Graduate Study
PhD Requirements - Ethnomusicology Ph.D.
The ethnomusicology program prepares students to evaluate music's place in various cultures. Students are trained in cultural theory, anthropology, ethnographic methods, problems in cross-cultural musical analysis, and world musics and vernacular musical traditions. The University has particular strengths in Middle Eastern and South Asian studies. Chicago ethnomusicology students have undertaken field work in North America, in North Africa, Europe, East Asia, the Caribbean, and the Middle East.
On this page:
Requirements.
Satisfactory Progress Requirements.
M.A. Degree.
Requirements
Most students will adhere to the requirements listed in Paragraph A below. Paragraph B substitutes for A for students entering with an M.A. (or equivalent degree) from another institution.
A. Courses: First and Second Year. A total of fifteen courses of 300- to 400-level instruction, including:
- Music 330: Proseminar in Ethnomusicology
- Music 335: Introduction to World Music
- Music 338: Ethnographic Methods
- Music 339: Music Anthropology
- Three courses in music analysis (Music 310-316), one of which must be Music 310.
- Three Topics and Area Studies courses (Music 331-337). A relevant course in another department may be substituted upon approval by the Director of Graduate Studies.
- Two Proseminars in music history (Music 321-328).
- Four electives, of which two would normally be either in the Department of Anthropology, or drawn from a list of suggested courses.
B. Courses: Students entering with an M.A. in Music. A total of nine courses of 300- or 400-level instruction. Programs of study will be worked out to meet individual needs and requirements, but would ordinarily include:
- Music 330 (Proseminar in Ethnomusicology);
- at least one Area Studies course (Music 331-337);
- at least one course in Analysis (Music 310-316);
- at least one course in Music History (Music 321-328)
C. Courses: Through the end of Scholastic Residence.
- Four seminars (five seminars for students entering with an MA) from among Department of Music offerings. Music 386 cannot be used to fulfill the seminar requirement.
- Six quarters of Colloquium (Music 410). These may also be postponed until Advanced Residence.
D. Languages. A reading knowledge of three languages. These include German, and two other languages, one of which is normally chosen from among French, Italian, Spanish, Latin, Russian, Arabic, Sanskrit, Mandarin, etc. (i.e. languages with a long classical and scholarly tradition), and one other language, chosen from the aforementioned or related to the student's research. For further details, including provisions regarding substitutions, see Language Examinations.
E. Musicianship. Successful completion of four musicianship examinations, including the three basic examinations and one other to be chosen from the advanced keyboard examinations, or from other skills upon approval of petition. See Musicianship Examinations for further details.
F. A five-part Comprehensive Examination, consisting of:
- a number of essays in three major sections, including:
- broad issues of theoretical importance to ethnomusicology and musicology,
- one Western historical period drawn from the three periods covered by students in History and Theory, and
- two to three essays demonstrating knowledge of world musical cultural areas;
- twelve single sheets including:
- four written ethnomusicological examples,
- four aural ethnomusicological examples, and
- four Western historical examples of the sort covered by History and Theory students and gauged to the student's choice of historical period for the essay section;
- a close analysis of a work, selected prior to administration
of the examination from three options:
- a tonal Western example,
- an atonal Western example,
- an ethnomusicological example.
G. Special Field Examination. The Special Field Examination is an oral examination in two parts. The first part tests a student's knowledge of a specialized area. The second part is a defense of a proposal for the doctoral dissertation. The proposal, which must be submitted to the faculty two weeks before the examination, should demonstrate the propriety and feasibility of the topic and the student's knowledge of the existing literature about it. A complete bibliography should be included with the proposal. The Special Field examination should not be scheduled until all parts of the Comprehensive Examination have been successfully completed. Following a successful Special Field examination, the proposal will be filed in the student's dossier in the Department of Music. Changes in the topic must be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for faculty approval.
H. Admission to candidacy. Following the completion of all the above requirements, the student will be recommended by the Department of Music to the Dean of Students for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. At least nine months (three quarters) must normally elapse between admission to candidacy and the final examination (J, below).
I. A dissertation that makes an original contribution to knowledge. The dissertation must be approved by at least three faculty members who can verify that it meets the necessary requirements. A copy of the dissertation manuscript and an abstract must be submitted to the Music Department no later than two weeks before the defense. Ethnomusicology committees are likely to include at least one member from another Department. The dissertation normally should be completed within three years after the Special Field Examination. However, the student may petition to the Department for yearly extensions.
J. Defense. A final oral examination in defense of the completed dissertation.
N.B. Students may not apply for the Ph.D. degree until all degree requirements have been met.
Satisfactory Progress Requirements (Ethnomusicology)
The following requirements are a lower limit; students are encouraged to exceed these requirements at whatever rate suits them.
During year 1 students should complete 9 courses and at least 1 musicianship examination.
By the end of year 2 students should have completed all course requirements apart from the seminars to be taken in years 3 and / or 4, and at least 1 language and 2 musicianship examinations.
By the end of year 3 students should have completed 2 languages and 3 musicianship examinations, and have taken all five sections of the Comprehensive Examinations, passing no fewer than three.
By the end of year 4 students should have successfully completed any remaining course requirements, language examinations, musicianship examinations, comprehensive examinations, and have taken the Special Field examination.
M.A. Degree in Ethnomusicology
Students may apply to receive the Master of Arts upon completion of the following requirements:
- 12 courses in the Department of Music, excluding the free electives, as described in paragraph A above
- 1 language exam
- 2 musicianship exams
- Two seminar papers demonstrating scholarly competence; to be submitted for faculty approval by the beginning of the quarter in which the degree is to be received.
