MUSIC-PHD - Music (PhD)
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Program Overview
Through the completion of advanced coursework and rigorous skills training, the doctoral program prepares students to make original contributions to the knowledge and practice of music and to interpret and present the results of such work in appropriate venues and publications.
Admissions Information
Information on how to apply for graduate study at Stanford is available on the university’s Graduate Admissions website. Application information specific to the Department of Music can be found on the Department of Music website.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
Students are expected to be in residence during their studies, to profit from and contribute to the Music Department fully. However, students may request research and artistic practice-based leaves when specific activities warrant it, as long as they do not interfere with the requirements below. Leave requests must be reviewed by the entire faculty and approved by a majority in consultation with the Department Chair. Leave requests should be made to the advisor at least two weeks before relevant university deadlines.
PhD students in Ethnomusicology typically take their written and oral Qualifying Exams in the week before the start of Autumn Quarter of Year 3.
PhD students in Musicology typically take their written and oral Qualifying Exams in the week before the start of Autumn Quarter of Year 3.
PhD students in Computer-Based Music Theory and Acoustics typically take their written and oral Qualifying Exams in the week before the start of Autumn Quarter of Year 2.
Computer-Based-Music Theory and Acoustics
A written and oral examination testing the student’s knowledge of music and research in the student’s field of concentration is completed during the fourth year of study, no later than the last day of classes in autumn quarter of that year. This includes an oral defense of the dissertation proposal. The examining committee comprises prospective readers of the dissertation.
Musicology
During autumn quarter of the fourth year of study, the student submits a dissertation proposal and takes a Special Area examination on repertoire and scholarly literature in their proposed area of dissertation research. The Special Area exam begins with written responses to essay questions and a translation exercise, and concludes with an oral defense of the written answers and the dissertation proposal. The Special Area exam committee comprises prospective readers of the dissertation.
Ethnomusicology
During autumn quarter of the fourth year of study, the student submits a dissertation proposal and takes a Special Area examination on music, literature, and conceptual foundations relevant to their area of concentration and dissertation research. The exam includes written responses to essay questions and a translation exercise, and covers a theoretical topic central to the dissertation. It concludes with an oral defense of the written answers and the dissertation proposal. The Special Area exam committee comprises prospective readers of the dissertation.
course TA Training Course (offered in spring quarter and taken at the end of the first year) is required preparation for Teaching Assistants.
Teaching is core to the academic and professional training of doctoral students in our program. All PhD and DMA students are required to complete six quarters of supervised teaching (Teaching Assistantships) at half-time, regardless of their financial support. Typically, students complete more than the required number of teaching quarters as part of their professional training and financial support.
Faculty review the doctoral student’s progress and academic achievement annually. Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is a judgment of the student’s potential to complete the degree program requirements by the department or school faculty. Students are expected to complete department qualifying procedures and apply for candidacy by the end of their second year in the PhD program. If the student’s progress and potential are deemed sufficient to advance to candidacy, the student must complete the Application for Candidacy for Doctoral Degree. A student not advancing to candidacy is dismissed from the program.
In the Department of Music, the oral exam is a defense of the dissertation presented upon completion of a substantial portion of the dissertation. Students consult with their advisor and reading committee on the timing. This milestone is typically completed by Spring Quarter of the fifth year.
Students are required to submit an approved dissertation that makes an original contribution to scholarship in the field of Music. Students are expected to submit the dissertation by the end of their fifth year in the program.
Computer-Based-Music Theory and Acoustics
Before students are advanced to candidacy, all PhD students in Computer-Based Music Theory and Acoustics must demonstrate a reading knowledge of one language other than English and the ability to translate it into idiomatic English.
Musicology
By advancement to candidacy, all PhD students in Musicology must pass PhD language reading examinations in German and a second language chosen from French, Italian, or Latin. A student may petition to substitute a different second language necessary for their planned doctoral research. If one of these languages is the student’s native language, the student may be exempted from an examination.
Ethnomusicology
By advancement to candidacy, all PhD students in Ethnomusicology must demonstrate proficiency in one field language and EITHER one “classical” language (Latin, German, Italian, French, Spanish, or Russian) OR a second field language. If one of these languages is the student’s native language, the student may be exempted from an examination.
Course | Requirement Note | |
|---|---|---|
MUSIC 220A, B, C & D | The recommendation is to take these courses in the first year of graduate study. | |
MUSIC 220D | MUSIC 220D units + MUSIC 341 units may be taken for a total of nine units in any one quarter. (I.e., three units of MUSIC 220D + six units of MUSIC 341 = nine units). | |
MUSIC 398 | The recommendation is to take this course in the third year of study. |
All courses in Music must be taken at the 100 level or higher and for a letter grade, unless the course has been designated Pass/Fail.
Course | Requirement Note | |
|---|---|---|
MUSIC 310 | The requirement is for five 310 seminars of 3-5 units each, to be taken in the first three years of study. | |
MUSIC 330 | Students must enroll in course Musicology Dissertation Colloquium each quarter offered while they are TGR and continuing to graduation. |
Seminars are to be taken for 3-4 units each, in the first two years of study.
All courses in Music must be taken at the 100 level or higher and for a letter grade, unless the course has been designated Pass/Fail.
Course | Requirement Note | |
|---|---|---|
MUSIC 310 | The requirement is for two 310 seminars of 3-5 units each, to be taken in the first three years of study. | |
MUSIC 330 | The requirement is for enrollment each quarter offered during Candidacy, EXCEPT when conducting ethnographic fieldwork. |
Complete one additional MUSIC 300 seminar, for 3-4 units, in addition to course. A student may request to take another MUSIC 310, instead of an additional MUSIC 300.
Four graduate-level courses (3-5 units each) in: Anthropology; TAPS; race/ethnicity (i.e., CCSRE or AAAS); global/regional/linguistic area; and gender/sexuality (i.e., FGSS) by the end of the third year.
One practicum, lesson, or ensemble in “non-Western” music must be completed at 0-3 units by the end of the third year.
All courses in Music must be taken at the 100 level or higher and for a letter grade, unless the course has been designated Pass/Fail.