Musicology M.A.

Program Overview

This program is for talented music students interested in the diverse ways in which music’s political, social, and historical contexts shape its meanings.  Students are introduced to foundational methodologies and develop critical thinking skills, while exploring themes in musicological literature and refining analytical skills. The thesis project enables development of personal interests.

An option exists for specialization in:

Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies

This program is open to students who are interested in cross-disciplinary research that focuses on issues centrally related to gender, sexuality, feminist theory, and/or women’s studies.

Musicology requirements are augmented by participation in a Graduate Feminism Symposium that engages with a diverse array of critical and empirical perspectives.

This program draws on the resources of the McGill Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies that includes faculty and graduate students from across the University. In Gender Studies, supporting music faculty members have interests in opera, film studies, aesthetics, theory of performance, and popular/jazz studies.

Faculty

Students receive guidance from leading scholars whose internationally acclaimed research ranges from medieval and renaissance music to the popular music of today.

For a complete list of Musicology Area faculty members, visit the area's webpage.

Resources & Opportunities

  • Collaborations with students from other areas and the doctoral program in seminars facilitate out-of-the-box thinking.
  • Links with other departments, the Institute for the Public Life of Art and Ideas, and the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology.
  • Grant writing and paper presentation mentoring with international success.

Awards

Students in this program have received funding from sources such as: SSHRC, Commonwealth, FQRSC, BANQ, IPLAI, and a range of University fellowships, as well as the Dean’s Essay Prize.

Careers

Graduates often continue their studies at the doctoral level at McGill and other major North American universities; others pursue careers in teaching, arts management, music business, journalism, law, and archival curation, among others.

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