Contents:
| 07.01 | General Information – MA and PhD degrees |
| 07.02 | The Master of Arts Degree |
| 07.02.01 | List of Majors – MA |
| 07.02.02 | Residency & Time Limit – MA |
| 07.02.03 | Applied Music Study – MA |
| 07.02.04 | Master of Arts Curriculum |
| 07.03 | The Doctor of Philosophy Degree |
| 07.03.01 | List of Majors – PhD |
| 07.03.02 | Residency & Time Limit – PhD |
| 07.03.03 | Foreign Language Requirements – PhD |
| 07.03.04 | Transcripts |
| 07.03.05 | Program of Study – PhD |
| 07.03.06 | Candidacy & Qualifying Exam – PhD |
| 07.03.07 | Dissertation & Final Examination – PhD |
| 07.03.08 | PhD – Major in Composition |
| 07.03.09 | PhD – Major in Music Education |
| 07.03.10 | PhD – Major in Musicology |
| 07.03.11 | PhD – Major in Music Theory |
07.01 General Information – MA and PhD degrees
Activity in the division of Graduate Research Studies is governed by the Graduate Research Committee, a faculty committee comprising representatives from all departments with majors in the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs, chaired by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. It will be noted that graduate work in composition or music education may also be undertaken within the division of Graduate Professional Studies, although the respective programs will reveal differences in emphasis and course content.
Some of the majors within the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs require a thesis or dissertation. Full command of written English is assumed for students admitted to these programs and is required before students are permitted to begin these projects.
07.02 The Master of Arts Degree
Candidates for the Master of Arts degree may major in Composition, Music Education, Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Music Theory, or Pedagogy of Music Theory.
07.02.01 List of Majors – MA
The following majors are offered within the Master of Arts degree program:
- Composition
- Music Education
- Musicology (en passant and stand-alone)
- Ethnomusicology
- Music Theory
- Pedagogy of Music Theory
- Music Leadership
07.02.02 Residency & Time Limit – MA
The basic residence requirement for the Master of Arts degree is one year of full-time study or its equivalent (for Musicology majors, two years). Students holding a graduate award (who normally take no more than 24 units during a year) or those who find it necessary to take part-time employment should plan to devote at least two years to the master’s degree program. Graduate award holders majoring in Pedagogy of Music Theory can complete their programs in one year of full-time residence plus one summer session. No assurance can be given that the requirements for any program can be completed in one academic year or through summers-only enrollments. The exception to this general rule is the Master of Arts in Music Education “summers-only” program which may be completed through consecutive summer enrollment.
Requirements for the Master of Arts degree are expected to be completed within five years after the work is begun. Students who do not finish their program within five years may petition the Graduate Research Committee for an extension of time. Such extension, if granted, will be of limited duration. Please refer to the graduate calendar for submission deadlines.
07.02.03 Applied Music Study – MA
All students in the Master of Arts degree program are encouraged to avail themselves of the School’s applied music instruction. The area and extent of such study will be determined in consultation with the advisor. Students majoring in musicology and music theory are specifically encouraged to cultivate proficiency on a keyboard instrument, even if their principal instrument is not the piano, organ, or harpsichord.
07.02.04 Master of Arts Curriculum
Curriculum for the stand-alone Master of Arts degree programs can be found here.
For MA degrees awarded “en passant” or “in passing” while enrolled in a PhD program, information is listed here:
MA in Musicology en passant
The MA in Musicology is awarded after completing 30 credits of coursework towards the PhD in Musicology, including the two Introduction courses, one Theory course, four Musicology seminars, and one foreign language examination.
MA in Music Theory en passant
The MA in Music Theory is awarded after completing the below requirements towards the PhD in Theory:
- successful completion of the master’s exam
- completion at least 30 hours of credit
- minimum of 9-10 credits of music courses taken outside the theory department
- completion of one of the foreign language requirements
Students should confer with their advisor, who will confirm with the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in the awarding of the degree. If the requirements are not met, the master’s degree may be conferred at a later point in the student’s MA/PhD course of study.
07.03 The Doctor of Philosophy Degree
The Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded primarily for completion of scholarly research satisfactorily described in a dissertation or for outstanding creative work in the field of composition. It is assumed that recipients of this degree are not only well versed in the subject matter and techniques of a specific discipline, but have demonstrated breadth of interest and originality of outlook which indicate real promise of success in research or composition, as well as mastery of the teaching of their discipline.
All work leading to the degree is subject to the regulations and standards for scholarly work established by the Council on Graduate Studies of the University of Rochester.
The amount of background knowledge and degree of technical skill required for entrance to a program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree may be expected to vary both with the field of concentration and with the objectives of the candidate. Each candidate is personally responsible for ensuring that they satisfy not only the general requirements but also any specific requirements which may be imposed by departments or divisions.
