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    Apr 18, 2024  
2011-2012 Graduate Catalog 
    
2011-2012 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Music, PhD


 

The Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in music and concentrations in composition, musicology or music theory requires a minimum of 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. Of these 90 hours, at least 60 must be taken at UNT. Thirty hours may be transferred from other institutions at the discretion of the PhD committee of the College of Music. A master’s degree from an accredited institution usually is accepted for the first 30 hours. The minimum residence requirement consists of two consecutive long terms/semesters (fall and the following spring, or spring and the following fall) with a minimum load of 9 hours each term/semester.

It should be understood that the Doctor of Philosophy degree cannot be earned by routine work alone, regardless of accuracy or amount. The degree will be conferred, rather, on the basis of mastery of the field of music as a whole and of proven ability either to plan and carry out an original investigation (in musicology or music theory) or to do creative work (in composition) with distinction.

Degree Requirements


All concentrations require the completion of a common core:

Common Core (36 hours)


  • (12 hours)
  • 6 hours of MUMH 6XXX
  • Related field, 12 hours
  • Elective, 3 hours (selected in consultation with the appropriate advisor)
  • Must also have completed Master’s core requirement (15 hours)

Directed Seminar, 3 hours selected in consultation with the appropriate advisor from:


Additional Requirements:


Additional requirements for each concentration are outlined below. The Office of Graduate Studies in Music provides complete information concerning procedures, administrative details and GRE requirements for individual programs.

Concentration in Composition


Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in music and a concentration in composition must submit a completed College of Music application form and a portfolio to the College of Music Admissions Office by the first Monday in December to be considered for acceptance in the following academic year. The portfolio must include scores, recordings, a resume or vita, transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, a writing sample and a personal statement; details are included in the Composition Student Handbook and on the composition division web site (music.unt.edu/comp/admissions/graduate).

General Application Information


  1. Please note that application to the Toulouse Graduate School is separate from application to the College of Music, and that admission to the Graduate School does not imply acceptance to the composition program.
  2. Applicants are expected to submit GRE scores at the time of application in order to be considered for graduate studies in composition:
    1. In exceptional cases, students may be admitted provisionally pending successful completion of the GRE analytical writing exam by the end of the first semester of enrollment. However, all applicants accepted to the program must have at least attempted the GRE analytical writing exam prior to enrollment in graduate courses.
    2. The Graduate Preparation Course (GPC), provided for international students by the Intensive English Language Institute, will not be accepted as a substitute for the GRE requirement.
  3. International applicants in composition must be provisionally accepted to the program prior to beginning study at the Intensive English Language Institute (IELI).

Additional application information may be found in the Composition Student Handbook or on the division web site (http://music.unt.edu/comp).

Degree Requirements


The Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in music and a concentration in composition is a 66-hour degree with dissertation, including the common core (36 hours, listed above), plus two possible options for the remaining 30 hours:

Additional Degree Requirements:


Language or Tool-Subject Requirement

It is recommended that the requirements be met within the first three semesters of doctoral work in order to facilitate research. In any case, they must be completed before the student takes the qualifying examination. Hours earned do not count toward the degree.

  1. Languages (One language, other than the native language or English, chosen to fulfill this requirement will be selected in consultation with the major professor and the student’s advisory committee.)
  2.   Other by petition

Courses selected must have direct relation to the acquisition of a particular skill that is necessary for the dissertation project.

Introduction to Research

It is assumed that an entering PhD student will have had an introduction to research courses at the master’s level (please see the Graduate Catalog Course Descriptions ). If not, the student will be required to take MUMH 5010 , Introduction to Research in Music, no later than the second term/semester of graduate work to facilitate research. Hours earned do not count toward the degree.

The Advisory Committee

The student’s advisory committee will include a member who has written a dissertation or similar document (other than the PhD chairperson) and is made up of:

  1. major professor;
  2. minor professor (related field representative); and
  3.  committee member.

The advisory committee should be selected and approved by the time the student has completed 12 hours of course work.

Placement Examinations

Following the PhD placement examinations in musicology and music theory (administered during orientation week), the student will be counseled by the major professor or major area designate. In conjunction with the faculties administering the examinations, the major advisor will develop a plan, if needed, to satisfy deficiencies (not to exceed 6 credits of musicology and 6 credits of music theory). Graduate music history courses taken as a result of the placement examinations may not be counted toward the degree. A grade of B or better must be earned in each undergraduate or graduate course assigned as a deficiency.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Each student is required to pass written examinations in his or her major field and chosen related field. The qualifying examinations measure a broad knowledge of musical study. They are designed to establish the student’s ability to engage both in scholarly research and in professional work in the major area supported by a complete musical comprehension and a broad perspective. The qualifying examinations are compiled and graded by the examination committee, which consists of the student’s advisory committee as well as representatives from the theory and musicology areas (chosen by the student). Upon successful completion of the written examinations, students must pass a two-hour oral examination with the examination committee in order to advance to candidacy.

