Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Music (Composition, Music Education, Musicology, Music Technology, Sound Recording, Theory, Interdisciplinary Studies)

Offered by: Music     Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. in Music is offered in seven different topic areas: Musicology, Music Theory, Music Technology, Music Education, Sound Recording, Composition, and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Students admitted to the Ph.D.; Music program who have a master's degree other than a master's degree in music from McGill University may be required to successfully complete one or more undergraduate courses before completion of the doctoral degree.

Details concerning the comprehensive examinations, thesis, and academic regulations are available from the Graduate Studies Coordinator, Schulich School of Music or from the Music Graduate website at: http://www.mcgill.ca/music/programs.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Language Reading Requirements

No foreign-language reading examinations required in Sound Recording, Interdisciplinary Studies and Music Technology and Musicology.

Composition/Music Education/Music Theory

One foreign-language reading examination required. Students whose mother tongue is French are exempt from the French Reading Exam.

Required Courses

  • MUGS 701 Comprehensive Examinations

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Graduate Faculty Music Courses : Examinations that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.

    Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

  • MUGS 705 Colloquium

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Graduate Faculty Music Courses : Directed reading, seminar and discussion in various subjects of current interest in music research.

    Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024

    Instructors: S. Araújo, Liliana (Fall) S. Araújo, Liliana (Winter)

Complementary Courses (0-30 credits)

Students entering in Ph.D. 1

15 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher, approved by the Department. For Music Theory students, 0-6 credits will be selected from the following if not taken previously or equivalent courses:

  • MUTH 658 History of Music Theory 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Selected topics in the history of music theory from Greek antiquity to 1700 through readings of primary and secondary literature.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    • 3 hours

  • MUTH 659 History of Music Theory 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Selected topics in the history of music theory from 1700 to the present through readings of primary and secondary literature.

    Terms: Fall 2023

    Instructors: Hasegawa, Robert (Fall)

    • 3 hours

0-15 credits of additional seminars at the 600 or higher, will be assigned by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Music in consultation with the area coordinator, or the admissions committee for students in Interdisciplinary Studies, at the time of the admissions.

Students entering in Ph.D. 2

0-15 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher will be assigned by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Music in consultation with the area coordinator, or the admissions committee for students in Interdisciplinary Studies, at the time of the admissions. The selection must be approved by the Schulich School of Music. For Music Theory students, 0-6 credits will be selected from the following if not taken previously or equivalent courses:

  • MUTH 658 History of Music Theory 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Selected topics in the history of music theory from Greek antiquity to 1700 through readings of primary and secondary literature.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    • 3 hours

  • MUTH 659 History of Music Theory 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Selected topics in the history of music theory from 1700 to the present through readings of primary and secondary literature.

    Terms: Fall 2023

    Instructors: Hasegawa, Robert (Fall)

    • 3 hours

24 credits; Composition students entering in Ph.D. 2 only:
12 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher
One semester of:

  • MUCO 710 General Examinations

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Composition : Series of examinations (harmony, counterpoint, orchestration and analysis presentation).

    Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    • Restrictions: Only open to students in the D.Mus. Music; Composition and the Ph.D. Music; Composition programs.

12 credits (two years) of:

Composition students only: Composition Performance

The candidate must present a concert of his/her compositions. With the permission of the Composition Area Committee, the compositions may be presented as parts of two or three concerts, or as a list of national and international performances since the student began his/her residency.

Composition students only:

  • MUCO 710 General Examinations

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Composition : Series of examinations (harmony, counterpoint, orchestration and analysis presentation).

    Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    • Restrictions: Only open to students in the D.Mus. Music; Composition and the Ph.D. Music; Composition programs.

Sound Recording students only:

  • MUSR 690 Special Field Research (3 credits)

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Sound Recording : Seminar focused on research preparation and methods, with course materials comprised of special field topics.

    Terms: Fall 2023

    Instructors: King, Richard; Woszczyk, Wieslaw; Kelly, Jack (Fall)

    • 3 hours

    • Restrictions: Open only to students in the Ph.D. in Music (Sound Recording).

Music Theory students only:

  • MUTH 710 Teaching Practicum

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Compilation of materials for a class on a particular topic, organizing and hierarchizing the information, designing class activities and preparing a lesson plan, presenting information clearly and concisely, and answering students' questions and otherwise interacting with the class.

    Terms: Winter 2024

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    • Restrictions: Only open to students in the Ph.D. in Music (Theory) and the Ph.D. in Music; Gender and Women's Studies.

  • MUTH 711 General Examinations

    Offered by: Music Research (Schulich School of Music)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Music Theory and Analysis : Series of examinations. Music theory essays, music history (Score ID), oral exam.

    Terms: Fall 2023, Winter 2024

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2023-2024 academic year.

    • Restrictions: Only open to students in the Ph.D. in Music (Theory) and the Ph.D. in Music; Gender and Women's Studies.

Schulich School of Music—2023-2024 (last updated Sep. 12, 2023) (disclaimer)
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