07.03.10 PhD – Major in Musicology
Prerequisites: Prerequisites for entrance to the program include a broad knowledge of music history, as well as music theory, including analytical ability and aural skills.
Upon entry to the program, students take placement exams in music theory and history. If remediation is required, the appropriate courses are taken, but their credit does not count towards the degree. The same is true of any English-language instruction and/or instruction in bibliography that is needed.
Residency: At least one year of full-time study is required. See section 05.01 (Residency) for more information.
Concentration in Critical and Historical Studies
| Requirement | Credits |
| MUY 501 (Introduction to Musicology) | 4 |
| MUY 502 (Introduction to Ethnomusicology) | 4 |
| Theory – one doctoral theory course (TH 401 or above) | 3-4 |
| Musicology Seminars1 – minimum of 8 courses (500-level or above) | 32 |
| MUY 593 (Directed Study I) | 4 |
| MUY 594 (Directed Study II) | 4 |
| Electives2 | 20-21 |
| ESM 595 (PhD. Dissertation Project) | 18 |
| Remedial courses – Please refer to 05.03 Orientation, Placement Examinations, and Remediation. | – |
| Total Credits | 90 |
1 Students must take a minimum of eight musicology seminars, but may choose them freely—none is named as a specific requirement, and none is a prerequisite to any other.
2 Electives may include additional musicology seminars, theory courses, courses at the River Campus (history, art history, philosophy, literature, etc.), and applied music courses (studio lessons, composition lessons, chamber music, etc.). Credit for applied music courses is limited to 6 credits on the masters and 6 credits on the doctorate. Remedial courses and language courses do not count toward the elective requirement.
Foreign Language Requirements for the Concentration in Critical and Historical Studies
Students admitted to the Musicology major in the Doctor of Philosophy program are required to demonstrate proficiency in understanding written musicological (or musicology-related) texts in German and either French or Italian. A student whose field of specialization requires a different language may petition the department to substitute it in place of French or Italian. Students are required to either pass an exam administered by the musicology department. Proficiency in one language is required upon entry to the program; proficiency in the other is required by the beginning of the second year. Up to four credits of language study at the 200-level or above may be used for degree credit.
See section 07.03.03 (Foreign Language Requirements – PhD) for more information.
Concentration in Ethnomusicology
| Requirement | Credits |
| MUY 501 (Introduction to Musicology) | 4 |
| MUY 502 (Introduction to Ethnomusicology) | 4 |
| Theory – one doctoral theory course (TH 401 or above) | 3-4 |
| Ethnomusicology/Musicology Seminars – minimum of 7 courses (500-level or above) | 28 |
| ETH 480 (Approaches to Ethnography) | 3 |
| ENS 415-417 (World Music Ensembles) | 6 |
| Electives | 15-16 |
| MUY 593 (Directed Study I) | 4 |
| MUY 594 (Directed Study II) | 4 |
| ESM 595 (PhD. Dissertation Project) | 18 |
| Remedial courses – Please refer to 05.03 Orientation, Placement Examinations, and Remediation. | – |
| Total Credits | 90 |
Foreign Language Requirements for the Ethnomusicology Concentration
PhD Students admitted to the Musicology major with a Concentration in Ethnomusicology are required to satisfy proficiency in two languages. Proficiency in French, Italian, Spanish, or German is required before year 2. Proficiency in any one of these languages may be demonstrated through an exam administered by the musicology department.
Field language exam or second reading language exam: language appropriate for fieldwork or research to be determined as part of the Special Field Exam (before year 4).
General Qualifying Exam
The general qualifying exam in musicology is a written exam taken early in the fall term following the first two years of coursework. This exam is designed to test for broad knowledge of musical style and musicological issues and literature. The exam is prepared by a small committee (chaired by someone other than the department chair), drawing upon a fund of questions and musical excerpts submitted by all musicology faculty members. The exam is read and evaluated by the entire musicology faculty. Students who fail all or part of the general qualifying exam are permitted to take the relevant part a second time, early in the second semester of the third year.
Special Field Exam
The special field exam is an oral examination, not to exceed three hours, taken at the end of the third year. This exam focuses on the particular field of musicological inquiry in which the student aims to specialize. Preparation for the exam begins when the student, having completed the general qualifying exam, proposes a special field advisor for approval by the department chair. The special field advisor is often the student’s prospective dissertation advisor, and also serves as the instructor for the two independent study courses taken in the third year (Directed Study I/II). With input from other musicology faculty members, the special field advisor works with the student to define/refine the “special field,” develop a bibliography of core texts and specialized readings for the field, develop a repertoire list of pieces to be studied for the examination, discuss issues raised by readings and repertoire in regular meetings with the advisor and other faculty as appropriate, and prepare a dissertation proposal.
Dissertation
The dissertation for the musicology major must constitute an original contribution to the field and should exhibit on the part of the candidate evidence of outstanding ability in research and independent thinking, synthesis, and compelling organization of material.
The dissertation proposal is shaped in close collaboration with a dissertation committee, normally consisting of an advisor, one or two other members of the musicology faculty, and one professor from outside the department, either at Eastman or in the College. This committee then continues to work with the student throughout the writing process as resources and readers. See section 07.03.07 Dissertation & Final Examination for more information.
Timeline for the MA/PhD in Musicology:
- Year 1: The first foreign language requirement should be satisfied upon entrance to the program; the second should be completed before the beginning of the second year.
- Year 2: Students should submit their program of study to the Graduate Research Committee during their third semester of study. At the end of the second year, all musicology students present a portfolio of three research papers and take a Qualifying Exam.
- Year 3: Early in the first semester of the third year, the student takes the PhD general qualifying exam. During this semester, the student also enrolls for MUY 593 Directed Study I, normally with a professor who is particularly able to help her/him prepare the eventual dissertation proposal. The student continues to develop the proposal in the spring of year 3 while enrolled in MUY 594 Directed Study II under the aegis of the professor who is most likely to become the dissertation advisor. The Special Field Exam will also be completed at the end of the third year.
- Year 4: The dissertation proposal should be completed before the beginning of the fourth year. The dissertation proposal is shaped in close collaboration with a dissertation committee, normally consisting of an advisor, one or two other members of the musicology faculty, and one professor from outside the department, either at Eastman or in the College. This committee then continues to work with the student throughout the writing process as resources and readers.
