Comprehensive Exam (MUGS 701) for students who started prior to Fall 2024
The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to ascertain the student’s readiness to undertake the doctoral project. The comprehensive exam is conducted orally with the student’s supervisory committee and DMus Performance Studies Coordinator early in Term 4 (second year in program, winter term). Students are expected to demonstrate depth of knowledge in their three research topics. The three topics for the comprehensive exam are identified in collaboration with the student’s advisory committee. This committee consists of the student’s supervisor (practical instructor), a member from the Department of Music Research (co-supervisor), and normally another member from the student’s area. Meetings are chaired by the DMus Performance Studies Coordinator.
General definition of the three topics
- Topic 1: This is the student’s main research topic, which normally involves performance practice issues, innovative artistic research tied to specific repertoire, or research-creation. This primary topic defines the context for the final project.
- Topics 2 and 3: These topics are general areas of research, and involve a broader knowledge of repertoire, performance traditions, pedagogy, etc. Timeline
- Term 1(first term of enrollment in the program)
For the primary research topic, a 12-item annotated bibliography (not including scores) is developed in MUPD 650 (Research Methods) and discussed with the student’s advisory committee. - Term 2
The primary-topic 12-item annotated bibliography is further developed and revised in MUGS 711 (Colloquium 1), in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. - Term 3
For research topics 2 and 3, annotated bibliographies (8 items, not including scores) for each topic are developed in MUGS 712 (Colloquium II) and discussed with the student’s advisory committee. - Term 4 Oral examination
The two-hour oral examination is scheduled for early in Term 4. By January 15, the student will create an availability poll on for dates within an agreed-upon time frame (early in the winter semester), indicate their availabilities in the poll, then invite their advisory committee and the DMus Performance Studies Coordinator to indicate their availabilities as well. Common availabilities will determine the time and date of the oral exam. The oral examination is an opportunity for the student to elaborate, enhance and expound on their three annotated bibliographies, through committee questions posed to the student. The oral examination is also an opportunity for the committee to offer the student advice regarding the direction of their research approaching their final year.
Deadlines
Topic 1 annotated bibliographies |
Revised Topic 1 annotated bibliographies |
Topic 2 and 3 annotated bibliographies |
Oral exam |
Due end of Term 1 |
Due end of Term 2 |
Due end of Term 3 |
Early Winter Term 4 |
Comprehensive Exam (MUGS 701) for students who started prior to Fall 2024 or after
The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to ascertain the student’s readiness to undertake the doctoral project. The comprehensive exam is conducted orally with the supervisory committee and the DMus Performance Studies Coordinator early in Term 4 (second year in program, winter term). Students are expected to demonstrate depth of knowledge in their research topic. The topic for the comprehensive exam is identified in collaboration with the student’s advisory committee. This committee consists of the student’s supervisor (practical instructor), a second member from the student’s area, and a member at large (in the case of students choosing the research paperoption, the third member will usually be from the Department of Music Research). The committee meetings are chaired by the DMus Performance Studies Coordinator.
General definition of the research topic
- The student’s research topic normally involves performance practice issues, innovative artistic research tied to specific repertoire, or research-creation. This research topic defines the context for the final project.
Timeline
- Term 1 first term of enrollment in the program)
For the research topic, a 12-item annotated bibliography (not including scores) is developed in MUPD 650 (Research Methods) and discussed with the student’s advisory committee. - Term 2
The research topic’s 12-item annotated bibliography is further developed and revised in MUGS 711 (Colloquium 1), in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. - Term 3
The research proposal is submitted to the supervisory committee no later than the first week of Term 3. It is accompanied by the 12-item annotated bibliography of sources related to the research topic. The research proposal must receive final approval by the committee by the end of Term 3 for the student to be approved to sit the comprehensive exam in Term 4. The committee may request clarifications and suggest revisions to the research proposal. - Winter Semester DMus3 Oral examination
The two-hour oral examination is scheduled for early in Winter semester DMus3. By January 15, the student will create an availability poll on for dates within an agreed-upon time frame (early in the winter semester), indicate their availabilities in the poll, then invite their advisory committee and the DMus Performance Studies Coordinator to indicate their availabilities as well. Common availabilities will determine the time and date of the oral exam. The oral examination is an opportunity for the student to elaborate, enhance and expound on the content of their annotated bibliographies, through committee questions posed to the student. The oral examination is also an opportunity for the committee to offer the student advice regarding the direction of their research approaching their final year.
Deadlines
12-item annotated bibliography |
Revised 12-item annotated bibliography |
Research Proposal including 12-item annotated bibliography |
Oral exam |
Due end of Fall DMus2 |
Due end of Winter DMus2 |
End of 1st week of Fall DMus3 |
Early Winter DMus3 |