Admission to graduate work in any department must be approved by the chair of that department and by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies of the Eastman School of Music. In cases where the department feels that the student’s undergraduate background is insufficient, the student will be required to undertake the necessary undergraduate courses in preparation for work in the department.
Doctor of Philosophy students in Musicology or Music Theory may be admitted having earned only a bachelor’s degree. Those majoring in Composition or Music Education usually will have earned a master’s degree at Eastman or elsewhere before being admitted to the Ph.D. program.
07.03.01 List of Majors – PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded in the following fields of concentration:
- Composition
- Music Education
- Musicology
- Music Theory
07.03.02 Residency & Time Limit – PhD
The curriculum for the Doctor of Philosophy degree normally will require 90 units beyond the bachelor’s degree or 60 units beyond an acceptable master’s degree. Work toward the degree is best carried out on a full-time basis, but limited part-time study is permitted. At least one of the years of doctoral study must be in full-time residence, that is, two consecutive semesters exclusively devoted to graduate work. During this period the student will complete at least 24 units, unless they are performing the duties of an assistant who may take as few as 18 units but not more than 24 units.
Work leading to the PhD degree is expected to be completed within seven years following the bachelor’s degree or six years following the master’s degree. Candidates unable to complete their work within these time limits may petition the Graduate Research Committee for an extension of time. Such extension, if granted, will be of limited duration.
07.03.03 Foreign Language Requirements – PhD
Students enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in Music Theory and in Musicology at the Eastman School of Music are required to demonstrate their comprehension of languages other than English. Specific foreign-language requirements for these majors are outlined with the requirements for each of these majors in the following sections. There is no foreign-language requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Composition and in Music Education.
Students are urged to fulfill all language requirements as soon as possible, as several graduate-level courses require reading knowledge of a foreign language. Please see individual degree listings for details on foreign-language requirements in each department.
07.03.04 Transcripts
All PhD students MUST send the Registrar’s Office an OFFICIAL, FINAL transcript from each institution from which the student has received a degree (bachelor’s and master’s) prior to the doctorate.
07.03.05 Academic Plan – PhD
An academic plan leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree is prepared by the student in consultation with the advisor. This must be done at least four months before the qualifying examination may be taken. This program must include the following:
- a list of those courses for which the student will receive graduate credit; and
- the specific foreign languages in which the student must show competence.
The academic plan must first be approved by the student’s academic advisor, followed by the Graduate Research Committee (GRC). Instructions and deadlines for submission to the Graduate Research Committee are available from the Office of Graduate Studies. The academic plan outlines the formal requirements students must fulfill to complete their degree requirements. Changes in programs must be submitted to the GRC for approval.
Typical partial course requirements in the various major fields are listed in the sections that follow (sections 07.03.08 through 07.03.11). In all cases, additional course work will be required according to the needs and interests of the individual student.
Electives within the Academic Plan
The following restrictions apply to all PhD academic plans. Additional restrictions for some majors are also indicated with the individual requirements for those majors.
- Ensemble Courses: Without explicit permission from the Graduate Research Committee, no more than four units earned through ensemble courses may be included in the PhD academic plan.
- MHS 421-426: PhD students may take only one MHS 42x course within the 60-credit degree program. Other MHS 42x courses may be required as remediation, or elected above and beyond the 60-credit limit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the GRC.
- Arts Leadership Curriculum (ALC) Policy for PhD students who matriculated in Fall 2006 or thereafter:
- Graduate students are encouraged to explore courses offered in Eastman’s Arts Leadership program. Any ALC course that is cross-listed with a department (e.g., MTL 504/ALC 425) may be taken for degree credit and is subject to regular tuition charges.
- Other ALC courses (at the 400-level) may be elected by graduate students for non-degree credit free of charge. In such cases the ALC course may be used to bring the student to full-time status without incurring a tuition charge, but these courses do not fulfill graduate degree requirements.
- Students who matriculated into their current PhD degree program prior to fall 2006 may still take any ALC course at the 200-level for elective credit toward their degree.
- Students may take up to a maximum of six units of applied music lessons as elective credit.
07.03.06 Candidacy & Qualifying Exam – PhD
No student is considered a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree until they have:
- Met the language requirement,
- Passed the qualifying examination, and
- Demonstrated to the advisors and the Graduate Research Committee that they have a broad and competent command of the chosen major and minor fields and are fully prepared to undertake the writing of a dissertation.
The oral qualifying examination may be preceded by one or more written or oral examination; it must be passed at least six months before the final examination may be taken. For example, a student who wishes to have their degree conferred at May commencement must pass their qualifying examination no later than October 1 of the previous fall. A committee consisting of at least four members of the graduate faculty will conduct the qualifying examination.
