students who demonstrate substantial training in the field and high promise of attainment as composers. Students may work in traditional and/or electronic forms. Breadth is achieved through studies in other branches of music and in relevant fields outside of music, as desirable. In addition to formal coursework and independent study, candidates are required to write a number of works in various forms and to present a public lecture-demonstration based on their final project, a large-scale composition.

Learn more about the DMA in Composition 

The PhD program in computer-based music theory and acoustics is offered by the Department of Music through the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA, pronounced "karma"). CCRMA is a multidisciplinary facility attracting PhD students from several departments and schools across campus including Computer Science (CS), Electrical Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), and Psychology (PSYCH). While all  CCRMA faculty  hold positions within the Department of Music,  Julius Smith  also holds a courtesy appointment in EE which enables him to serve as primary thesis advisor for PhD students in EE.  Ge Wang  holds a courtesy appointment in CS and, likewise, may serve as a primary thesis advisor for PhDs in CS. [N.B. Application for graduate study is handled by the corresponding home department.]

Learn more about the PhD in Computer-Based Music Theory and Acoustics 

The first three years of graduate study for graduates in musicology are devoted to completion of required coursework and passage of the qualifying and special area examinations. After the successful defense of the dissertation proposal (incorporated within the special area exam), the student concentrates on research and writing of the dissertation. The dissertation demonstrates the student’s ability to work systematically and independently to produce a substantial work of competent scholarship.

Learn more about the PhD in Musicology

Ethnomusicology at Stanford prepares students to study sound, listening, and musical practices in diverse social and cultural contexts. Intensive training in fieldwork and ethnographic methods as well as critical theory, performance studies, anthropology, and area studies are central to the program. A vital aspect of students’ experience is collaboration with historical musicology, composition, EuroAmerican music theory, and creative music-making. 

Learn more about the PhD in Ethnomusicology

Applications to the above programs may be made directly from a Bachelor’s program.

Learn more about the PhD programs in the Stanford Bulletin

Learn more about the DMA program in the Stanford Bulletin

Learn about applying to the Graduate Programs

Graduate Studies

Princeton Sound Kitchen presents WAY + Mixtape

Tue, Sep 10, 2024 8:00 pm

Steeped in tradition and charting new pathways

at the intersection of the creation, performance, and study of music.

Our graduate program invites students to earn a Ph.D. in composition or musicology , advancing their craft and research within the inspiring interdisciplinary, immersive spirit of the Princeton University campus. With an average of 24 students in each area of study at a time, our graduate program allows for fully-funded, focused study with a stellar faculty, and within an intimate community that celebrates the intersection between the creation, study, and performance of music. Regardless of their area of concentration, all students are welcomed and encouraged to take courses with world-renowned composers, musicologists, and musicians; take instrumental or voice lessons in the private studios of top professionals; and enjoy or even participate in the vibrant performance scene across campus. As an extension of this integrative approach, graduate students can also apply for a joint doctoral degree through the Interdisciplinary Humanities program, or through the Neuroscience program .

Long at the vanguard of the art of music composition, Princeton’s Graduate Program in Composition considers it essential for composers to build their own vision based on their strengths and passions, while remaining actively open to new musical experiences shared by the community. The program embraces many kinds of musics, engaging with diverse musical languages and creative practices. At the heart of our creative endeavor is the public concert series Princeton Sound Kitchen, in which both faculty and graduate students have their new works workshopped and premiered by some of the world’s finest professional musicians and ensembles, including the Cone Artist Ensemble in Residence, Sō Percussion . The program also provides cutting edge resources for computer/electronic music research, facilitates interaction with visiting composers through the colloquium series, and supports collaborations involving dance, theater, and film through the Lewis Center for the Arts . 

With a long tradition of excellence and innovation, the musicology program at Princeton University encompasses historical, theoretical, cognitive and ethnographic approaches. Graduate students become part of a vibrant scholarly and artistic community. In addition to working closely with our renowned  musicology faculty  as seminar leaders and advisers, musicology students can explore Princeton’s rich offerings in the humanities and sciences, have access to the excellent  Mendel Music Library , and—with subsidized  private studio i nstruction  and the opportunity to participate in the Music Department’s superb  ensembles —are encouraged to make performance an integral part of their lives.  With  Sō Percussion  in residence, the  Princeton University Concerts  series,  Princeton Sound Kitchen , and the many performances by our many ensembles, musicology students can partake of a rich and eclectic concert life.  

Questions? Contact:

Gregory Deane Smith

Academic Administrator

PhD in Music

In the Department of Music and Dance’s graduate programs in music, you’ll gain professional training for a variety of careers in classical and jazz performance, education, history and theory, conducting, and composition/arranging. In the master of music degree, you can choose from ten concentrations, with additional professional certificates available in music theory pedagogy, music history pedagogy, and arts management. The PhD in music education immerses you in innovative pedagogical practices, guiding you to create and publish your research while also amassing extensive classroom teaching experience.

Application information & deadlines

December 1, 2023, february 1, 2024.

Training for a variety of careers in classical and jazz performance, music education, history and theory, conducting, and composition/arranging.

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