Graduate Program in Critical Music Studies

Graduate Program in Critical Music Studies: Degrees Offered

• Master of Arts in Music (Critical Music Studies)
• PhD in Music (Critical Music Studies)

The Critical Music Studies program is designed to provide students with broad exposure to the sub-disciplines of music scholarship (music history, music theory, ethnomusicology) and to facilitate the development of research projects that build on these broad foundations. Students typically take courses that engage all three sub-disciplines. Many explore course offerings centering the creation and study of new music and bridging performance and scholarship (as with our performance practice workshops in early music and contemporary music). The flexible curriculum also makes it possible for students to deepen their engagement with their research areas via coursework in related disciplines.

The MA Program typically takes two years to complete, and students in this program have the option of applying to the PhD program. The PhD program is designed to take five to six years. PhD students work with a steering committee to focus their interests, hone their research skills, and develop their dissertation project.