The completion of a dissertation (for composers, a minor field paper) is one of the hallmarks of PhD study. When completed expeditiously, a student’s original scholarly project prepares the first years of their professional career and makes a timely and memorable contribution to a field(s). The faculty recognizes, however, that scholarly writing poses challenges, and so have developed a sequence of seminars to support students in the preparation, proposal, and completion of the dissertation/minor field paper.
Dissertation Pre-Proposal Seminar (DPPS, Y2) is offered to acquaint students with the methodology and goals of writing original scholarship (PhD dissertations, minor field papers). This seminar is particularly important for students preparing for dissertations in musicology, music theory, and ethnomusicology; composers preparing for their minor field papers are welcome. The seminar meets over the course of an academic year, three or four times per quarter. Enrollment is tracked with “P” and “UW” grading as in colloquium. The P grade will result from active participation (attending, submitting exercises as assigned, reading others’ work, etc.). Students normally enroll in their second year.
Dissertation Proposal Seminar (DPS, Y3) is offered as a credit-granting registration elective equivalent to a 40000-level seminar in the Department of Music. The year-long course assists students in crafting a dissertation proposal, gaining critical feedback from peers, and honing compelling research projects. Participants may include ethnomusicologists, musicologists, and theorists who are writing dissertation proposals, as well as composers working on minor field papers. The seminar meets over the course of an academic year, three or four times per quarter, with credit awarded in Spring. Though this is a credit-bearing elective, P/F grading is the norm. The “P” grade will result from active participation (attending, submitting exercises as assigned, reading others’ work, etc.). It is expected that most students will enroll in the DPS during Year 3, so that they will be able to defend their dissertation proposal or minor field paper by the end of Spring term.
Dissertation Chapter Seminar (DCS, Y4–6) is offered to support students in the drafting and completion of dissertation chapters or minor field papers. A range of writing strategies will be discussed, and participants will share, discuss, and critique chapter drafts and other writing related to the dissertation/minor field paper. The seminar meets over the course of an academic year, three to five times per quarter. Enrollment is tracked with “P” and “UW” grading as in colloquium. The P grade will result from active participation (attending, submitting exercises as assigned, reading others’ work, etc.). Students normally enroll during their fifth and sixth years, although they may choose to participate in their fourth year. Students are encouraged to schedule enrollment flexibly around field work, and to participate for three or more quarters.