Music Theory

Music theory at Indiana University emphasizes musicianship and scholarly study with particular emphasis on the history of musical thought, analysis of musical structure, and pedagogy.

Master of Music in Music Theory
Master of Arts in Music Theory (through University Graduate School)
Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory (through University Graduate School)

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Master of Music in Music Theory

Prerequisite
Bachelor's degree with a major in music.

Admission
The applicant must submit at the time of application three letters of recommendation and a typed, formal paper of substantial length on an analytical or theoretical subject. The paper is expected to demonstrate the applicant's musical insight and ability to express ideas clearly and correctly. An individual interview is also required; applicants are expected to be proficient in sight singing, aural skills, and keyboard harmony. 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
20 credit hours. T550 Readings in Music Theory (3 cr.), T551 Introduction to Analytical Techniques (3 cr.), T555 Schenkerian Analysis (3 cr.), T556 Analysis of Twentieth-Century Music (3 cr.), T531 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint (3 cr.), T557 Studies in the Theory of Music (2 cr.), T558 Master's Degree Review (0 cr.), T591 Teaching of Music Theory I (3 cr.). If a student demonstrates proficiency in any of these areas, other graduate-level music theory courses may be substituted upon approval of the Department of Music Theory.

Music History and Literature Requirement
6 credit hours. See Structure of Master's Curricula under General Requirements for Master's Degrees in this bulletin.

Cognate Field
6 credit hours. See Structure of Master's Curricula under General Requirements for Master's Degrees in this bulletin.

Tool Subject
M539 Introduction to Music Bibliography (2 cr.) with a grade of B or higher or evidence of proficiency demonstrated by examination.

Ensemble
Each semester.

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Master of Arts in Music Theory (through University Graduate School)

Prerequisite
Bachelor's degree with a major in music.

Admission
The applicant must submit at the time of application three letters of recommendation and a typed, formal paper of substantial length on an analytical or theoretical subject. The paper is expected to demonstrate the applicant's musical insight and ability to express ideas clearly and correctly. An individual interview is also required; applicants are expected to be proficient in sight singing, aural skills, and keyboard harmony. The applicant's scores on the GRE General Test must be received from Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, by the application deadline.

Upon successful completion of the entrance examinations and 15 credit hours of course work in the School of Music, the student should apply for admission to the University Graduate School.

Major
20 credit hours. T550 Readings in Music Theory (3 cr.), T551 Introduction to Analytical Techniques (3 cr.), T555 Schenkerian Analysis (3 cr.), T556 Analysis of Twentieth-Century Music (3 cr.), T531 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint (3 cr.), T557 Studies in the Theory of Music (2 cr.), T558 Master's Degree Review (0 cr.), T591 Teaching of Music Theory I (3 cr.). If a student demonstrates proficiency in any of these areas, other graduate-level music theory courses may be substituted upon approval of the Department of Music Theory.

Minor
12 credit hours. 6 credit hours selected from M525 Survey of Operatic Literature (3 cr.), M527 Symphonic Literature (3 cr.), M528 Chamber Music Literature (3 cr.), M651 Medieval Music (3 cr.), M652 Renaissance Music (3 cr.), M653 Music of the Baroque Period (3 cr.), M654 Classic Music (3 cr.), M655 Romantic Music (3 cr.), M656 Twentieth-Century Music (3 cr.), M502 Composers: Variable Title (3 cr.), or M510 Topics in Music Literature (3 cr.), and two 3 credit hour courses in a field outside music in which the student has sufficient background for advanced course work.

Tool Subject
M539 Introduction to Music Bibliography (2 cr.) with a grade of B or higher or evidence of proficiency demonstrated by examination.

Ensemble
Each semester.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory (through University Graduate School)

Prerequisite
Master's degree in music theory or musicology or demonstrated equivalent. Ph.D. candidates are required to demonstrate competency in all areas required of the M.M. music theory major at Indiana University.

Admission
Admission to the Graduate Division of the School of Music and admission to the University Graduate School required. In addition to three letters of recommendation, the applicant must submit at the time of application a master's thesis in music theory or musicology or an extensive, formal research paper of comparable scope. An individual interview is also required; applicants are expected to be proficient in sight singing, aural skills, and keyboard harmony. 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
15 credit hours. T623-T624 The History of Music Theory I-II (3-3 cr.), T655 Seminar in Music Theory: Tonal Music (3 cr.), T656 Seminar in Music Theory: Atonal Music (3 cr.), T658 Seminar in Music Theory: Variable Topics (3 cr.).

