Ph.D. Music Technology
Departmental E-mail: herron4u@iu.edu
Departmental URL: https://herron.indianapolis.iu.edu/academics/gdegrees/index.html
Doctor of Philosophy
Special Departmental Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements)
Admission Requirements
Bachelor’s degree and evidence of substantial previous work in creative and/or technical areas related to music technology. Candidates should have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) overall from undergraduate studies. E-portfolio comprising of online audio/video content demonstrating musical, computational, or other work related to music technology (minimum of 3 samples). Three letters of recommendation in support of the application. Test of English as a Foreign Language is required of international applicants. A personal interview may be requested.
Program Information
The Ph.D. in Music Technology is a 90-credit hour terminal research degree that is designed for students with significant academic (or equivalent professional) backgrounds in music technology, music, computer science, engineering, informatics, human computer interaction, and other related fields. The principal objective of the Ph.D. is to create the next leaders in the field who will develop transformative new creative technologies in music and the arts. Generally, research interest will align with faculty research labs: acoustics and signal processing in music technology and healthcare, machine learning and AI in music, music technology education and pedagogy, networked and online music making and collaboration, and performance technologies. The Ph.D. in Music Technology is offered on campus only.
Program Requirements
A total of 90 credits hours is required for the degree, of which up to 30 credit hours may be transferred from a student’s post-baccalaureate degree of study, as approved by the graduate advisory committee.
The 90 credit hours for the Ph.D. are distributed amount the following 6 content areas:
- Music Technology – 12-18 credit hours
- Other Studies in Music – 12 credit hours
- Declared minor area – 12 credit hours
- Dissertation - 18 credit hours
Academic Progress: Time to Degree
Students enrolled in the Ph.D. in Music Technology have a total of ten (10) years from the date of enrollment to complete the Ph.D.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible to apply to the Ph.D. in Music Technology at IU Indianapolis, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Submission of the online application to the campus
- Research Statement– This is a short essay discussing the applicant’s ideas for doctoral research and arguing how their expertise and interests make them a strong candidate for pursuing this research. In preparing this statement, applicants should identify the faculty member(s) that they are most interested in working with. The Statement of Purpose should not exceed three double-spaced pages.
- Letters of Recommendation (3) – Three letters from individuals are required to provide authoritative support for the applicant’s potential success in graduate studies, such as previous instructors, employers, mentors, etc.
- Portfolio of Musical/Technical Artifacts– The portfolio is the opportunity for the applicant to persuasively demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and potential ability to engage and contribute to high-quality research in Music Technology. The applicant may submit a portfolio of samples of previous professional, artistic, or academic work on music, technology, and/or related fields. The ideal portfolio will consist of both musical/technical artifacts and writing samples. The portfolio should be made available online (e.g. in your personal webpage) and the URL pointing to the portfolio should be included on the resume submitted as part of the application. Examples of artifacts include, but are not limited to musical compositions, recordings (please note your role in the recording process), performances, project deliverables, hardware and software development, web pages, digital musical instruments, audio code, acoustic designs, etc.
- Writing Samples – As part of the portfolio three samples of previous scholarly, academic, or technical work on music technology or related fields are required. These samples should represent the applicant’s ability to conduct research and write effectively about their area of specialization. Submission of published work is preferred.
- Resume/curriculum vitae - A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) will be submitted to document the applicant’s academic, scholarly, and career history.
- Research Advisor Support Letter – The Graduate Program Director will facilitate the applicant in contacting potentially interested advisors. Prior to application, the student will be in contact with an MAT Graduate Faculty member, who will conditionally agree to serve as the applicant’s major advisor. This future major advisor will submit a support letter, as part of the application process, that will 1) clearly state that they will serve as the major advisor and 2) explain why the faculty member is a good match for this applicant’s particular research interests.
- Transcripts – The applicant will need to submit transcript(s) and/or academic documents for every institution of higher education attended. If a transcript is not in English, please upload an English translated certified by the college which issued the transcript. All transcripts and/or academic documents uploaded to the online application are considered unofficial. The unofficial transcript(s) will be used for the application review and admission purposes. If the applicant is admitted for admission, they must submit official hard copy transcripts directly to the IU Indianapolis Graduate School upon arrival to campus. If the applicant is currently finishing a baccalaureate degree, they will be required to submit a document that certifies the awarding of that degree. Note: We do not require transcripts from Indiana University campuses.
- GRE score (required) - The IU Indianapolis school code for the GRE is 1325 – enter this code on the exam’s answer sheets.