The student may take the qualifying examinations when the following conditions have been met: (1) all deficiencies have been removed, (2) 30 hours of course work beyond the master’s degree have been completed, (3) the language or tool-subject requirement has been fulfilled and (4) an approved degree plan has been filed with the Toulouse Graduate School.

Detailed information about the content and structure of the qualifying examinations may be found in the Composition Student Handbook or on the division web site (music.unt.edu/comp).

Dissertation

Upon completion of the qualifying examinations, doctoral students will be expected to enroll in dissertation (MUGC 6950 ) for four semesters. Additional dissertation registration may be required to satisfy continuous enrollment requirements. During those semesters of enrollment, students will meet with their major professor on a regular basis (typically one hour per week, similar to graduate composition lessons). Other arrangements may be made for non-resident students as long as (1) both the student and major professor agree on the terms, and (2) sufficient progression on the final document can be demonstrated to the graduate advisory committee each semester. Further information about dissertation requirements may be found in the Composition Student Handbook and online (music.unt.edu/comp).

Final Comprehensive Oral Examination and Dissertation Defense

Upon completion of the dissertation credits and the qualifying examinations, the student is required to pass a two-hour final comprehensive oral examination and dissertation defense of his or her project before the examination committee. A reading copy of the dissertation is due in the College of Music Graduate Office one week prior to the Toulouse Graduate School submission deadline.

Grades

A grade of B or better is required in courses used to satisfy PhD degree requirements, including undergraduate and graduate deficiency courses.

Concentration in Musicology


Concentration in Musicology (24 hours)


Concentration in Musicology, Early Music Performance (24 hours)


Additional Degree Requirements:


In addition to course requirements, each applicant for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in music with a concentration in musicology must meet the following requirements.

Music History and Theory Lecture Series Attendance

Each graduate student with a declared concentration in musicology is expected to attend all lectures presented in the Division of Music History and Theory Lecture Series during each long term/semester of full-time enrollment (9 hours).

Dissertation

The culmination of the doctoral work is a dissertation of appropriate scope, quality and originality. The student forms his or her dissertation committee in consultation with the major professor. The dissertation proposal will be submitted to the Graduate Academic Degrees Committee (GADCom) of the College of Music after successful completion of the qualifying examination. At this time, upon being admitted to candidacy, the student must maintain continuous dissertation enrollment (MUGC 6950 ) each long term/semester until the dissertation has been completed and accepted by the graduate dean. Registration in at least one summer session is required if the student is using university facilities and/or faculty time during that summer session. The final copies of the dissertation must be placed in the hands of the major professor at least two weeks before the scheduled oral examination in any given term/semester. A reading copy is due in the College of Music Graduate Office one week prior to the Toulouse Graduate School submission deadline.

Minor Field/Related Field

The related field (within the College of Music) or minor field (a course of study outside the College of Music) must comprise at least 9 credit hours of study. The course of study and method of evaluation for the related or minor field will be determined by the faculty in that area. If degree credit is to be given for applied music, the student must pass the master’s-level entrance audition in performance prior to enrollment for these credit hours. The student who does not pass or take the audition may study applied music, but this credit will not count toward the 60 hours required for the degree.

Concentration in Music Theory


The Doctor of Philosophy degree with a major in music and a concentration in music theory is a 60-hour degree with dissertation, including the common core (36 hours, listed above).

Additional Degree Requirements:


In addition to course requirements, each applicant for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in music with a concentration in musicology must meet the following requirements.

Music History and Theory Lecture Series Attendance

Each graduate student with a declared concentration in music theory is expected to attend all lectures presented in the Division of Music History and Theory Lecture Series during each long term/semester of full-time enrollment (9 hours).

Evidence of Satisfactory Progress

Students must receive a grade of B or better for al courses counting toward the degree, including deficiency courses. Students not meeting this standard will be placed on probation. Students not fulfilling the conditions of probation may be dismissed from the program.

Dissertation

The culmination of the doctoral work is a dissertation of appropriate scope, quality and originality. The student forms his or her dissertation committee in consultation with the major professor. The dissertation proposal will be submitted to the Graduate Academic Degrees Committee (GADCom) of the College of Music after successful completion of the qualifying examination. At this time, upon being admitted to candidacy, the student must maintain continuous dissertation enrollment (MUGC 6950 ) each long term/semester until the dissertation has been completed and accepted by the graduate dean. Registration in at least one summer session is required if the student is using university facilities and/or faculty time during that summer session. The final copies of the dissertation must be placed in the hands of the major professor at least two weeks before the scheduled oral examination in any given term/semester.

Minor Field/Related Field

The related field (within the College of Music) or minor field (a course of study outside the College of Music) must comprise at least 9 credit hours of study. The course of study and method of evaluation for the related or minor field will be determined by the faculty in that area. If degree credit is to be given for applied music, the student must pass the master’s-level entrance audition in performance prior to enrollment for these credit hours. The student who does not pass or take the audition may study applied music, but this credit will not count toward the 60 hours required for the degree.