Doctor of Philosophy in Music
Ph.D. in Music
The Ph.D. in Music is offered in Musicology or Music Theory.
Graduate Admission to the School of Music
Standard Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs
Catalog Update Instructions: This section is listed for all graduate programs*; programs may not modify this information. Stricter requirements should be listed in program-specific admission requirements.
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
- Bachelor’s degree: A copy of official transcripts showing proof of a bachelor's degree (and any post-bachelor’s coursework or degrees) from a regionally accredited institution, or a foreign university with equivalent bachelor's degree requirements is required.
- English proficiency: Proof of English proficiency for non-native or non-native-like English speakers is required. There are two bands of English proficiency, including Admission and Full proficiency. For applicants to online programs, Full proficiency is required.
Additional Program Requirements
Applicants should begin the application process, which will walk them through the application requirements and provide specific details for their program area.
- Resume or CV (please include repertoire list if applicable)
- Statement of Purpose
- A Scholarly Writing Sample (if applicable)
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (provide professional email addresses within application system)
Applicants should submit the application by the December 1st priority application deadline. Some programs will accept applications after this date, but late applicants may not be considered for funding. Contact musicgrad@ku.edu with questions.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements
Students will select one of the concentrations below.
Music Theory PhD Degree Requirements
Diagnostic Examinations
All incoming graduate students, except MM-Opera, are required to take diagnostic exams in Music History. The exams are given during the week before the Fall and Spring semesters begin. Diagnostic deficiencies can only be satisfied in one of the following ways: 1) re-taking the exam the next time it is given (two re-takes allowed prior to third semester of enrollment) or 2) enrolling in the appropriate review course at either the undergraduate or graduate and receiving at least a grade of "C." The student must satisfy all diagnostic deficiencies by the end of the third semester of enrollment.
Program of Study
A Program of Study must be submitted to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator at musicgrad@ku.edu by the end of the second semester of enrollment. It is the student’s responsibility to track degree progress based on the approved program of study and submit updates to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator as needed. A final degree check should be requested the semester prior to your proposed graduation term by emailing musicgrad@ku.edu.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 801 | Music Bibliography and Research | 3 |
| MTHC 789 | Seminar on Selected Topics: _____ | 12 |
| Advanced Music Theory (MTHC course at 700-level or above) | 12 | |
| Electives (any graduate level course) | 15 | |
| MTHC 999 | Dissertation | 18 |
| Total Credit Hours Required: | 60 | |
Advisory Committee
Each doctoral student must form a Graduate Advisory Committee. You must choose your advisory committee members and complete an Advisory Committee Approval Form by the beginning of your second year. Discuss the membership of your committee with your advisor and personally ask each faculty member to serve and approve the Advisory Committee form online. The committee consists of a minimum of 4 faculty members including the Graduate Studies Representative (who must be from outside your department). All members of your committee must be on the Graduate Faculty. This committee administers the comprehensive and final oral examinations.
Qualifying and Oral Comprehensive Examinations
Students must take qualifying examinations in music theory and musicology when most of their coursework has been completed and the research skills/responsible scholarship requirements have been fulfilled. The next exam called the major field qualifying exam, involves one week of research and writing essays on two different topics, questions prepared specifically for the student by the area faculty.
Upon successful completion of all written qualifying examinations, the student is eligible to schedule the oral comprehensive examination administered by the graduate advisory committee. With the satisfactory completion of both written and oral comprehensive examinations, the aspirant is admitted to candidacy for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
Dissertation Proposal
No later than the end of the semester after the successful completion of the written and oral comprehensive examinations, the candidate, in consultation with the faculty dissertation committee, must submit a dissertation proposal with a preliminary bibliography, outline, and description of the project and research plan.
Final Oral Examination
Following completion of the dissertation, the student is eligible to schedule the final oral examination in which the candidate presents and defends the results of the dissertation research and is expected to respond to questions from the faculty committee. A grade of at least B must be achieved on the dissertation for satisfactory completion of the degree requirements.
Musicology PhD Degree Requirements
Diagnostic Examinations
All incoming graduate students, except MM-Opera, are required to take diagnostic exams in Music History. The exams are given during the week before the Fall and Spring semesters begin. Diagnostic deficiencies can only be satisfied in one of the following ways: 1) re-taking the exam the next time it is given (two re-takes allowed prior to third semester of enrollment) or 2) enrolling in the appropriate review course at either the undergraduate or graduate and receiving at least a grade of "C." The student must satisfy all diagnostic deficiencies by the end of the third semester of enrollment.
Program of Study
A Program of Study must be submitted to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator at musicgrad@ku.edu by the end of the second semester of enrollment. It is the student’s responsibility to track degree progress based on the approved program of study and submit updates to the Graduate Student Services Coordinator as needed. A final degree check should be requested the semester prior to your proposed graduation term by emailing musicgrad@ku.edu.
Musicology Concentration
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 801 | Music Bibliography and Research | 3 |
| Musicology (At least 9 credits must be 700-level or above, at least 6 credits must be MUSC 940) | 15 | |
| MUSC 999 | Dissertation | 18 |
| Advanced courses in music theory | 9 | |
| Electives | 15 | |
Doctoral Examinations
Performance D.M.A. students must take Qualifying Exams in Musicology, Music Theory, and the major field of study. After successful completion of the written examinations and the residency and research skills requirements, the student is eligible to schedule the Oral Comprehensive Exam administered by the student's graduate advisory committee. Upon satisfactory completion of all other degree requirements, candidates must schedule a final oral examination (defense). One month (minimum) must pass between the successful completion of the Oral Comprehensive Exam and the Final DMA Exam/Defense.
Foreign Language Requirements
Aspirants to the Ph.D. degree in musicology are expected to have a reading knowledge of two languages chosen from: German, French, Italian, Spanish, or any other foreign language approved by the department. Reading proficiency in both languages must be demonstrated before scheduling the oral comprehensive examination; for many students, proficiency in one of these languages was perhaps demonstrated during a master's degree. The student also may be advised to develop reading proficiency in another language or languages in order to pursue research for the dissertation.
Advisory Committee
Each doctoral student must form a Graduate Advisory Committee. You must choose your advisory committee members and complete an Advisory Committee Approval Form by the beginning of your second year. Discuss the membership of your committee with your advisor and personally ask each faculty member to serve and approve the Advisory Committee form online. The committee consists of a minimum of 4 faculty members including the Graduate Studies Representative (who must be from outside your department). All members of your committee must be on the Graduate Faculty. This committee administers the comprehensive and final oral examinations.
Sample degree plans for the Doctor of Philosophy in Music with the following concentrations can be found here: concentration in Musicology, concentration in Music Theory, or by using the left-side navigation.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Develop professional capacities to work independently and make effective artistic and intellectual judgments and professional decisions in the area of specialization.
- Demonstrate professional competence in the area of specialization before peers and faculty.
- Produce a final project or some equivalent reviewed by more than one faculty member.