MUSPHD - Music
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Minimum Emphasis Units
36 (in addition to Core Major Units and Minor Units above)
Emphasis Core Coursework Requirements
PhD in Music Education
Major Field: 36 units
9 units selected from research:
course: Behavioral Research in the Arts (3)
course: Qualitative Research in Music (3)
course: Historical Research in Music (3)
course: Quantitative Analysis in Music Education (3)
21 units selected from Music Education:
A minimum of 3 units in course is required.
course*: Advanced Studies in Music Teaching (3)
course: Behavioral Research in the Arts (3)
course: Qualitative Research in Music (3)
course: Historical Research in Music (3)
course: Foundations and Principles of Music Education (3)
course: Psychology of Music (3)
course: Quantitative Analysis in Music Education
course: Teaching Music in Higher Education (3)
course*: Music Education (3)
*Repeatable for credit with different topics
6 units selected from courses in ethnomusicology, musicology, theory, composition, literature, pedagogy, applied lessons, and ensembles.
Students are expected to enroll in at least one core class per semester until all core courses are completed. A 3.0 semester and cumulative GPA must be maintained. If the GPA falls below 3.0 in any semester, the consequence may be loss of financial aid and/or dismissal. Appeals may be made directly to the Director of Graduate Studies.
Emphasis Elective Coursework
See list of electives for overall plan above.
Additional Emphasis Requirements
See additional requirements for overall plan above.
Prerequisite: Students are expected to hold a current teaching certificate and to have completed a minimum of three years teaching music full-time in a school. In addition, a Master’s degree in Music Education is required. Requests for exceptions to these prerequisites may be submitted to the Coordinator of Music Education for consideration.
Comprehensive Written Examination for Ph.D. Students in Music Education
The written comprehensive examinations are administered in October and February of each year. Along with the guidelines and requirements for "Doctoral Comprehensive Written Examination," the portfolio is due at this time as well.
The student will take a written exam consisting of approximately 3 to 4 broad based questions chosen from a list of 10 to 12 questions that the student has seen 24 hours in advance. The answers for these questions will be written during the specified examination time. It is not a “take home” exam.
The student will present each member of the major committee with a Portfolio consisting of the following:
A. A Dissertation Proposal 15-20 pages in length which may or may not be the actual study which will be used. This will consist of an abbreviated version of the opening three chapters of a standard dissertation.
B. A review of a dissertation (supplied by committee) as might be found in CRME.
C. A syllabus for a course to be determined by the dissertation committee. This is to include all basic sections of a syllabus. It should also include an annotated bibliography of textbooks that were considered for use, stating the strengths and weaknesses of each.
D. One of the following: A 6 to 10-page manuscript suitable for submission to a professional journal such as Music Educators Journal, The Choral Journal, or The Instrumentalist. A 20-page manuscript suitable for submission to a research journal such as The Journal of Research in Music Education, The Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, or the Quarterly. Note: If the work is published, submit the published version.
Consistent with Graduate College policy, the entire written examination is either passed or failed. A student must pass all the portions in order to proceed to the oral exam. Failure of any one of the portions constitutes failure of the entire exam.
Minor Requirements for Doctoral Students in this Emphasis
See the minor requirement for the overall plan above.
Minimum Emphasis Units
36 (in addition to Core Major Units and Minor Units above)
Emphasis Core Coursework Requirements
PhD in Musicology
course: Ethnomusicology (3)
course: Internship* (6)
Major Field **(12)
Musicology (6) - see coursework options below
Music Theory (6) - see coursework options below
*Musicology students may substitute courses in Music Education, Musicology, or Ethnomusicology in place of the Internship courses with the approval of the student’s advisor, the Area Coordinator, and the Director of Graduate Studies.
