Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education
Ph.D. in Music Education
The Doctor of Philosophy with an emphasis in music education or music therapy focuses primarily on research and scholarship. It is often sought by those aspiring to careers in research and/or collegiate-level teaching. Coursework for the doctoral degree is flexible and tailored specifically to the student’s background and anticipated academic professional career. Each student, however, is expected to achieve a broad understanding of human musical behavior and become skilled in research methodology. Doctoral students complete three research projects in preparation for publication as a means of developing a scholarly area of expertise. The program then culminates with the completion of a substantial piece of original research in the form of a dissertation or three additional research articles. The doctoral program typically consists of three years of study. Areas of emphasis, curricula, examinations, and regulations and procedures are described in the MEMT Ph.D. Handbook under degree requirements.
Ph.D. in Music Education Admission Requirements
Standard Admission Requirements for all Graduate Programs
- 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.
Specific Program Requirements
- Master’s grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Appropriate baccalaureate and master’s degrees to support the individual’s goals for doctoral study.
- Resume or CV
- Statement of Purpose
- A Scholarly Writing Sample
- Documentation of at least 3 years of successful full-time experience, or its equivalent, as a professional music educator if seeking an emphasis in music education, OR at least 5 years of successful full- time experience as a professional music therapist, or its equivalent, if seeking an emphasis in music therapy.
- 3 Letters of Recommendation (provide professional email addresses within application system)
- Participate in an interview with the appropriate faculty for the area of emphasis (ME or MT)
- Music Education or Music Therapy PhD Video. Upload a video or provide a link to a video as follows (you may upload one video with all requirements or multiple videos):
- Face the camera, state your name, and tell why you are interested in the PhD program at KU in either music education or music therapy (2 minutes max).
Music Education Video. Upload a video or provide a link to a video under portfolio in the Graduate Application System as follows:
- Face the camera, state your name, and tell why you are interested in graduate study in Music Therapy at KU (2 minutes max).
- Select 3 contrasting pieces (12 minutes max) and demonstrate one of the options below as a teacher, either in a rehearsal, another type of music class, or a private lesson:
- Play or sing music from different time periods or styles according to your best applied music skill.
- Conduct each piece or chosen portion thereof without interruption placing the camera so that we see your entire body and face. Conducting can be in a rehearsal or concert setting.
- Mix singing/playing with conducting, if desired.
- Note: Students admitted to the ME-Ph.D. program with a concentration in Vocal Pedagogy will complete a live audition with the Voice Faculty prior to the 1st term of enrollment.
Music Therapy Video. Upload a video or provide a link to a video under portfolio in the Graduate Application System as follows:
- Face the camera, state your name, and tell why you are interested in graduate study in Music Therapy at KU (2 minutes max).
- Play or sing music from 2 different time periods or styles demonstrating your principal applied instrument or voice (5 minutes max).
- Show yourself in action as a Music Therapist (15 minutes max): Choose the best available excerpts of your clinical skills while also demonstrating foundational and clinical musicianship skills. Please describe what therapeutic (music therapy) goals and objectives are being addressed and how.
*Note: All Non-English videos must provide an English narration that describes the educational (music education) or therapeutic (music therapy) goals and objectives being addressed in the videos and how those goals are being met.
Applicants should submit the application by the December 1st application deadline. We will accept applications after this date, but late applicants may not be considered for funding. Contact musicgrad@ku.edu with questions.
Ph.D. in Music Education Degree Requirements
Research Skills
Doctoral students in music education and music therapy at KU must demonstrate research skills by completing three (3) research projects suitable for publication. These may be developed and completed independently or in consultation with appropriate doctoral faculty members. There must be a project for three different types of research methodology, usually representing methods of descriptive, experimental, and historical (including the history and logic of ideas) research. If those methods are chosen the descriptive and experimental research articles should be presented in APA style. The historical research article may be presented in Turabian, MLA, or APA style. The student may propose other divergent methodologies if those fit his/her program of study more adequately. It is up to the doctoral program planning committee to approve the methodologies each student utilizes.
Each completed project is reviewed by the student’s doctoral program planning committee, which rules in the majority whether the project is of sufficient quality for publication in a national, refereed research journal in music education or music therapy using the Doctoral Competency Project Reviewer's Report Form. The committee chair will determine if the projects will be reviewed by additional faculty not a part of the program planning committee. Single-author studies that have been published or accepted for publication in such journals may be used to demonstrate these skills.
Completion of each of the three (3) research projects must be certified by the student’s mentor/advisor in music education or music therapy on the student's degree progress check sheet and reported to the Graduate Student Service Coordinator for the School of Music. The mentor/advisor must notify musicgrad@ku.edu to confirm the completion of each project.
Responsible scholarship requirements are met by satisfactory completion of courses MEMT 812 Research in Music Education or its equivalent and Music Therapy and MEMT 920 Doctoral Seminar in Music Education and Music Therapy.
Examinations
The student must pass two (2) examinations, the oral comprehensive examination and the doctoral final examination.
The music education and music therapy Ph.D. handbook is available online and includes information about patterns of coursework, the Ph.D. minor, examinations, and the dissertation.
