Handbook of Graduate Study
Finances & Fellowships
Graduate study at Columbia is expensive, and the cost of living in New York City is very high. Full tuition (residence unit enrollment) with fees for for the academic year 2003-2004 is $31,274. Accommodations and living expenses are estimated at over $15,000 for the single student (for nine months). While no official estimate exists for the married student, a figure of about $18,500 can be taken as a guide.
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Language Exams
All students, including those transferring from other universities, are required to demonstrate competence in reading and translating at least two languages. Normally these languages should be German for the M.A., and for the M.Phil., one other language appropriate to your proposed area of dissertation research. Students working primarily in areas where additional languages are needed may be required to pass a third language examination. read more »
General Examinations
The general examinations cover musical and musicological research methodologies, concepts, skills, and general knowledge. You should enroll in courses to prepare you for the examinations you expect to take, but you should not assume that you will be responsible only for material covered in coursework. You are required to pass three examinations. Part 1 and Part 3 are written, Part 2 is oral. No examination may be taken more than twice. Parts 1 and 2 are given in May, the timing of Part 3 varies by area. read more »
Advanced Standing
A student who holds an M.A. degree in music (or M.M. or M.F.A. or M.M.A. in some area of music other than performance) from another institution may be eligible for advanced standing. This constitutes Columbia's recognition of work done at a previous institution. Its practical effect is to reduce by two the number of residence units for which the student will have to pay tuition on the way to the Ph.D. If you hold such a prior degree, you should have made a claim for advanced standing (accompanied by the relevant transcripts, letter, etc.) as part of the application for admission to GSAS. read more »
Timetable of Study
FIRST YEAR
Courses:
1. Two proseminars: that of your own area, plus one other, 6points total
Proseminar in Ethnomusicology
Proseminar in Historical Musicology
Proseminar in Music Theory2. Any graduate course in analysis (HM and Theory); Field Methods I (Ethno), 3 points read more »
Academic Advising and Requirements for the Master's Degree
The requirements of the M.A. and M.Phil. comprise several things:
(1) attendance at certain courses;
(2) submission of two written essays, a paper, or a thesis;
(3) written general examinations;
(4) written language examinations. read more »
Summary of Degree Requirements
Students with advanced standing normally begin working at the M.Phil. level (but see remarks regarding Advanced Standing).
For the M.A.
18 points, partially specified
one language examination
one paper (Historical Musicology and Theory), or one thesis (Ethnomusicology)For the M.Phil. read more »
Graduate Admission Requirements
The requirements listed below are special to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. read more »
The Director of Graduate Studies and the Musicology Committee
This section concerns only the Director of Graduate Studies for Musicology (there is another for Composition), and the committee with which that DGS works.
The Musicology Committee, which is chaired by the DGS, comprises faculty who regularly teach graduate courses in the areas of ethnomusicology, historical musicology, and music theory. Its purview includes all matters concerning the graduate curriculum in musicology. From time to time, it recommends changes in that curriculum to the Department's main executive body, the Faculty Council. read more »
Resources: Columbia and NYC
The resources available at Columbia University and in New York City are incomparably rich. The Columbia University Library system is one of the largest in the country. In addition, through its membership in the Research Libraries Group, the University's users have access to collections of other major research libraries in the country. read more »
The PhD Dissertation
Once you have successfully defended your dissertation proposal, the Director of Graduate Studies (Musicology) will appoint your dissertation reading committee -- normally three persons: the sponsor, the second reader, and the third reader. You may ask professors if they are willing to serve on your dissertation committee, and you may request that the DGS appoint particular professors, but the assignment of readers is the responsibility of the DGS, who will attempt to select a committee that represents the areas of expertise relevant to your research. read more »
Course Requirements
The GSAS Bulletin gives a list of all the courses that are offered from time to time by the Department of Music, complete with descriptions. You should also watch the graduate students' bulletin board on the sixth floor of Dodge Hall (between Rooms 619 and 621) for the most up-to-date listings and descriptions of courses to be offered. You should study these listings well in advance and should prepare yourself for a course before registering for it. read more »
Departmental Appointments
Requirements
Teaching positions, broadly conceived, are available after the first year to students on fellowship who are in good academic standing. The positions carry a fixed stipend (the same for all students) for nine months, plus tuition and fees. In fulfillment of the requirements for the M.Phil. degree, all students must gain teaching experience as part of their graduate training. read more »
