Program Requirements
The Ph.D. in Music is offered in eight different topic areas: Musicology, Music Theory, Music Technology, Music Education, Sound Recording, Composition, Interdisciplinary Studies and Applied Performance Sciences.
Students admitted to the Ph.D.; Music program who have a master's degree other than a master's degree in music from McGill University may be required to successfully complete one or more undergraduate courses before completion of the doctoral degree.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Language Reading Requirements
No foreign-language reading examinations required in Sound Recording, Interdisciplinary Studies, Music Education, Music Technology, Musicology and Applied Performance Sciences.
Composition/Music Theory
One foreign-language reading examination required. Students whose mother tongue is French are exempt from the French Reading Exam.
Required Courses
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MUGS 701 Comprehensive Examinations
Overview
Graduate Faculty Music Courses : Examinations that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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MUGS 705 Colloquium
Overview
Graduate Faculty Music Courses : Directed reading, seminar and discussion in various subjects of current interest in music research.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: Whitesell, Lloyd (Fall) Whitesell, Lloyd (Winter)
Complementary Courses (0-30 credits)
Students entering in Ph.D. 1
15 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher, approved by the Department. For Music Theory students, 0-6 credits will be selected from the following if not taken previously or equivalent courses:
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MUTH 658 History of Music Theory 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Selected topics in the history of music theory from Greek antiquity to 1700 through readings of primary and secondary literature.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Schubert, Peter N (Winter)
3 hours
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MUTH 659 History of Music Theory 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Selected topics in the history of music theory from 1700 to the present through readings of primary and secondary literature.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
3 hours
0-15 credits of additional seminars at the 600 or higher, will be assigned by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Music in consultation with the area coordinator, or the admissions committee for students in Interdisciplinary Studies or in Applied Performance Sciences, at the time of the admissions.
Students entering in Ph.D. 2
0-15 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher will be assigned by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Music in consultation with the area coordinator, or the admissions committee for students in Interdisciplinary Studies or in Applied Performance Sciences, at the time of the admissions. The selection must be approved by the Schulich School of Music. For Music Theory students, 0-6 credits will be selected from the following if not taken previously or equivalent courses:
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MUTH 658 History of Music Theory 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Selected topics in the history of music theory from Greek antiquity to 1700 through readings of primary and secondary literature.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Schubert, Peter N (Winter)
3 hours
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MUTH 659 History of Music Theory 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Selected topics in the history of music theory from 1700 to the present through readings of primary and secondary literature.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
3 hours
24 credits; Composition students entering in Ph.D. 2 only:
12 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher
One semester of:
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MUCO 710 General Examinations
Overview
Composition : Series of examinations (harmony, counterpoint, orchestration and analysis presentation).
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: Only open to students in the D.Mus. Music; Composition and the Ph.D. Music; Composition programs.
12 credits (two years) of:
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MUCO 722D1 Doctoral Composition Tutorial (3 credits)
Overview
Composition : Individualized guided composition research on an approved topic.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Cherney, Brian; Ferguson, Sean Alastair; Bouliane, Denys; Lesage, Jean; Harman, Christopher; Hui, Melissa; Leroux, Philippe; Britton, Eliot (Fall)
Students must register for both MUCO 722D1 and MUCO 722D2
No credit will be given for this course unless both MUCO 722D1 and MUCO 722D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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MUCO 722D2 Doctoral Composition Tutorial (3 credits)
Overview
Composition : Individualized guided composition research on an approved topic.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Cherney, Brian; Ferguson, Sean Alastair; Bouliane, Denys; Lesage, Jean; Harman, Christopher; Hui, Melissa; Leroux, Philippe; Britton, Eliot (Winter)
Prerequisite: MUCO 722D1
No credit will be given for this course unless both MUCO 722D1 and MUCO 722D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
Composition students only: Composition Performance
The candidate must present a concert of his/her compositions. With the permission of the Composition Area Committee, the compositions may be presented as parts of two or three concerts, or as a list of national and international performances since the student began his/her residency.
Composition students only:
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MUCO 710 General Examinations
Overview
Composition : Series of examinations (harmony, counterpoint, orchestration and analysis presentation).
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: Only open to students in the D.Mus. Music; Composition and the Ph.D. Music; Composition programs.
Sound Recording students only:
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MUSR 690 Special Field Research (3 credits)
Overview
Sound Recording : Seminar focused on research preparation and methods, with course materials comprised of special field topics.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
3 hours
Restrictions: Open only to students in the Ph.D. in Music (Sound Recording).
Music Theory students only:
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MUTH 710 Teaching Practicum
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Compilation of materials for a class on a particular topic, organizing and hierarchizing the information, designing class activities and preparing a lesson plan, presenting information clearly and concisely, and answering students' questions and otherwise interacting with the class.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: Only open to students in the Ph.D. in Music (Theory) and the Ph.D. in Music; Gender and Women's Studies.
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MUTH 711 General Examinations
Overview
Music Theory and Analysis : Series of examinations. Music theory essays, music history (Score ID), oral exam.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restrictions: Only open to students in the Ph.D. in Music (Theory) and the Ph.D. in Music; Gender and Women's Studies.