- TOEFL or IELTS scores - For non-native English speakers, TOEFL or IELTS scores taken within the last two years will need to be submitted. Minimum required scores: 79 TOEFL, 6.5 IELTS. The IU Indianapolis school code is 1325. This requirement may be waived if a BS or MS degree has been earned in the United States, ELS Level 112 has been successfully completed, or if the applicant has been placed into G013 or higher on the IU Indianapolis ESL Placement Test.
For applicants who have already completed a master’s degree, a transcript review by the MAT Graduate Committee will determine if any credits qualify as applicable to their Ph.D. requirements.
Grades
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) must be maintained in all course work.
Advancement to Candidacy:
Qualifying Exam
The Qualifying Examination (QE) is a written examination required of all MAT doctoral students. It is a comprehensive, open-book exam. One of the functions of this test is to determine is the student has advanced analytical and critical thinking skills based on their understanding of topics in Music Technology. Students are required to take this test sometime in years 2-4, as specified by the IU Indianapolis Graduate Office. The QE may only be taken after the minimum coursework requirements have been fulfilled. In music technology, typically, this equates to 8 courses if the student enters the Ph.D. program with a master’s degree or 18 courses for direct Ph.D. students. Questions on the exam are “topics” based and the students will be required to answer four (4) questions covering topics germane to Music Technology. One (1) of the questions will be dedicated to the student’s Primary Area of study and another question (1) will be dedicated to the student’s Minor Area of study. The other two questions (2) will stem from topics in Music Technology. The examination is four hours in length.
Preliminary Exam and Proposal Defense
The Preliminary Exam and Proposal Defense (Proposal) is given to determine whether a student is adequately prepared to conceive and undertake a suitable dissertation research topic. Students may not schedule their until after they have passed the QE, submitted their final Study Plan, and compiled their Doctoral Research Committee. The PE/Proposal is comprised of a written research proposal, an oral presentation, and an oral examination covering the content of both the student’s proposed research. The research proposal shall be a document that fully lays out the proposed research. The document will contain three components: a comprehensive literature review, a set of research questions / hypotheses with proposed work plans, and preliminary project design(s)/result(s) that points to project outcomes. Although there is no official length requirement, a suggested length may be approximately 10,000 words.
Students must complete the PE/Proposal at least two academic sessions (counting regular semesters and summer sessions) for which they are registered before taking the Dissertation Defense/Final Examination. It is recommended for the PE/Proposal to occur within 12-18 months after passing the QE. Since one goal of the PE/Proposal is to provide research direction and feedback, it should be taken early enough to allow the Doctoral Research Committee to make an effective contribution. The written dissertation proposal must be submitted to members of the Doctoral Research Committee at least two weeks before the examination. It is the responsibility of the student to schedule the Proposal in consultation with all Doctoral Research Committee Members.
Dissertation/Final Examination (Defense)
Prior to beginning the dissertation research, the student files a dissertation prospectus, which contains a brief description of the dissertation proposal, overall format (traditional or manuscript). If applicable, the IRB approval is submitted with the prospectus. The student provides a full, formatted copy of the completed defense to the research committee at least 4 weeks prior to the scheduled defense. Once the dissertation is prepared and all other requirements have been completed, the student must present and defend their work in a Final Examination. The Final Examination Committee is typically the student’s Doctoral Advisory Committee. At the end of the oral defense, the research committee votes on the outcome of the examination
Courses
- MUS-N 521 Research Methods in Music and Multimedia (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Introduction to the underlying principles and concepts of technology-based studies in the arts. Techniques of educational research, including integration of scientific methodology, descriptive, and inferential methods, and multimedia instrumentation in project development.
- MUS-N 531 Music Quantitative and Qualitative Research (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Applications of scientific methodology to music therapy theory and practice. Philosophical differences between qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, integration of theoretical concepts and practice standards with scientifically-sound research proposals.
- MUS-N 523 Historical Foundations of Music Technology (3 cr.) This course analyzes and evaluates concepts, events, designs, and creative works that have served as catalysts in the progression of music technology over time. Through the study of the past, the class will develop rationales for new and emerging technologies that relate to the expression of music today and looking towards the future.
- MUS-A 540 Music Engineering Technology (3 cr.) This course provides a technical approach of engineering concepts of music technology. Topics include digital audio concepts, audio signal processing, synthesis, and electroacoustic design of audio devices, while utilizing programming. Students will develop a quantitative understanding of music engineering methods and investigate current technologies and their effects on music technologists.
- MUS-A 500 Music Technology Graduate Seminar (0 cr.) The Music Technology Graduate Seminar is a zero (0) credit hour graduate course consisting of 15 weekly seminars by the Department of Music and Arts Technology and other engineering and technology faculty at IUPUI, researchers from local and national academia, representatives from industry, and peer graduate students in the MAT. Seminars introduce MAT graduate students to a variety of music technology related topics in academic and industrial research. Presenters will pose research questions, scientific methodologies, and technological advancements in music technology and related fields. Presentations and discussions will assist students in developing and refining critical thinking and technical presentation skills.