If a student fails the qualifying examination, they may not retake it until five calendar months have elapsed. The exam may only be taken up to three times with the permission of the Graduate Research Committee.
07.03.07 Dissertation & Final Examination – PhD
The University of Rochester requires that all dissertations be published through ProQuest. Instructions for this process will be provided by the Office of Graduate Studies prior to receipt of the final copy of the dissertation. In addition to the electronic (pdf) version of the dissertation submitted to ProQuest, the Graduate Studies Office requires students to submit one permanent unbound paper copy to their office.
The final oral examination for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must be taken at the University of Rochester. A candidate may present their self for this examination only after receiving permission from their advisors.
The final oral examination shall be taken after completion of all other requirements for the degree, but not earlier than six months after the qualifying examination. The final oral examination may be open, at least in part, to all members of the University community. It shall include the subject covered by the dissertation and the special field in which the dissertation is written, with particular attention to the recent and significant developments in that field. This examination may also include other fields of study if specifically recommended by the qualifying examining committee.
PhD-granting departments may invite the candidate to present a public lecture, followed by a private dissertation defense with the examination committee.
The committee for the final examination for the Doctor of Philosophy degree is appointed by the University Dean of Graduate Studies on the advice of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. The University Dean or their representative will be chair and have a vote.
A vote of approval of the final oral examining committee must be unanimous, but in the case of a single dissenting vote, the issue may be presented for decision to the University Council on Graduate Studies.
Definitions of Dissertation Copy Terms:
- Fair copy – a copy of the dissertations in final-draft form. It must be typed and easily readable by the reading committee.
- Final copy – a copy which incorporates all corrections from the reading committee.
- Permanent copy – copies which incorporate any additional corrections or changes required as a result of the final examination.
Dissertation or Thesis Work during Summer Session
Graduate students who plan to register for thesis or dissertation units during the summer session are requested to do so by May 15th to guarantee that an advisor will be available. Doctoral students who have completed all courses and credit requirements and will be working on their dissertation with an advisor during the summer session must register for ESM 999 (Continuation of Graduate Enrollment).
07.03.07.01 Dissertation Proposal Procedures – PhD
Composition
Working with your dissertation advisor(s), the student will prepare a dissertation proposal that outlines the plans for both portions of the thesis (composition and paper). The projections for the composition can be summarized in two to three paragraphs, covering instrumentation, number of movements, approximate total duration, compositional methods, stylistic approaches, resources, and other key characteristics of the work. The essay section of the proposal will likely span three or more pages. Here, the student will define the topic’s nature and scope, reference related studies, outline unique aspects distinguishing the proposed study as an original contribution to knowledge, and include a bibliography. Additionally, the dissertation proposal requires a cover (or “title”) page.
When the dissertation proposal is ready, the student should submit it to all members of the reading committee and obtain the approval signatures from the advisor(s), readers, and the department chair on a single copy of the cover page. The proposal is then submitted electronically to all members of the Composition Department faculty for approval by the full Composition Department. After approval by the Composition faculty, the composition dissertation advisor will forward a copy of your proposal to the Office of Graduate Studies.
Music Education
The PhD proposal is a substantive paper that includes: (1) abstract, (2) introduction, (3) review of relevant literature, and (4) detailed method(s) and procedures for data collection and analysis. The advisory committee must read and approve the proposal before data collection can commence. Signatures of the advisory committee and the department chair on the title page indicate approval of the project. The department chair will also send a letter to the student indicating that the dissertation proposal has been approved. A copy of the letter, signed title page, and dissertation proposal must be submitted to the Eastman Office of Graduate Studies.
Musicology
The student should be on the lookout for dissertation topics from the beginning of graduate study; musicology seminars may well suggest potential subjects. In the third year, the student focuses specifically on establishing the dissertation topic. As outlined above (under Directed Study), the student enrolls during the spring semester in an independent study course with the faculty member who may serve as advisor to the dissertation; the goal of the course is to construct a dissertation proposal. The proposal should summarize the state of current research in the field relative to the topic, the methodology to be pursued, and the questions and issues to be discussed; a bibliography and likely table of contents for the dissertation should be included. N.B.: The dissertation proposal is only a starting point for dissertation research and writing: its completion should not be delayed by attempts to draw final conclusions nor by excessive concern that the proposal agrees in all particulars with the finished dissertation.
When the proposal is completed, the student submits it to the special field exam committee, consisting of three or four faculty members (two or three from the Musicology department, including the proposed advisor, and one from another department).
In addition to the PhD program faculty within the Musicology department, approval may be sought for an appropriate faculty member from the Satz Department of Music.
