Courses
Students will normally take seventeen courses of 30000- or 40000 level instruction, including the following:
- MUSI 31100: Tonal Analysis I
- One or two further courses in Music Analysis (MUSI 31200–31900)
- Two or three proseminars in Music History (MUSI 32500, 32800, and 32900)
- Two ethnomusicology courses. These should include MUSI 33000 (Proseminar in Ethnomusicology) or 33500 (Introduction to World Music) and a further ethnomusicology course at the 30000 level.
- Ten elective courses at the 30000 or 40000 level. These courses should be relevant to the student’s research objectives and be taken in consultation with the faculty mentor or Director of Graduate Studies.
- At least six of these electives will normally be 40000-level seminars in the Department of Music.
- Students preparing for a career oriented toward musicology should take all three history proseminars.
- Students preparing for a career oriented toward theory and analysis should take MUSI 31200 (Tonal Analysis II) and MUSI 31300 (Post Tonal Analysis) as well as MUSI 37100 (History of Music Theory I) and 37200 (History of Music Theory II).
- Dissertation Proposal Seminar (MUSI 41500) counts as a for-credit elective.
Minor in Composition
History and Theory students pursuing a minor in composition will normally complete six quarters of MUSI 34000/341000 (Composition/Composer’s Seminar) and thirteen courses of 30000- or 40000-level instruction, including the following:
- Three courses in Music Analysis (MUSI 31100 through 31900)
- One proseminar in Music History (MUSI 32500 through 32900)
- Two ethnomusicology courses. These should include MUSI 33000 (Proseminar in Ethnomusicology) or 33500 (Introduction to World Music) and a further ethnomusicology course at the 30000 level.
- Seven elective courses at the 30000 or 40000 level. These courses should be relevant to the student’s research objectives and be taken in consultation with the faculty mentor or Director of Graduate Studies.
- At least four of these electives will normally be 40000-level seminars in the Department of Music.
- Students preparing for a career oriented toward theory and analysis should take MUSI 31200 (Tonal Analysis II) and MUSI 31300 (Post Tonal Analysis) as well as MUSI 37100 (History of Music Theory I) and 37200 (History of Music Theory II).
- Dissertation Proposal Seminar (MUSI 41500) counts as a for-credit elective.
Entering with an M.A. in Music
Students entering with an M.A. in Music and pursuing Track 1 will normally complete the following twelve courses:
- MUSI 32500 (Proseminar in Western Music to 1500)
- One Proseminar in Music since 1500 (MUSI 32600–32800)
- One course in Music Analysis (MUSI 31100–31900)
- MUSI 33000: Proseminar in Ethnomusicology or MUSI 33500: Introduction to World Music (with strong encouragement to take both if possible)
- Eight elective courses at the 30000 or 40000 level. These courses should be relevant to the student’s research objectives and be taken in consultation with the faculty mentor or Director of Graduate Studies.
- At least three of these electives will normally be 40000-level seminars in the Department of Music.
- Dissertation Proposal Seminar (MUSI 41500) counts as a for-credit elective.
Colloquium
All students must enroll in six quarters of Colloquium (MUSI 41000). Students may register for Colloquium in any quarter.
Musicianship
The successful completion of two different musicianship activities that expand the student’s skills and professional horizons.
Languages
Musicology and music theory concentrators are required to pass two language examinations. Languages are normally chosen from among German, French, Spanish, Italian, or Latin, or from other languages as the student and their faculty advisers deem professionally relevant.
See Language Examinations for further details.
Comprehensive Examinations
A five-part examination, consisting of the following:
- Analysis (one or two): a 72–hour long exam in June, consisting of a close analysis of a single tonal or post-tonal work or movement. History concentrators will likely choose either tonal analysis or post-tonal analysis; theory concentrators will likely choose to take both tonal analysis and post-tonal analysis exams (see below).
- History Essays (one or two): 8-hour long exams in September, consisting of long and short essay questions on pre-1800 and post-1800 topics. History concentrators will take both sets of essays, while theory concentrators will choose either pre-1800 or post-1800 essays. Each exam will consist of one long essay, to be chosen from two options, and two short essays, to be chosen from four options. Topic study areas will be provided in Week 8 of Spring quarter.