- MUS-N 512 Foundations of Sound Production (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. This course explores how musical sound is produced. Fundamentals of the physics of sound will provide the technical foundation to explore musical applications. The course will cover the varying families of musical instruments, tuning and temperament, and human hearing while also introducing aspects of audio programming to reinforce theoretical concepts.
- MUS-N 513 Principles of Music Technology (3 cr.) Explores underlying technologies of systems within the music and media field from a computational perspective by utilizing software programming tools and techniques to create and build interactive systems within these domains. The Max programming environment is the current format for application designs in the course.
- MUS-N 514 Music Technology Methods (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. This course is designed to provide a functional, conceptual, and philosophical overview of graduate level music technology. Students will evaluate and analyze software, hardware, and related technology applications. Additionally, students will compare and critique these concepts and tools as they relate to the field of music technology.
- MUS-N 515 Multimedia Design Application in the Arts (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Addresses the usability and human factor principles of multimedia digital product design in the arts. Topics include cognitive frameworks, design patterns, user research, usability evaluation, and performance analysis. Students will apply the various cognitive theories and design principles in the creation software applications to be employed in the arts.
- MUS-N 516 Advanced Interactive Design Applications in the Arts (3 cr.) P: MUS-N 515 or consent of instructor. Incorporates extensive analysis and use of computer and multimedia authoring tools intended for specific educational applications. Project management and programming team organization; media management and selection criteria for digital arts media development; task analysis and instructional sequencing applied to training and instruction; and assessment modeling and feedback schedules are examined.
- MUS-N 519 Digital Sound Design for Multimedia I (3 cr.) P: N514, or consent of instructor. Music composition and multimedia applications of MIDI systems and Digital Audio Workstations. Analog, digital, and software-based synthesis, and exploration of multi-track MIDI and digital recording.
- MUS-N 520 Digital Sound Design for Multimedia II (3 cr.) P: MUS-N 519, or consent of instructor. Advanced applications of MIDI and next-generation sound file formats for producing soundtracks, multimedia events, and collaborative composition over the Internet.
- MUS-N 522 Techniques for Music Performance, Teaching, and Production at a Distance (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Electronic tools for music performance, teaching, and production at a distance. Website and Internet resources including video conferencing, digital editing, and compression of video and sound wave formats. Group and individual assignments for on-line music presentations
MUS-N525 Techniques of Interactive Performances (3 cr.)
Techniques of Interactive Performance prepares public presentations that highlight the current underlying principles and concepts of computer music, live media, interdisciplinary, and interactive performance systems. Areas covered will include electro-acoustic music (with instruments, microphones, and computer processing), laptop music, live media manipulation, created instruments, machine learning, telematics, and networks, among others. The group generally works together with an outside group from another discipline in order to cross-synthesize the artistic realizations of each performance. Each semester the ensemble engages a project that draws on the multi-disciplinary skill set from the enrolled students.
MUS-N526 Synthesizers and Controllers (3 cr)
Synthesizers and Controllers addresses underlying principles of analog and digital synthesizer technology. Topics covered include voltage control, additive synthesis, FM, wavetables, and MIDI. The course will also examine various types of controller technology frequently used in computer music creation and performance.
MUS-N527 Advanced Digital Music Systems (3 cr.)
Advanced Digital Music Systems addresses underlying principles of digital audio processing, together with related control systems for live music performance, production, and installations. They will work with software to create music scenarios of their own design. Students will also program music software and will design a large-scale music system.
Advanced Digital Music Systems addresses underlying principles of digital audio processing, together with related control systems for live music performance, production, and installations. They will work with software to create music scenarios of their own design. Students will also program music software and will design a large-scale music system.
MUS-N899 Music and Arts Technology Dissertation (1-9 credits)
Note: With the approval of the student’s Advisory Committee other courses may be substituted for those listed above.
Music Technology
Faculty
Chairperson
Professor Robin Cox, Ph.D., 317-278-9400, robcox@iu.edu
Graduate advisor
Timothy Hsu, Ph.D., hsut@iu.edu
Graduate Faculty
(An asterisk [*] denotes membership in the University Graduate School faculty with the endorsement to direct doctoral dissertations.)
Professors
Darrell Bailey, EdD,* Scott Deal, DMA*
Associate Professors
Michael Drews, DMA*, V. Robin Cox, DMA*, Meganne Masko, PhD, MT-BC/L*,
Assistant Professors
Tim Hsu, PhD*, Jason Palamara, PhD*, Natasha Thomas, PhD, MT-BC*, Dan Walzer, PhD*
August 2024