The proposal then forms one of the topics of inquiry at the special field exam. Subsequent to the exam, the proposal may be returned to the student for revisions. The special field exam committee then reports its findings to the entire department at a department meeting. After the proposal is approved by the special field exam committee, the department chair designates one faculty member (usually the unofficial advisor) as prospective advisor of the dissertation.
The student then submits the revised proposal—with the endorsing signatures of the advisor, two readers, and musicology chair—to the musicology office, which will forward a copy to the graduate office. For online forms see the Graduate Studies website. The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies writes to the candidate and officially names an advisor for the dissertation, upon the recommendation of the musicology chair.
Music Theory
Discussion of the dissertation proposal defense follows in section 07.03.11.
07.03.08 PhD – Major in Composition
Prerequisites: Prerequisites for the PhD in Composition include a master’s degree in composition or a related field. Before entrance, the composition department reviews the submitted materials consisting of compositions and recordings, transcripts, letters of reference, scholarly writings (masters-level papers), and GRE scores.
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.
For students entering with a bachelor’s degree:
| Requirement | Units |
| CMP 460 (Graduate Composition) | 18 |
| CMP 465 (Composition Symposium) | 2 |
| CMP 412/413 (Compositional Practice ca. 1925-1955 and Compositional Practice ca. 1955-1980) | 6 |
| CMP 421-422 (Advanced Computer Music Techniques I-II) | 6 |
|
Doctoral Seminars
|
12 |
|
Music Theory
|
6-8 |
| CMP 595 (PhD Dissertation Project) – see below | 18 |
| Electives | 20-22 |
| ESM 460 (Comprehensive Review/Capstone Project) | – |
| Remedial courses – Please refer to 05.03 Orientation, Placement Examinations, and Remediation. | – |
| Total Units | 90 |
Comprehensive Exam
A comprehensive exam is required. See section 06.03.07 (Comprehensive Examination) for more information.
Foreign Language Requirements for the PhD in Composition
While there is no general foreign-language proficiency requirement for the PhD in composition, the department supports research in new music composition, practices, theory, history, and criticism that may require fluency in non-English languages. Incoming students who plan to pursue research that involves languages other than English should make their intent known to the composition department’s MA/PhD advisor during orientation and advising in their first semester. Another opportunity to declare interest in foreign-language study is in their third semester of study, when PhD students communicate their Academic Plans to the Graduate Research Committee. Students who want to acquire proficiency in a foreign language to support their PhD research should consult with the MA/PhD advisor and/or the Associate Director of Graduate Advising and Services. Language courses at the 200-level will count for elective credit on their Academic Plans.
See section 07.03.03 (Foreign Language Requirements – PhD) for more information.
Dissertation
The dissertation is to be written under the guidance of an assigned advisor, and includes two components:
- A large-scale composition of acceptable depth, sophistication, and professionalism.
- A substantial essay, usually an analysis.
The composition department faculty must approve the subject of the research paper. See section 07.03.07 Dissertation & Final Examination for more information.
For students entering with a master’s degree:
Residency: At least one year of full-time study is required. See section 05.01 (Residency) for more information.
| Requirement | Units |
| CMP 460 (Graduate Composition) | 12 |
| CMP 412 (Compositional Practice ca. 1925-1955)1 | 3 |
| CMP 421-422 (Advanced Computer Music Techniques I-II) | 6 |
|
Doctoral Seminars
|
12 |
|
Music Theory
|
6-8 |
| CMP 595 (PhD Dissertation Project) – see below | 8-12 |
| Electives2 | 10-13 |
| Remedial courses – Please refer to 05.03 Orientation, Placement Examinations, and Remediation. | – |
| Total Units | 60 |
1 CMP 412 is not required for students who enrolled in the program before fall 2010, however it may be used as elective credit.
2 Students who enrolled in the program before fall 2010 must complete a total of 10-16 elective units. For all students, a total of at least 20 credit hours must be taken in areas other than composition and applied study. Most often these will be music history and theory courses, but other options are also possible.
Comprehensive Exam
A comprehensive exam is required. See section 06.03.07 (Comprehensive Examination) for more information.
Foreign Language Requirements for the PhD in Composition
While there is no general foreign-language proficiency requirement for the PhD in composition, the department supports research in new music composition, practices, theory, history, and criticism that may require fluency in non-English languages. Incoming students who plan to pursue research that involves languages other than English should make their intent known to the composition department’s MA/PhD advisor during orientation and advising in their first semester. Another opportunity to declare interest in foreign-language study is in their third semester of study, when PhD students communicate their Academic Plans to the Graduate Research Committee. Students who want to acquire proficiency in a foreign language to support their PhD research should consult with the MA/PhD advisor and/or the Associate Director of Graduate Advising and Services. Language courses at the 200-level will count for elective credit on their Academic Plans.
