Music Theory

Columbia’s graduate Music Theory program immerses students in a wide range of current and past scholarship, including analytical approaches to Western concert music and popular music, music cognition and philosophy of music, the history of music theory, and feminist theory and gender and sexuality studies. Topics of recent Music Theory seminars include “Introduction to Cognitive Musicology,” “Music and the Body,” “Techniques of the Listener,” “Knowing, Doing, Making,” “Analysis, Description, Interpretation,” “Interdisciplinary and Humanistic Approaches to Music Theory,” and “Debussy and Modernism.” 

Students in our program come from a wide range of backgrounds. Drawing on their own strengths as musicians and scholars, members of the program become well-rounded theorists, able to communicate coherently and in an informed manner about the contemporary landscape of music theory, as well as about areas not covered in our coursework. Students are encouraged and guided in the development of independent logical thinking and critical reading skills. They are expected to be (or become) sophisticated musicians, with acute powers to hear music intelligently.

Columbia’s Music Theory program prides itself on a strong record of preparing PhD recipients to take up full-time academic positions in higher education. Its recent doctoral graduates currently hold professorships at Eastman School of Music, New York University, Indiana University, Smith College, University of Durham, University of Michigan, Washington University, Wesleyan University, Wheaton College, and others. We consider the wide intellectual range and ecumenicism of our students and faculty to be a strength. Our graduates may be found on faculties of not only music theory, but also performance and composition, as well as computer science and media studies. Columbia’s Music Theory PhDs have also pursued successful careers in digital humanities, academic publishing, graduate pedagogy, and youth performing arts education.

During the first two years, students are involved intensively with coursework. Students will take three proseminars in the musicological areas (Ethnomusicology, Historical Musicology & Music Theory), as well as lecture courses or research seminars in more specialized topics. Students are also encouraged to take courses outside the Music Department in areas of interest to them. General (Qualifying) Exams are taken in the third year. Additionally, students will prepare a dissertation proposal in two Dissertation Proposal Seminars I and II in year 3.  Then a dissertation proposal (or prospectus) is  orally examined by a faculty committee of at least three.

The PhD dissertation is a document representing original research and thought. The dissertation process is supervised by the Faculty Advisor. In addition to the Faculty Advisor, two faculty members from the Department serve as readers. When the dissertation is deemed ready for defense, two additional readers from outside the Department are appointed (for a total of five).

The Degree Requirements/Timeline page provides detailed information for the Music Theory PhD.