Ph.D. in Music Education Degree Requirements
Research Skills
Doctoral students in music education and music therapy at KU must demonstrate research skills by completing three (3) research projects suitable for publication. These may be developed and completed independently or in consultation with appropriate doctoral faculty members. There must be a project for three different types of research methodology, usually representing methods of descriptive, experimental, correlational, qualitative, and historical (including the history and logic of ideas) research. If those methods are chosen the descriptive, experimental, and correlational research articles should be presented in APA style. Historical research articles may be presented in Chicago, Turabian, MLA, or APA style. Students may propose other divergent methodologies if they fit their program of study more adequately. It is up to the doctoral program planning committee to approve the methodologies each student utilizes.
Each completed project is reviewed by the student’s doctoral program planning committee, which rules in the majority whether the project is of sufficient quality for publication in a national, refereed research journal in music education or music therapy using the Doctoral Competency Project Reviewer's Report Form. The committee chair will determine if the projects should be reviewed by additional faculty not a part of the program planning committee. Single-author studies that have been published or accepted for publication in such journals may be used to demonstrate these skills.
Completion of each of the three (3) research projects must be certified by the student’s mentor/advisor in music education or music therapy on the student's degree progress check sheet and reported to the Graduate Student Service Coordinator for the School of Music. The mentor/advisor must notify musicgrad@ku.edu to confirm the completion of each project.
Responsible scholarship requirements are met by satisfactory completion of courses MEMT 812 Research in Music Education or its equivalent and Music Therapy and MEMT 920 Doctoral Seminar in Music Education and Music Therapy.
Examinations
The student must pass two (2) examinations, the oral comprehensive examination and the doctoral final examination.
The music education and music therapy Ph.D. handbook is available online and includes information about patterns of coursework, the Ph.D. minor, examinations, and the dissertation.
Ph.D. in Music Education Program of Study
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research Skills | ||
| MEMT 812 | Research in Music Education and Music Therapy (or equivalent) | 3 |
| Core Courses in MEMT (minimum of 5 hours) | ||
| MEMT 920 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Education and Music Therapy | 1 |
| MEMT 920 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Education and Music Therapy | 1 |
| MEMT 996 | Practicum in College Teaching | 3 |
| MEMT 998 | Doctoral Comprehensive Examination | 1 |
| Additional Courses (minimum of 21 hours) 700-level or above | 21 | |
| Academic Minor (minimum of 12 hours) in any course, 600-level or above. | 12 | |
| MEMT 999 | Doctoral Dissertation ( (minimum of 18 hours)) | 18 |
| Total Credit Hours Required: | 60 | |
Ph.D. in Music Education - Music Therapy Degree Requirements
Research Skills
Doctoral students in music education and music therapy at KU must demonstrate research skills by completing three (3) research projects suitable for publication. These may be developed and completed independently or in consultation with appropriate doctoral faculty members. There must be a project for three different types of research methodology, usually representing methods of descriptive, experimental, correlational, qualitative, and historical (including the history and logic of ideas) research. If those methods are chosen the descriptive, experimental, and correlational research articles should be presented in APA style. Historical research articles may be presented in Chicago, Turabian, MLA, or APA style. Students may propose other divergent methodologies if they fit their program of study more adequately. It is up to the doctoral program planning committee to approve the methodologies each student utilizes.
Each completed project is reviewed by the student’s doctoral program planning committee, which rules in the majority whether the project is of sufficient quality for publication in a national, refereed research journal in music education or music therapy using the Doctoral Competency Project Reviewer's Report Form. The committee chair will determine if the projects should be reviewed by additional faculty not a part of the program planning committee. Single-author studies that have been published or accepted for publication in such journals may be used to demonstrate these skills.
Completion of each of the three (3) research projects must be certified by the student’s mentor/advisor in music education or music therapy on the student's degree progress check sheet and reported to the Graduate Student Service Coordinator for the School of Music. The mentor/advisor must notify musicgrad@ku.edu to confirm the completion of each project.
Responsible scholarship requirements are met by satisfactory completion of courses MEMT 812 Research in Music Education or its equivalent and Music Therapy and MEMT 920 Doctoral Seminar in Music Education and Music Therapy.
Examinations
The student must pass two (2) examinations, the oral comprehensive examination and the doctoral final examination.
The music education and music therapy Ph.D. handbook is available online and includes information about patterns of coursework, the Ph.D. minor, examinations, and the dissertation.
Ph.D. in Music Therapy Program of Study
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research Skills | ||
| MEMT 812 | Research in Music Education and Music Therapy (or equivalent course) | 3 |
| Core Courses in MEMT (minimum of 5 hours) | ||
| MEMT 920 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Education and Music Therapy | 1 |
| MEMT 920 | Doctoral Seminar in Music Education and Music Therapy | 1 |
| MEMT 996 | Practicum in College Teaching | 3 |
| MEMT 998 | Doctoral Comprehensive Examination | 1 |
| Additional Courses (minimum of 21 hours) 700-level or above | 21 | |
| Academic Minor (minimum of 12 hours) in any course, 600-level or above. | 12 | |
| MEMT 999 | Doctoral Dissertation ((minimum of 18 hours)) | 18 |
| Total Credit Hours Required: | 60 | |
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.