See section 07.03.03 (Foreign Language Requirements – PhD) for more information.
Dissertation
The dissertation is to be written under the guidance of an assigned advisor, and includes two components:
- A large-scale composition of acceptable depth, sophistication, and professionalism.
- A substantial essay, usually an analysis.
The composition department faculty must approve the subject of the research paper. See section 07.03.07 Dissertation & Final Examination for more information.
07.03.09 PhD – Major in Music Education
Prerequisites: Prerequisites for entrance to the program include professional experience as an accomplished educator with teaching experience in a variety of settings. Teaching skill is demonstrated through a videotape submission before the interview, and through references that document teaching success. Applicants submit a teaching portfolio which includes examples of student work, concert programs, and performance reviews. Writing and research proficiency is expected, and is assessed by a graduate paper.
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 that is required and any 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.
| Requirement | Units |
| MTL 402 (Measurement and Evaluation) | 3 |
| MTL 403 (Introduction to Research) | 3 |
| MTL 501 (History and Philosophy of Music Education) | 3 |
| MTL 502 (Curriculum Seminar) | 3 |
| MTL 595 (PhD Dissertation Project) | 16 |
| Music Theory Two courses in theory are required. Both must be numbered TH 401 and/or above. | 6-8 |
| Research Two courses in research methods are required. Qualitative Research Methods through the University of Rochester’s Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development and MTL 505: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis from the Eastman School. Courses must be selected in consultation with the PhD advisor. | 6 |
| MHS 594 / MUY 590 Two courses in music history and/or musicology at the 590-level are required. If placement tests indicate that 400-level study is required, the 400-level course(s) may be counted toward the degree as open electives only; they will not satisfy the music history requirement. | 6 |
| Electives: May include MTL 590 independent studies or research | 14 |
| Remedial courses – Please refer to 05.03 Orientation, Placement Examinations, and Remediation. | – |
| Total Units | 60-62 |
There is no foreign language requirement for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Education. However, if the student’s research topic includes source material in a foreign language, competency in that language will be expected. A minor field of study is also not required for music education majors.
Dissertation
The dissertation for the music education 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. See section 07.03.07 (Dissertation & Final Examination) for more information.
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 | Units |
| 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 Units | 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 units towards the masters and 6 units towards 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 units 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 | Units |
| 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 Units | 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 academic plan 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 them 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.
07.03.11 PhD – Major in Music Theory
The MA/PhD program in music theory includes a series of introductory courses covering the broad range of research in music theory; these lead to more focused pro-seminars, and then to seminars and finally independent studies. The student thereby gradually obtains the skills necessary to carry out independent research, which is the goal of the MA/PhD. The department strongly encourages individual research initiatives, especially those that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.
Prerequisites: Prerequisites for entrance to the program include skill levels (aural and keyboard skills) that are up to the very best students in undergraduate Eastman theory classes, though occasionally students with lower skill levels are accepted if they have strong potential as researchers. Each applicant to the program has a personal interview with faculty members from the Music Theory Department, and at least two of these interviews test skill levels in keyboard, sight-singing, dictation, and analysis. Since these students, upon entry into the program, will be teaching Eastman undergraduates, they normally must be able to demonstrate superior skill levels at the audition interview in order to be considered for admission.
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.
For students entering with a bachelor’s degree:
| Requirement | Units | |
| Core Courses2 (To be taken during first two years of study) | TH 501 (Proseminar in Music Theory) | 4 |
| TH 521 (Pedagogy of Music Theory |
4 |
|
| TH 527 (Topics in the History of Music Theory | 4 | |
|
Analysis Courses (can be satisfied using TH 511, TH 513, 581, 582) Choose at least one seminar in each category:
|
16 | |
| Courses Outside Theory Department |
|
9-10 |
| Additional Electives | See recommendations and restrictions below | 30-1 |
| Dissertation | TH 595 (PhD Dissertation Project) | 18 |
| Remedial courses – Please refer to 05.03 Orientation, Placement Examinations, and Remediation. | – | |
| Total Units | 90 | |
For students entering with a 30-credit master’s degree1:
| Requirement | Units | |
| Core Courses2 (To be taken during first two years of study) | TH 501 (Proseminar in Music Theory) | 4 |
| TH 521 (Pedagogy of Music Theory) | 4 | |
| TH 527 (Topics in the History of Music Theory) | 4 | |
|
Analysis Courses (can be satisfied using TH 511, TH 513, 581, 582) Choose at least one seminar in each category:
|
16 | |
| Courses Outside Theory Department |
|
9-11 |
| Dissertation | TH 595 (PhD Dissertation Project) | 18 |
| Remedial courses – Please refer to 05.03 Orientation, Placement Examinations, and Remediation. | – | |
| Total Units | 60 | |
1If a student enters this program with a previous master’s degree in theory, 30 transfer credits are normally accepted. (In some cases up to 6 additional units for graduate theory courses taken above the 30-unit master’s may be granted.) If a student enters this program with a master’s degree in some other area, transfer credit is normally accepted for graduate-level theory courses and one musicology course. See section 05.04 Graduate Transfer Credit for more information.