- Further Choice Essay: an 8-hour long exam in September. Each exam will consist of one long essay, to be chosen from two options, and two short essays, to be chosen from four options. Topic study areas will be provided in Week 8 of Spring quarter. Choose from
- the history of music theory (three choices in Group A, three choices in Group B)
- conceptual foundations
- ethnomusicological area studies
- second analysis exam
- Repertory: a 48–hour long written exam in September. Students will write 150–300 words about 12 examples, which are either musical score pages or aural excerpts drawn from a wide, diverse range of musical traditions spanning 9th to the 20th centuries. The exam tests meaning-making skills such as audiating from a score, recognizing by ear, and historically contextualizing repertories. Study modules and guidance are provided in Week 1 of Spring. Students pursuing a minor field in composition may substitute the composers repertory exam, a two-hour oral examination.
Theory Concentrators typically take:
1) tonal analysis
2) post-tonal analysis
3) one history essay (either pre-1800 or post-1800)
4) history of theory essay
5) repertory exam
History Concentrators typically take:
1) one analysis exam (either tonal or post-tonal)
2) pre-1800 history essay
3) post-1800 history essay
4) further choice exam: choose from conceptual foundations, history of theory essay, area studies, or analysis
5) repertory exam
See the general discussion of comprehensive exams for more details.
Dissertation
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Dissertation Development Seminars that aid in the crafting of a dissertation topic, proposal, and document.
Defense of the Dissertation Proposal
A two-hour oral examination, based on a proposal which must be approved by the faculty committee for purposes of the defense and submitted in final form to the committee no later than two weeks before the examination. The proposal should demonstrate, and the student will be examined on, the propriety and feasibility of the topic, as well as the student’s broad knowledge of literature and repertory, both directly related to the topic and in areas surrounding the topic, as appropriate. A bibliography, incorporating both directly related writings in music and relevant works in other fields, should be included. The defense should not be scheduled until all parts of the Comprehensive Examination have been successfully completed. Following a successful defense, the proposal will be filed in the student’s dossier in the Department of Music. Substantive changes to the topic must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for faculty approval.
Admission to Candidacy
Following the completion of all the above requirements, the student will be recommended by the Department of Music to the Dean of Students for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
Dissertation
A Dissertation that makes an original contribution to knowledge. The dissertation must be approved by at least three members of the Department who can verify that it meets the necessary requirements. A copy of the dissertation manuscript and an abstract must be submitted to the committee no later than four weeks before the defense. The dissertation should normally be completed within three years after the special field examination. However, the student may petition the Department for yearly extensions.
Defense
A final oral examination in defense of the Dissertation. At least nine months (three quarters) must normally elapse between admission to candidacy and the final examination. All other requirements must be completed before the defense is scheduled.
N.B. Students may not apply for the Ph.D. degree until all degree requirements have been met.
Satisfactory Progress Requirements
The following specific requirements for the program in History & Theory of Music should be read in the context of the general requirements for satisfactory progress. The following requirements are a lower limit; students are encouraged to exceed these requirements at whatever rate suits them.
During year 1 students should complete at least eight courses, one language, and at least one musicianship activity.
By the end of year 2 students should have completed all course requirements (with the exception of the Dissertation Proposal Seminar, typically taken in year 3); two languages; and two musicianship activities.
By the end of year 3 students should have completed all language requirements and musicianship activities, passed all five sections of the Comprehensive Examinations, and defended their dissertation proposals.
Years 4 and 5 should be devoted to dissertation research and writing.
M.A. Degree en Route in History and Theory
Students may apply to receive the Master of Arts upon completion of the following requirements:
- 12 courses in the Department of Music, including 10 non-elective courses
- 1 language exam
- 1 musicianship activity
- Two seminar papers demonstrating scholarly competence to be submitted for faculty approval by the beginning of the quarter in which the degree is to be received