**At least two seminars in the area of early music (medieval, renaissance, baroque), and at least two seminars in the area of later music (classical, romantic, and twentieth century). Musicology students may substitute a graduate class outside of music studies that is relevant to their dissertation topic in place of a major field course with the approval of the student’s advisor, the Area Coordinator, and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Musicology: 6 units
course: Music in the Renaissance (3)
course: Music in the Baroque (3)
course: Music in the Classical Period (3)
course: Music of the 20th Century (3)
course: Music in the Middle Ages (3)
course: Art Music in the United States (3)
course: Music History Research (3)
course*: History of Speculative Theory (3)
course*: History of Speculative Theory (3)
course: Foundations and Principles of Music Education (3)
course*: Musicology (3)
course: Ethnomusicology (3)
Theory: 6 units
course*: Counterpoint (3)
course*: Counterpoint (3)
course: Analysis of Tonal Music I: Form (3)
course: Analysis of Tonal Music II: Chromaticism (3)
course: Analysis of Contemporary Music (3)
course*: Post-Tonal Analysis (3)
course*: Introduction to Schenkerian Theory (3)
course*: Seminar in Schenkerian Theory (3)
course*: Current Trends in Music Theory (3)
course*: Specialized Readings in Music Theory (3)
course*: Music Education (3)
course*: Music Theory (3)
Students are expected to enroll in at least one core class per semester until all core courses are completed. A 3.0 semester and cumulative GPA must be maintained. If the GPA falls below 3.0 in any semester, the consequence may be loss of financial aid and/or dismissal. Appeals may be made directly to the Director of Graduate Studies.
Emphasis Elective Coursework
N/A
Additional Emphasis Requirements
See additional requirements for overall plan above.
Minor Requirements for Doctoral Students in this Emphasis
See minor requirements for overall plan above.
Minimum Emphasis Units
36 (in addition to Core Major Units and Minor Units above)
Core Coursework Requirements
PhD in Music Theory
course: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Music (3) - Students who already have taken course or its equivalent as a part of their master’s degree must substitute 3 units of MUS electives.
Major Field (30)
Graduate Music History (3)
Required Courses in Major Field:
course: Post-Tonal Analysis (3)
course: Introduction to Schenkerian Theory (3)
course: Seminar in Schenkerian Theory (3)
course: Current Trends in Music Theory (3)
course: Specialized Readings in Music Theory (3)
course: Music Theory (3) - taken twice
Students are expected to enroll in at least one core class per semester until all core courses are completed. A 3.0 semester and cumulative GPA must be maintained. If the GPA falls below 3.0 in any semester, the consequence may be loss of financial aid and/or dismissal. Appeals may be made directly to the Director of Graduate Studies.
*All PhD students must complete 520A or B, 620A or B, 623, 624A and B, 625A and B, and two semesters of 696C.
Emphasis Elective Coursework
See elective list for overall plan above.
Additional Emphasis Requirements
See additional requirements for overall plan above.
Minor Requirements for Doctoral Students in this Program
See minor requirements for overall plan above.
Core Major Units: 48
Additional Emphasis Units: 36
Required Minor Units: 12
Total Minimum Degree Units: 96
Common Core: 48 units
Master's Degree (30)
course: Dissertation (18)
Students are expected to enroll in at least one core class per semester until all core courses are completed. A 3.0 semester and cumulative GPA must be maintained. If the GPA falls below 3.0 in any semester, the consequence may be loss of financial aid and/or dismissal. Appeals may be made directly to the Director of Graduate Studies.
