Graduate Division

Curricula for Graduate Degrees  

Musicology 

Master of Arts in Musicology (through University Graduate School)

Prerequisite

Bachelor’s degree (B.M. or B.A.) with a major in music, or demonstrated equivalent.

Admission

Applications must include a formal research paper on a historical or theoretical subject in music. The applicant’s scores on the GRE General Test must be received from Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, by the application deadline.

Major

18 credit hours.

9 credit hours selected from:

  • M525 Survey of Operatic Literature (3 cr.)
  • M527 Symphonic Literature (3 cr.)
  • M528 Chamber Music Literature (3 cr.)
  • M650 Music in the United States (3 cr.)
  • M651 Medieval Music (3 cr.)
  • M652 Renaissance Music (3 cr.)
  • M653 Baroque Music (3 cr.)
  • M654 Classic Music (3 cr.)
  • M655 Romantic Music (3 cr.)
  • M656 Music Since 1900 (3 cr.)
  • M502 Composers: Variable Topics (3 cr.)
  • M510 Topics in Music Literature (3 cr.)

6 credit hours selected from:

  • T551 Analytical Techniques for Tonal Music (3 cr.)
  • T545 Introductory Analysis of Music Literature (3 cr.)
  • T555 Schenkerian Analysis (3 cr.)
  • T556 Analysis of Music Since 1900 (3 cr.)

3 credit hours selected from graduate courses in music history and literature, musicology, music theory, or ethnomusicology.

Music History and Literature Requirement

6 credit hours. See “Structure of Master’s Curricula“ under General Requirements for Master’s Degrees in this bulletin.

Outside Area

6 credit hours.

Tool Subjects

M539 Introduction to Music Bibliography (2 cr.) with a grade of B or higher; reading knowledge of German as demonstrated by musicology department examination.

Ensemble

Each semester.

Master of Arts examination

Ordinarily to be taken in the semester in which a student completes the course work for the degree. Students will also submit a portfolio of papers written for graduate courses in the department.

Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology (through University Graduate School)

Admission

Applicants for the Ph.D. in musicology must demonstrate strong preparation in music history. Students with outstanding credentials may apply directly from a bachelor’s degree; students holding an M.A. or M.M. in musicology may be exempted from certain courses on the recommendation of the department. A formal research paper must be submitted with the application. The applicant’s scores on the GRE General Test must be received from Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey by the application deadline.

Progress toward Degree

Deficiencies in music history or music theory, as determined by the graduate entrance examinations, must be met by the end of the first year. One language examination must be passed by the end of the first year, and a second must be passed before the qualifying examination. The qualifying examination should ordinarily be taken in the fall of the fourth year. A dissertation proposal should ordinarily be submitted during the fourth year. Exceptions to this general schedule require the permission of the department.

Major

48 to 78 credit hours.

  • M551 Introduction to Historical Musicology (3 cr.)
  • M602 Seminar in Musicology (3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3 cr.)
  • M603 Methods of Musical Scholarship (3-3 cr.)
  • 12 credit hours of courses in musicology, music theory, ethnomusicology, or other musical subjects approved by the student’s doctoral advisory committee
  • M700 Dissertation in Musicology (3-33 cr.)
Minor

One minor, with sufficient credit hours to satisfy the course requirements for a Ph.D. minor, as determined by the department in which the minor is taken. All such minors must be recognized or accepted by the University Graduate School. A Ph.D. minor typically requires 12 credit hours of course work, and departments may also require a written and/or oral examination in the minor field.

Tool Subjects

M539 Introduction to Music Bibliography (2 cr.) with a grade of B or higher and reading knowledge of two non-English languages as demonstrated by musicology department examination. The first must be German, French, Italian, Latin, Spanish, or Russian; the second should be relevant to the student’s research area.

Academic Bulletins

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Previous Bulletins

Students are ordinarily subject to the curricular requirements outlined in the Bulletin in effect at the start of their current degree. See below for links to previous Bulletins.