2 If the student has already taken the equivalent of one (or more) of these core courses in a prior master’s degree, it is possible that these requirements may be waived and other courses identified as substitutions.
The following course recommendations and restrictions apply to the category of additional electives:
- TH 475 Intermediate Keyboard Skills / TH 476 Advanced Keyboard Skills or other courses related to pedagogy
- TH 451 Modal Counterpoint
- TH 452 Eighteenth-Century Counterpoint
- TH 412 Acoustics
- TH 480 Style Composition
- Courses pertaining to the student’s performance interests
- Department Proseminars
- Seminars on special topics
- TH 591 Theory Colloquium (maximum of 2 units for students matriculating fall 2006 or later)
- Up to 12 credit hours of applied music study (6 units during the master’s degree and 6 units during the doctoral degree.) It is necessary to audition in order to be assigned an applied teacher; please contact the Office of Academic Affairs.
Note that most course(s) required on the basis of placement exam results or language deficiency are considered remedial and do not count toward the total required credits for the degree. The exceptions are as follows: (1) one MHS 42x course may be required and counted as elective credit (but not two such courses); (2) one language 201G-202G sequence may be taken for elective credit (but not two such courses). Courses at the 100 level may not be used as elective credit and are not covered by Graduate Awards.
Foreign Language Requirements for the PhD in Music Theory
PhD students in Music Theory are required to demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language, normally informed by the student’s research interests. Proficiency is demonstrated by the successful completion (grade of B+ or better) of a fourth-semester language course.
Students can fulfill this requirement with a transcript from:
- ESM/ UR fourth-semester language course
- Equivalent coursework taken at a previous institution (approval from ESM Humanities faculty required)
- A language exam from an approved assessment organization, e.g. ACTFL or Goethe Institute.
Please contact the ESM Humanities faculty for questions regarding approval of transcripts, course placement tests, or proficiency exams. Students with prior multilingual experience should contact the Theory Graduate Advisor.
See section 07.03.03 (Foreign Language Requirements – PhD) for more information.
Dissertation
The dissertation for the music theory major must constitute an original contribution to the field and should exhibit evidence of the student’s outstanding ability in research and independent thinking, synthesis, and compelling organization of material.
Timeline for the MA/PhD in Music Theory
First Year
Coursework: The initial year of study consists of Pedagogy of Music Theory and at least one of the required analysis seminars. Proseminar in Music Theory and Topics in the History of Theory are offered every other year: if they are offered during a student’s first year, they should be taken that year; otherwise, they should be taken during the student’s second year. In addition to these courses, the student will take any remedial courses required, and/or select from among the first six items listed as recommended elective courses (above). It is recommended that students take at least one course each year outside the theory department; students are required to take one music history/musicology class within the first two years of study. Students should also begin fulfilling their language requirement during the first year.
Second Year
Coursework: Students will complete the remaining core courses. Upon consultation with their advisors and/or committees, students will also take a range of seminars in music theory, as well as classes in other departments or from outside Eastman. Students entering with a master’s degree will ordinarily have accrued 72 units by the end of the second year (this total includes 30 units from their previous master’s degree), and may fill out their second semester with dissertation units (TH 595 PhD Dissertation Project). The student will also prepare and submit their formal academic plan during the second year, and complete their language requirement if they haven’t already done so. These students will also, in contact with their academic advisor, form a research committee.
Comprehensive Examination: Part 1
Part 1 of the Comprehensive Exam is composed of two parts, Part 1A and Part 1B. Students may not proceed to Comprehensive Examination Part 2 until satisfactory completion of both Part 1A and Part 1B.
Part 1A: Skills Examination
- Part 1A is required of all MA/PhD students, regardless of whether they entered with a BA or MA.
- Students are expected to take the examination in their fourth semester of study, although students entering with the MA degree may take it as early as in their second semester of study.
- Part 1A is officially given once per year during Jury Week. Retakes may occur in early fall by approval of the department chair and scheduled on an ad hoc basis. Normally a student may retake the skills examination only once (i.e., a total of two attempts).
- The examination will focus on musical skills (singing, playing, composition, improvisation, figured bass, score reading, etc.). Sample examinations are available for study in the theory department office.