GRADUATE MUSIC COURSES (not including Ensembles)
course: Analysis of Tonal Music I: Form (3)
course: Analysis of Tonal Music II: Chromaticism (3)
course: Analysis of Contemporary Music (3)
course: History and Literature of the Wind Band (3)
course: Entrepreneurship in the Arts (3)
course: Music in the Renaissance (3)
course: Music in the Baroque (3)
course: Music in the Classical Period (3)
course: Music of the 20th Century (3)
course: Music Since 1950 (3)
course: Music in the Middle Ages (3)
course: Music in the Romantic Period
course: Electro-Acoustic Music (3)
course: Electro-Acoustic Studio Resources (3)
course: Advanced Studies in Music Teaching (3)
course: Behavioral Research in the Arts (3)
course: Studies in Latin American Music (3)
course: Art Music in the United States (3)
course*: Music History Research (3)
course: Seminar in Music and Dance Collaboration (2)
course: Independent Study (1-3)
course: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Music (3)
course: Qualitative Research in Music (3)
course: Historical Research in Music (3)
course: History of Speculative Theory (3-3)
course: Theory Pedagogy (3)
course: Post-Tonal Analysis (3)
course: Introduction to Schenkerian Theory (3)
course: Seminar in Schenkerian Theory (3)
course*: Choral Literature (3)
course*: Advanced Composition (3)
course: Foundations and Principles of Music Education (3)
course: Psychology of Music (3)
course: Quantitative Analysis in Music Education
course: Teaching Music in Higher Education (3)
course: Internship (1-6)
course: Practicum (1-6)
course: Special Topics in Music (3)
course*: Music Education (3)
course*: Musicology (3)
course*: Music Theory (3)
course*: Composition (3)
course: Keyboard Studies (3)
course: Ethnomusicology (3)
course: Independent Study (1-5)
Diagnostic and Qualifying Examinations
All entering graduate students are required to take diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory, and voice students also take a diagnostic exam in diction. These 2-3 hour examinations are administered prior to the beginning of classes in the fall and spring semesters. The music history diagnostic exam also is offered online prior to summer session classes. Students who show deficiencies on the history and theory exams may be recommended to take designated course work, which should be completed prior to enrollment in graduate musicology and theory courses. All graduate-level courses in music history and music theory taken to fulfill diagnostic exam recommendations and completed with a grade of “C” or higher may be used to fulfill doctoral degree requirements.
Graduate diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory may be taken only once. Students who proceed directly from master’s degrees into doctoral degrees at The University of Arizona are exempt from additional diagnostic examinations.
In addition to the diagnostic examinations, all doctoral students take qualifying examinations in the major and minor fields of study, unless the major or minor exam is waived by the faculty responsible for setting the exam. The qualifying examinations test a student’s overall readiness to enter into doctoral work, and are not purely diagnostic. If faculty evaluate an examination as failing, students may be required to retake the exam during the next exam cycle. Qualifying exams may be taken a maximum of two times. Normally students take both major and minor examinations during the fifth week of the first semester in residence, although they may be taken as late as the second semester. Students may elect to take the major exam in the first semester and the minor exam in the second semester. DMA and Ph.D. qualifying exams are administered in October and February of each year. Faculty may use these results to guide the student’s direction of study in the major and minor fields by recommending additional coursework beyond that specified by a student’s degree grid. The qualifying examination in the major field of study may be waived only when a candidate has completed a master's degree in the same field at The University of Arizona, and only upon the recommendation of the major area. The qualifying examination in the minor field may be waived at the option of the minor area.
The Doctoral Comprehensive Written Examination (except Music Education)
Before admission to candidacy, doctoral students must pass examinations in the chosen fields of study. These examinations are intended to test the student’s comprehensive knowledge of the major and minor areas. This is the occasion when committee members have both the opportunity and obligation to require the student to display a broad knowledge of the chosen field of study (i.e. music) and sufficient depth of understanding in the areas of specialization (major area and minor area). The exam is comprehensive and integrative in relation to the field and specialization.
The written comprehensive examination is held when essentially all course work is completed, and no later than three months prior to the date of the final oral examination. The written comprehensive examinations are administered in October and February of each year. Piano, strings, music theory and voice majors must have satisfied their foreign language requirements before scheduling these examinations.
The Written Comprehensive Examinations are not “take home”. The five members of the student's Advisory Committee must each prepare a two-hour written examination that will be given on campus (a six-hour test in the major area and a four-hour test in the minor area). Two negative votes constitute a failure of the written comprehensive examinations. At the discretion of the committee and with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies the student may re-take the written test one time. After successful completion of the written examinations, an oral examination shall be conducted before a
committee of the faculty approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate College.