Public Lecture
T659 Public Lecture (0 cr.). The public lecture must be completed before taking the oral qualifying examinations.

The following two requirements, Dissertation Track Concentration and Minor Fields, must have a total of 33 credit hours.

Dissertation Track Concentration
9 credit hours. A coherent set of elective courses (which may include independent study through T619-T620 Projects and Problems in Music Theory I-II) focusing on a subdiscipline within music theory. Some examples include music analysis, the history of music theory, music theory pedagogy, music cognition and perception, and musical meaning. The concentration is intended to allow the student to explore in greater depth areas that may lead to a dissertation topic. Each student must define the concentration and the courses to be used toward it in consultation with the student's advisory committee. Courses outside the music theory department may be used with the approval of the advisory committee and the director of graduate studies.

Minor Fields
24 credit hours. Student must elect two minor fields, usually for 12 credit hours each. The first minor must be either music history and literature or musicology. The second minor may be inside or outside of the School of Music. For the second minor, the student may also select a coherent individualized curriculum, approved by the advisory committee and the director of graduate studies.

Dissertation
12 credit hours. T700 Dissertation in Music Theory (12 cr.). The dissertation topic must be approved by the music theory faculty before the oral qualifying exams are taken.

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 examination or by grades of B or higher in two semesters of reading courses at the graduate level in each; or reading knowledge of one language and demonstration of proficiency in one research skill, approved by the department and the director of graduate studies of the School of Music.

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Musicology

The Ph.D. is assumed to be the goal of graduate study in musicology at Indiana University, but the curriculum has been designed to allow for the completion of the M.A. independently of the Ph.D. Students admitted to graduate study with a bachelor's degree must fulfill all the requirements for the M.A. (although they are not required to make application for the actual degree) and to pass the M.A. Examination in Musicology before applying for admission to the Ph.D. curriculum.

Master of Arts in Musicology (through University Graduate School)
Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology (through University Graduate School)

Return to Curricula for Graduate Degrees in Music

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 for the M.A. in musicology 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. M551 Introduction to Historical Musicology (3 cr.), M602 Seminar in Musicology (3-3-3 cr.); 6 credit hours of electives to be selected from appropriate courses and/or seminars in musicology or music theory approved by the student's academic advisor.

Music History and Literature Requirement
6 credit hours selected from M525 Survey of Operatic Literature (3 cr.), M527 Symphonic Literature (3 cr.), M528 Chamber Music Literature (3 cr.), M651 Medieval Music (3 cr.), M652 Renaissance Music (3 cr.), M653 Music of the Baroque Period (3 cr.), M654 Classic Music (3 cr.), M655 Romantic Music (3 cr.), M656 Twentieth-Century Music (3 cr.), M502 Composers: Variable Title (3 cr.) or M510 Topics in Music Literature (3 cr.). Course topics may not be repeated.

Cognate
6 credit hours in a field inside or outside music in which the student has the background to do graduate-level course work.

Tool Subjects
M539 Introduction to Music Bibliography (2 cr.). Reading knowledge of German, as demonstrated by musicology department examination. Incoming M.A. students are required to complete their language requirements within one calendar year of matriculation. If a student fails to fulfill the language requirement by the appropriate deadline, the student is placed on departmental probation for one semester. If the student then fails to fulfill the requirement by the beginning of the following semester, the student is dismissed from the musicology program.

Ensemble
Each semester.

Master of Arts Examination
Students take the Master of Arts examination in musicology during the term in which they complete their course work for the degree.

Students may be denied the M.A. degree or admission to the Ph.D. curriculum in musicology at Indiana University on the basis of their performance on the Master of Arts examination.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology (through University Graduate School)

Prerequisite
Applicants for the Ph.D. in musicology must have received an M.A. or M.M. degree from an accredited institution or must demonstrate equivalent accomplishment. Previous course work may be offered in partial fulfillment of major or minor field requirements, subject to evaluation and acceptance. Ph.D. candidates are required to demonstrate competency in all areas required of the M.A. in musicology major at Indiana University.

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 general examination must ordinarily be taken by the spring of the second year. 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.) 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.

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