COURSE CURRICULUM

The MA in Musicology is an integrated graduate program that combines music criticism, analysis, applied theory, and cultural-historical study to develop advanced research skills in music. It is designed for students who aim to build a deeper understanding of musicological inquiry, including critical approaches that engage with issues such as class, race, gender, economics, and broader social contexts. The program provides close faculty mentorship and structured academic training to prepare students for careers in musicological research and related fields. Students are required to demonstrate reading knowledge of a relevant foreign language, with proficiency assessed through admission statements or language examinations if necessary. The program offers both thesis and project pathways. In the thesis option, students complete core seminars, advanced forums, elective coursework, and a written thesis (MUS599) that is typically an article-length research paper suitable for publication, followed by an oral examination. The project option replaces the thesis with MUS598M, allowing students to complete alternative research outputs such as revised seminar papers, conference presentations, grant proposals, or media-based projects, also culminating in an oral defense. Both pathways include foundational and advanced coursework across music theory, history, aesthetics, and analysis, with flexibility to include interdisciplinary studies. Overall, the program prepares graduates for academic careers and diverse roles in music and cultural research fields.