Part 1B: Research Presentation
- The Research Presentation is
- Required for MA/PhD students who matriculate with any bachelor’s degree or with a master’s or doctoral degree other than in music theory, and normally completed in semester 3 or 4
- Recommended for those matriculating with a master’s degree in music theory, and normally given by the end of the first year of full-time registration.
- In all cases, the presentation will be 20-30 minutes in length, with additional time for questions. The topic may focus on any area of music theory, broadly conceived. A proposal must be submitted for approval by the theory department Graduate Curriculum Committee at least one calendar month prior to its delivery. Presentations will be public, and normally will be scheduled during the TH 591 Colloquium. Students should refer to the instructor of that course to make suitable arrangements for date, time, location, and equipment.
The student’s presentation may be recorded; in addition, the student will submit a written copy of the presentation to the members of the Graduate Curriculum Committee. The student will receive a brief, written report on the presentation from the Graduate Curriculum Committee, which will determine whether the presentation was satisfactory. A final grade of S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) will be given. In assessing the presentation the Committee will bear in mind the significance, originality, and rigor of the project. If the presentation is deemed Unsatisfactory, the student may schedule a second attempt (i.e., a total of two attempts).
Third and fourth years
Coursework: By the end of the second year, students will normally have accrued 42-48 hours of credit (if entering without a master’s degree) consisting of the five core requirements and other recommended courses.
Students who have satisfied the following requirements are eligible for the Master of Arts degree (in passing) in music theory:
- successful completion of the PhD Part 1a exam
- completion at least 30 hours of credit
- a minimum of 9-10 units of music courses taken outside the theory department
- completion of the foreign language requirements
Students should confer with their advisor, fill out an MA Program of Study form listing only those courses to be counted towards the MA in passing, and submit the form to the Graduate Studies Office. It is the student’s responsibility to complete a Degree Application Form and submit it to the Registrar’s Office.
During the third year, students will concentrate on specialized courses and independent studies directed toward the dissertation. Students entering with a bachelor’s degree will, in consultation with the academic advisor, form a research committee. The remaining hours may consist of free electives or applied music study (up to 6 hours per degree). Students will also begin preparation for the Theory PhD qualifying exam, followed by the dissertation proposal. The research committee will guide the student’s exam and dissertation activities.
Comprehensive Examination: Part 2 (Qualifying Exam)
Note on your preparation for the Theory part 2 comprehensive examination
- Students taking the Theory part 2 comprehensive examination are expected to prepare for it independently.
- A dissertation adviser will normally have been approved by this stage of the student’s career, but it is not that professor’s role to provide tutoring or detailed advice towards the preparation for the comprehensive examination.
- The dissertation adviser, or potential adviser, is likely to be one of the examiners of your comprehensive examination, making any significant amount of coaching even less appropriate.
- A part 2 candidate should of course feel free to approach theory professors on music theory questions, arising during preparation for the examination, on which they have particular expertise.
- It is not the intention of the department to inhibit the easy exchange between faculty and students which has always been an important ethos of our teaching and learning environment.
The Qualifying Examination is called Part 2 of the Comprehensive Examination and is the written component. Students may sit for this examination once they have successfully completed Part 1A and 1B.
- The department chair will appoint, annually, a senior theory faculty member to chair the part 2 examinations.
- The part 2 chair will invite where possible a candidate’s adviser OR second reader to serve as one member of the individual examination committee for that candidate alongside a theory faculty member who is not part of the candidate’s committee. If an adviser or second reader prefers not to act in this way, the part 2 chair may appoint any other appropriate colleague from the department. Any faculty member may serve on more than one committee at a time; and the part 2 chair may invite one examiner to act as one grader of a particular question in the case of all candidates when it is felt that specialist assessment and grading consistency make this appropriate.
- At or about the last day of spring term candidates will receive from the part 2 chair a list of three topics. Candidates will work as a study group on the same topics, or if candidate numbers require it then the part 2 chair in consultation with the department chair will allocate each candidate to a study group. Over about three weeks and by a deadline to be announced, candidates will construct a communal bibliography of approximately 30 sources (complete books and articles) per topic, making about 90 sources in all. Within one week of submission the examination committee will either approve the list or specify required revisions to be submitted by the study group not more than one week after notification by the committee. Candidates will proceed to study the approved sources ahead of the September comprehensive examination.
- Day 1 (which will be a Monday) consists of:
• essay questions on the three prepared topics, one question per topic.
• one essay question on a topic specific to each candidate’s known research interests.
Candidates will have an hour and a half to answer each question with an essay. The day
includes a lunch break in the examination room. - Day 2 At the end of Day 1 each candidate will have been handed an individual
music-analytical assignment to be submitted no later than the following Monday,
10:00am. This assignment will be chosen by the part 2 chair on the advice of the examination committee and providing a task appropriate to each candidate. Each assignment will be unique to each candidate. The common standard is that every assignment can reasonably be expected to be completed by a competent doctoral theory candidate in about six days of concentrated work. Candidates may not consult with faculty members during this
examination period over any aspect of the Day 2 task. Any procedural questions must be put directly to the part 2 chair or an announced alternative faculty member.
