Degree Requirements & Timeline

The Department of Music offers multiple degrees for graduate students who are seeking a PhD or DMA. Those include the MA & MPhil, for students working on their PhD and MA for students working on their DMA.

Ethnomusicology, Historical Musicology & Music Theory

Year 1:

  • Coursework:  15-18 Credits
  • Foreign Language Training (if needed) and/or Foreign Language Exams (if applicable)
  • MA Thesis:  Preliminary Research

Year 2:

  • Coursework:  12-15 Credits
  • GR6000/Professional Strategies and Skills (part of the 12-15 credits taken in 2nd year; credits count towards degree reqs)
  • Foreign Language Training (if needed) and/or Foreign Language Exams (if applicable; must be taken before end of year 2)
  • GSAS Teaching Assistant/Fellow Appointment
  • Dissertation:  Preliminary Research
  • MA:  All Academic Requirements Completed

Year 3:

  • Coursework:  6 Credits (Dissertation Proposal Seminar I & II)*
  • Exams:  Preparation & Taking of General Exams Parts 1, 2 & 3
  • GSAS Teaching Assistant/Fellow Appointment
  • Choose Faculty Advisor for Dissertation
  • Dissertation:  Prospectus Preparation & Defense
  • MPhil:  All Academic Requirements Completed

Year 4:

  • Dissertation:  Begin Research & Writing
  • GSAS Teaching Assistant/Fellow Appointment or Dissertation Fellowship (DF to be taken in year 4 or 5)
  • Consultations with Faculty Advisor

Year 5: 

  • Dissertation:  Continued Research & Writing
  • GSAS Teaching Assistant/Fellow Appointment or Dissertation Fellowship (DF to be taken in year 4 or 5)
  • Consultations with Faculty Advisor
  • Formation of Committee
  • Distribution, Defense & Depost of Dissertation in accordance with GSAS Procedures
  • PhD:  All Academic Requirements Completed

Year 6:

  • Distribtution, Defense & Deposit (for students who did not finish in the guaranteed funding period or rec'd external funding) in accordance with GSAS Procedures
  • PhD:  All Academic Requirements Completed

Composition

Year 1:

  • Coursework:  15-18 Credits:  Seminar in Music Comp I & II w/Lessons and choice of Music Since 1900 I & II (if offered), Music Theory Reqs (2 required), Music Tech Reqs (2 required)
  • Foreign Language Training (if needed) and/or Foreign Language Exams (if applicable)

Year 2:

  • Coursework:  12-15 Credits:  Seminar in Music Comp I & II w/Lessons and choice of Music Since 1900 I & II (if offered), Music Theory Reqs (2 required), Music Tech Reqs (2 required)
  • GR6000/Professional Strategies and Skills (not part of the 12-15 credits taken in 2nd year; credits do not count toward degree requirements)
  • Foreign Language Training (if needed) and/or Foreign Language Exams (if applicable; must be taken before end of year 2)
  • GSAS Teaching Assistant/Fellow Appointment
  • Exams:  Taking of Oral Analysis Exam 1 a.k.a. Qualifying Analysis Exam 1: Pre-20th Century
  • MA:  All Academic Requirements Completed

Year 3:

  • Coursework:  6 Credits:  Seminar in Music Comp I & II w/Lessons
  • Exams:  Taking of Oral Analysis Exam 2 a.k.a. Qualifying Analysis Exam 2: 20th Century/Contemporary Music
  • GSAS Teaching Assistant/Fellow Appointment
  • Choose Faculty Advisor for Dissertation

Year 4:

  • Dissertation:  Research, Writing, Creative Work.  Part 1: Begin a portfolio of works. Part 2: Begin a scholarly essay of around 8,000 to 12,000 words.
  • GSAS Teaching Assistant/Fellow Appointment or Dissertation Fellowship (DF to be taken in year 4 or 5)
  • Consultations with Faculty Advisor

Year 5: 

  • Dissertation:  Continued Research, Writing, Creative Work.  Part 1: Complete the portfolio of works. Part 2: Complete the scholarly essay of around 8,000 to 12,000 words.
  • GSAS Teaching Assistant/Fellow Appointment or Dissertation Fellowship (DF to be taken in year 4 or 5)
  • Consultations with Faculty Advisor
  • Formation of Committee
  • Distribution, Defense & Depost of Dissertation in accordance with GSAS Procedures
  • DMA:  All Academic Requirements Completed

Year 6:

  • Distribtution, Defense & Deposit (for students who did not finish in the guaranteed funding period or rec'd external funding) in accordance with GSAS Procedures
  • DMA:  All Academic Requirements Completed

Graduate Handbook