Graduate Program Requirements
Musicology/Ethnomusicology
Ph.D.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the scholastic standards and general requirements of the Graduate School and the School
of Music. In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School application, applicants to the M.A. and
Ph.D. programs in Musicology or Ethnomusicology must submit Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores and an
original paper or papers, including at least one that demonstrates ability in musical analysis. The M.A. and
Ph.D. degrees are cumulative, in that courses taken in fulfillment of the M.A. are applicable toward the Ph.D.
Therefore, applicants to the Ph.D. should already have an M.A. in musicology or ethnomusicology.
Proficiency Exams
Along with all other graduate students in the School of Music, entering musicology/ethnomusicology students
must take the standard placements exams in the fields of music history and theory/ear training, including 20thcentury theory before beginning their first semester of enrollment.
If deficiencies are noted, specific courses may be required. Students are expected to remedy any deficiency
during the first year of graduate study.
Foreign Language Requirement
PhD students must demonstrate reading comprehension in two foreign languages, preferably German and
French or Italian. For the student selecting an emphasis in ethnomusicology, a language appropriate to the
research specialization will be acceptable, if it is available for study and testing at the University of Minnesota.
Any languages other than French, German, or Italian that the student wishes to apply to this requirement must
be approved by the division.
Foreign language examinations are administered by the division. These timed examinations (usually three
hours) typically consist of three parts: (1) a selection from a literary work, e.g., a poem or short scene from a
play or opera libretto; (2) a passage from a scholarly essay addressing musicological or ethnomusicological
issues; and (3) a passage from an analytical essay containing musical terminology. Translations are expected to
be in idiomatic English and dictionaries may be used.
For more information, visit the School of Music website at music.umn.edu
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Graduate Program Degree Requirements: Musicology/Ethnomusicology Ph.D.
Program Information
Programs for the Ph.D. in musicology are developed on an individual basis in consultation with the student’s
advisor. All students must take the two required seminars, Mus 8644 and Mus 8864, at the University of
Minnesota. Students who have not earned the MA here and believe that they have had equivalent courses as
part of the Master’s degree at another institution may request an exception by submitting to the Musicology
Division a petition supported by appropriate documentation, such as a syllabus and transcript.
 Beyond the Master’s requirements, 5 additional courses: 4 must be in musicology (8xxx) or
ethnomusicology (5xxx or 8xxx). The remaining 1 may be in musicology (8xxx), ethnomusicology
(5xxx or 8xxx), or theory and analysis (8xxx): 15 credits
 4 5xxx or 8xxx non-music courses (including credits taken toward the Master’s degree): 12 credits
 MUS 8888 Doctoral Thesis: 24 credits
A Graduate Degree Plan form will be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies with the advisor’s
endorsement formalizing course selection and languages. Normally this should be filed before the end of the
second year.
Upon or close to the completion of all coursework listed in the Degree Plan, the student will take preliminary
written and oral examinations in order to achieve candidacy for the degree. The written exam is conceived as a
“special field” exam, with the field or fields defined by the student in consultation with the advisor and
members of the Examining Committee. Students who have not earned the MA at the University of Minnesota
must also demonstrate a comprehensive general knowledge of the fields of musicology and ethnomusicology,
either in a portion of the written preliminary exam or by taking all or part of the MA comprehensive written
exam, as determined by the advisor. The preliminary written and oral exams must be passed before the student
can register for thesis credits. The student must file two forms in connection with these preliminary exams. The
Preliminary Written Examination Report form should be submitted upon completion of the written exam and at
least one week before the oral exam. The Preliminary Oral Examination Report form must be submitted within
one working day after the oral exam.
Once the prelims are passed, the candidate will file a Ph.D. Thesis Proposal form establishing a topic for the
dissertation. During the dissertation stage, the student will register for a total of 24 doctoral thesis credits (Mu
8888). After the Director of Graduate Studies has approved the Thesis Proposal, the candidate should assign
online the examining committee and request the Graduation Packet in order to obtain the Thesis Reviewer’s
Report form and Application for Degree. The Application for Degree must be submitted to OneStop by the first
business day of the intended month of graduation. The signed Thesis Reviewer’s form should be returned to 160
Williamson Hall and the Final Oral Defense scheduled at least one week prior to the exam. Upon the successful
defense of the dissertation, the candidate must return the signed Final Oral Examination Report no later than
one working day after the defense. The candidate must also submit the following items to 160 Williamson Hall
by the last working day of the intended month of graduation: 1) one copy of the signature page; 2) one copy of
the title page; 3) the Deposit Agreement Form; and 4) and the Survey of Earned Doctorates form.
For more information, visit the School of Music website at music.umn.edu
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Graduate Program Degree Requirements: Musicology/Ethnomusicology Ph.D.
Policy on Incompletes
Each course grade of incomplete must be made up before the end of the succeeding semester. Failure to do so
may result in a hold being placed on that student’s subsequent registration. (To clarify: Spring incompletes must
be made up during the Summer; Summer in the Fall; etc.)
No student who has more than 6 credits of incompletes in courses that are on his or her degree program will be
permitted to register for subsequent quarters/semesters of study.
The division will ask the Director of Graduate Studies to place a hold on the registration of any student who
does not meet these requirements.
See the Graduate School Bulletin for more detailed information.
Facilities
The Music Library is located in the lower level of Ferguson Hall with spacious study and listening areas.
Computer accessed through MNCAT, the collection includes materials from all historical periods (including the
collected works of composers) and extensive holdings in the history of music theory and German periodicals of
the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The Ritzen Collection added some 2200 sound recordings of operas and oratorios to the library collection. Two
special collections are housed separately in the Music Library. One is devoted to rare books and scores and is
especially rich in 18th and 19th-century opera, early American tune books and 20th-century hymnals. The other,
the Roy. A. Schuessler Vocal Arts Center, contains materials for the study of vocal literature and vocal arts.
Graduate students have the privilege of checking out books and scores for the period of thirteen weeks.
Periodicals are limited to overnight circulation.
In addition to the Music Library, graduate students have access to the University Library system, which ranks
among the largest of all American universities. The holdings include over 4 million catalogued volumes as well
as other historical documents, records, and tapes. The Wilson Library, largest in the system, is located on the
West Bank adjacent to Ferguson Hall, housing the social sciences and humanities collections.
For more information, visit the School of Music website at music.umn.edu
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