About one week after submission of the Day 2 examination, each candidate, as part of the
comprehensive examination, will be called for a general oral examination with two members
of the Examination Committee, selected and chaired by the Part 2 chair, normally those faculty
members who have graded the candidate’s examination. The main purpose of the oral
examination is to discuss points in candidates’ examination performance considered to be
relevant to their ABD studies and professional development. Although the examiners are free
to discuss specific aspects of a candidate’s part 2 written examination, it will not be
advantageous for any candidate to spend time attempting to prepare for the oral examination
by revisiting Day 1 and Day 2 work. The discussion with the examiners will be essentially
formative rather than retrospective.
Failure in either element of the examination (topics or analysis) will result in failure of the
examination as a whole. A candidate who fails the part 2 comprehensive examination for the
first time will be entitled to take it again the following year on the basis of the new topics and
music-analytical materials. The Theory Department Graduate Curriculum Committee may, in
wholly exceptional circumstances, with regard to any available evidence, waive the
requirement to retake either of the two elements of the failed examination in which a
candidate’s performance was clearly satisfactory.
The Dissertation Proposal Process
Once the written qualifying examination has been successfully completed, the student moves to the dissertation proposal stage.
- Normally within six months of passing the Qualifying Exam, the student completes the dissertation proposal. The Graduate Curriculum Committee Chair appoints a Dissertation Proposal Committee (consisting of the GCC Chair, dissertation advisor, the second reader1, and another member from outside the department). This committee approves moving forward to the public defense (the proposal must be distributed to the members of the Dissertation Proposal Committee at least three weeks prior to the defense).
- There are normally two parts to the dissertation proposal. Part 1 is a public presentation by the student, with the Dissertation Proposal Committee in attendance. After the defense, the Dissertation Proposal Committee may exercise the option of having an additional private meeting with the student, or it may approve the proposal after the public presentation. In the event of failure, the Committee may recommend that more work be done, and it is entitled to exempt the candidate from another public presentation.
- Students may not approach members of the Committee, other than the advisor and second reader. Exceptions may be made upon written request to the chair of the Graduate Curriculum Committee explaining the reasons for this request.
1In addition to the PhD program faculty within the Music Theory department, the following faculty from outside ESM have been approved to serve as inside members of Music Theory dissertation committees: John Covach, Matthew BaileyShea. They may not be appointed as outside members for Music Theory.
The Dissertation Defense Committee
The committee for the dissertation defense consists of the dissertation advisor, the second reader, the outside reader, and a chair from outside the department, appointed by the University Dean of Graduate Studies.
The Outside Reader: The adviser must notify the Graduate Office as soon as the outside reader of the dissertation committee has been designated by the department, and/or when any changes are made to the dissertation committee after the dissertation proposal has been approved by the department. The adviser in consultation with the department is responsible for contacting the outside reader and securing that individual’s consent to serve on the committee. If the outside reader comes from outside the Eastman/UR community, the department chair must make a written request to the Graduate Office for that reader to serve on the student’s committee; a bio of the outside reader should be included with the request. The Associate Dean of Graduate Studies then seeks permission from the University Dean of Graduate Studies to include this outside reader on the student’s dissertation committee.
Departments are responsible for paying travel and lodging expenses for an outside-UR reader traveling to Eastman for the final defense. The department is also responsible for an ESM faculty member serving on the committee who is on a leave of absence (LOA), and who agrees to travel back to Eastman for the defense; in cases where the ESM faculty member on a LOA is unable to serve on the committee they meet with the departmental chair and a substitute is arranged. Exceptional permission for a second reader or outside reader to participate in the final defense by videoconference must be sought by the department from the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. In no circumstances may a final defense take place without the presence at the school of the candidate and the adviser.
Summary:
In addition to coursework and languages, there are four additional requirements, each of which must be passed in order for the student to qualified as ABD. The chart below specifies an order and approximate timeline to accomplish each requirement. Note the differences for students entering with the BA and those entering with the MA.
| Students Entering with BA: | Students Entering with MA: | |
| Comprehensive Examination – Part I: | ||
| A: Skills Examination taken: | Year 2 | Year 1 or 2 |
| B: Research presentation: | Year 2 | Optional |
| Comprehensive Examination: Part II: | ||
| Written Examination: | Year 3 or 4 | Year 3 |
| Dissertation Proposal: | Year 4 or 5 | Year 3 or 4 |
Policy Handbook Table of Contents Course Descriptions Index Registrar Home