Doctoral Comprehensive Oral Examination
The form to schedule the oral comprehensive examination may be found on UA GradPath. Any request to schedule a doctoral comprehensive oral examination must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies no less than 30 days before the date of the examination.
The Oral Comprehensive Examination will last at least one hour but not more than three. In this examination the faculty have both the opportunity and the obligation to require a student to display a broad knowledge of the chosen field of study (music), and sufficient depth of understanding in areas of specialization (major and minor fields). As a test of a successful performance, the student should demonstrate a professional level of knowledge expected of a junior faculty member. For Music Education students, the portfolio items submitted to the committee may act as a springboard for this exam, but the nature of the examination is comprehensive and is not restricted to the portfolio.
Each member of the examination committee is expected to evaluate the student’s performance on the basis of the examination as a whole, not just on his/her own field of specialization. Voting is conducted by secret ballot. Because there is only one official vote, full discussion of the candidate’s performance is important prior to casting ballots.
All committee members must vote either to pass or to fail (includes abstentions). All votes are equivalent; there is no distinction between major and minor fields. An abstention, whether or not it is recorded on a ballot, is counted as a vote for failure. Two adverse votes are required for failure no matter how large the committee.
The major professor tallies the ballots and informs the committee and the candidate of the vote, but not of the exact tally. Examiners who disagree with the committee’s decision may note objections on the ballots. In the event of failure, the major professor submits a written request for a second examination.
A candidate who fails the examination may, upon the recommendation of the committee and together with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies and the Dean of the Graduate College, be granted a second examination after a lapse of at least four months. The original committee members must conduct the second examination. The results of the second oral examination are final. If a student fails the second exam he/she will be asked to withdraw from the program.
Formal Proposals for Dissertations or Doctoral Documents
All doctoral students in music culminate their academic studies with a capstone project. The capstone project for doctoral students in music education, music theory, and musicology is a Dissertation that presents original research and substantiates a thesis or hypothesis. These students will continue to use the guidelines for doctoral proposals given in the current edition of the Graduate Handbook and earlier editions. For doctoral composition students the capstone project is a substantial original composition accompanied by a detailed explanation of the compositional and aesthetic decisions that informed the work's structure and content. These students will continue to use the guidelines for doctoral composition proposals given in the current edition of the Graduate Handbook.
Final Doctoral Oral Examinations
This final examination is an oral defense of the entire “dissertation” (in the DMA degree all recitals and the lecture- recital document are offered in lieu of dissertation) and the student is expected to be able to defend all elements of the "dissertation." The examination may include any further general questioning related to the field(s) of study encompassed within the scope of the dissertation. Committee members should have the penultimate copy of the document at least 30 days before the examination (all committee members have reviewed the document and all requested changes have been made).
Foreign Language Requirement: Please consult the Graduate Handbook of the School of Music for the language requirements of each emphasis. The second language should be chosen with the student's planned area of research in mind. In rare cases, a student's dissertation committee may petition the Graduate Committee to require either fewer or more languages. Proficiency in one language must be demonstrated before the third semester of enrollment, and in the other before the fifth semester of enrollment.
Doctoral Minor: A Secondary Concentration
To allow for greater flexibility and to develop a second area of concentration, each doctoral student selects at least one minor area of study. The minor must be approved by the minor advisor designated on the student study plan.
Minor areas of concentration in music may be chosen from complementary disciplines (e.g., Composition, Conducting, Music Education, etc.). Minors outside the School of Music may be chosen with the approval of the Graduate Committee and the approval of the faculty in the chosen discipline. Conducting majors (choral, orchestral, wind) may elect conducting in a complementary area as a minor (e.g., choral major with an orchestral minor) upon permission of the conducting faculty after an audition in the complementary area. Otherwise, the minor may not be in the same music emphasis area as that selected for the major. For example, violin performance students may not minor in piano performance. Discuss your proposed minor with the Director of Graduate Studies before contacting the area in which you hope to minor.
Please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook for students who are pursuing this program of study.