- What is the admissions process like?
- What will my teaching experience look like? How much mentorship will I have, and how much independence will I have?
- How long does the M.A. program take?
- What are the course requirements for the M.A. program?
- How long does the Ph.D. program take?
- What are the course requirements for the Ph.D. program?
- What does the Ph.D. program look like after coursework is completed?
- Will I have opportunities to continue performing?
- What will my financial aid package be?
What is the admissions process like?
The application and admissions processes for M.A. and Ph.D. applicants are similar. By December 1, you must submit your application to the Jacobs School of Music (more information can be found on the website for the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid). In addition to the graduate applications, the Musicology department requests a formal research paper or thesis on an analytical or historical subject.
From the initial applicants, we select a group who are invited to campus (note that in 2020–21, campus visits will happen virtually) during the weekends of January 15-16 and February 5-6. These applicants will meet individually with three faculty members and the chair, and experience academic and social life in the department.
What will my teaching experience look like? How much mentorship will I have, and how much independence?
All of our Ph.D. students have the opportunity of serving as an Associate Instructor (AI) in our undergraduate core courses, which consist of lectures taught by a faculty member (three times per week) and small-group discussions sections taught by the AIs (twice per week). Each AI therefore works closely under the mentorship of a faculty member who provides guidance and holds weekly staff meetings, but also has a high degree of independence in crafting their own discussion sections. Students who advance to candidacy are offered the opportunity of teaching more advanced classes as the sole instructor.
How long does the M.A. program take?
Our M.A. program typically takes two years to complete.
What are the course requirements for the M.A. program?
For the M.A. degree, each student takes 18 credits (six courses) in the major field. These are:
- Three courses in Music History
- Two courses in Music Theory and Analysis
- One Master’s Seminar in Musicology
Other requirements include:
- Two additional courses Music History and Literature
- Six credit hours of other courses inside or outside the Jacobs School of Music
- Introduction to Music Bibliography
The M.A. in Musicology requires reading knowledge of one language: French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, or Spanish.
Students take the Master of Arts examination in music history during the term in which they complete their course work for the degree.
How long does the Ph.D. program take?
Most students complete our Ph.D. program in six years: two to three years of coursework, and another three to four years of exams and dissertation.
What are the course requirements for the Ph.D. program?
The core of our PhD program comprises 27 credits (nine courses). These are:
- Introduction to Historical Musicology
- Five Seminars in Musicology
- One Methods of Musical Scholarship
- Two more courses, either Seminars in Musicology or Methods of Musical Scholarship
Other requirements include:
- Three courses in musicology, music theory, ethnomusicology, or other musical subjects (often waived for students who enter with a master’s degree)
- A minor field, which may be inside or outside music, typically three or four courses
- Reading knowledge of two non-English languages, the first either French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, or Spanish; the second relevant to the student’s research area
What does the PhD program look like after coursework is completed?
After students complete coursework, they must pass major-field qualifying exams, submit a dissertation topic proposal, and complete their dissertation. A typical order of events:
- Students select three areas of specialization and work individually with three faculty mentors preparing their major-field written qualifying exam.
- Once a student has passed the major-field written exam, they sit for the oral exam, in which the faculty may follow up on the written exam or ask more general questions about the field.
- After the student has passed the major-field exam, they develop their dissertation proposal, which is approved by the dissertation committee.
- Once the dissertation topic proposal is approved, a student is formally a candidate for the degree, and completes the dissertation.
Will I have opportunities to continue performing?
Yes! Our students are encouraged to continue their performance activities. Each M.A. student enrolls in large ensembles for their four semesters in the program, giving them an opportunity of performing with our world-class orchestras, choirs, or new-music and historical-performance ensembles. Private lessons and are also available to all of our graduate students by audition with the relevant faculty. Our GMA (Graduate Musicology Association) hosts a house concert every summer, in which musicologists can showcase their talents.
What will my financial aid package be?
At the M.A. level, financial aid (typically tuition scholarships) is awarded for no more than two academic years. Assistantships are also sometimes available during the Summer.
At the Ph.D. level, financial aid may be awarded for up to five years, including a mix of scholarships and/or fellowships, graduate assistantships, and teaching as an Associate Instructor. Our top packages include 96.5% tuition reimbursement, health insurance, and a stipend of $20,000 per year. Some mandatory fees apply, but we are often able to waive fees for exceptional applicants. Additional assistantships and Associate Instructor positions are available during the summer. A Dissertation-Year Fellowship is available annually on a competitive basis to a qualified Ph.D. student in Musicology.