Graduate Study
The Department of Music offers graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. degree in three areas: History & Theory of Music, Ethnomusicology, and Composition. Students who complete a sufficient subset of the requirements for a particular Ph.D program are eligible to apply for the M.A. degree.
The common aim of these programs is to provide broad, thorough training of the highest quality with emphasis on close work with faculty and the flexible cultivation of the student’s particular talents and interests. Students develop a wide base of knowledge across the disciplines through an integrated program of study. For example, students in History & Theory of Music must take a Proseminar in Ethnomusicology, while students in Ethnomusicology often take some courses from the Department of Anthropology or area studies; composers pursue a minor field in Musicology, Theory and Analysis, Ethnomusicology, or Computer Music. Students are also encouraged to take courses in other departments in the Humanities Division and in other Divisions according to their interests. All students are expected to develop practical skills that include vocal and instrumental proficiency; musicianship skills are tested in a series of Practicum examinations covering a range of abilities from basic dictation to score-reading. In addition, students must meet specific foreign language requirements, with examinations administered directly by the Department of Music.
Program requirements are listed here.
All students are encouraged to take advantage of career counseling resources provided by Career Advising and Placement Services. Recent Ph.D. graduates have secured tenure-track positions at Wellesley College, Northwestern University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Arizona State University, Columbia College Chicago, Wesleyan University, Texas Tech University, the University of Iowa, Tufts University, St. Joseph’s University, Colgate University, and the University of Toronto.
The Department of Music seeks to maximize the opportunities available for Ph.D. students to teach in the college music classroom. Each year, the Department has a limited number of openings for qualified graduate students to teach in the undergraduate College, including introductory classes in western music, world music, musical materials and design, music analysis and criticism, and music theory. These positions include both course assistantships and stand-alone lecture classes. Students may apply for positions as writing tutors in the College as well.
Students who are interested in obtaining a one-year Master of Arts degree without proceeding to the Ph.D. program should explore the possibility of applying directly to the Master of Arts Program in the Humanities (MAPH).
For more information after browsing these pages, please contact musicadmissions@uchicago.edu.
