About PhD Program,
Our department offers an M.A. and Ph.D. in Music, with concentrations in Musicology and Music Theory, and we have an integrated view of musical scholarship. Graduate coursework exposes all students to advanced study in musicology, ethnomusicology, and theory. Washington University also offers many opportunities for interdisciplinary study, with certificate programs in American Culture Studies, Women and Gender Studies, and Film and Media Studies.
We are very proud of our supportive community of faculty and graduate students located on a beautiful campus in a musically-rich city. With a low student-to-faculty ratio, individual attention is a hallmark of our department.
All students accepted for the Ph.D. program receive generous six-year funding packages, with additional support for language study, research, and conference travel. We provide supervised teaching experience and offer opportunities for independent teaching. Our graduates currently hold positions in research universities, conservatories, liberal arts colleges, and engineering schools, as well as arts institutions outside academia.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
- 9 units of foundations (research, bibliography, and notation)
- 24 units of musicology
- 12 units of music theory
- 6 units outside of music
- 1 unit of undergraduate pedagogy seminar
- Electives as needed to complete 60 units
- 12 units of dissertation research
- keyboard proficiency
- reading knowledge of 2 foreign languages (German and either French, Italian, or Latin, or a substitute, according to the student’s needs)
- written and oral qualifying examinations (which occur after the completion of 60 units)
- dissertation and the final oral defense of the dissertation
- completion of teaching requirements
- Students who have completed a Master’s degree at another institution may receive up to 24 units of transfer credit toward the Ph.D. The normal course load for a graduate student is 12 units per semester in the first year and 9 units per semester in subsequent years.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Prospective graduate students may apply for scholarship aid (tuition remission) and fellowships that carry stipends, both available on a competitive basis through the the Office of Graduate Studies in Arts and Sciences. Fellowships and teaching assistantships for doctoral students in 2020-21 stipend is $23,360 for the fall and spring semesters. Fellowships and assistantships are frequently awarded to Master’s students as well. The department has a limited number of prestigious fellowships opportunities for new doctoral students, available on a competitive basis (see below).
The Office of Graduate Studies in Arts & Sciences currently supports doctoral students for at least six years, assuming satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree.
Application Requirement,
Take the TOEFL examination if English is not your native language. The recommended TOEFL score is 90 or above for the internet-based test or 213 or above for the computer-based test. Only scores from tests taken within the last two years will be accepted.
Submit official transcripts of all college-level work to the Music Department.
Submit three letters of recommendation from instructors who have taught you at the college level and can comment precisely and in detail on your abilities and achievements. Letters should be submitted online through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application site.
Submit 1-2 representative writing samples (e.g., term papers or published articles) online through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application site.
Send your supporting materials (if not submitted online) and transcripts.
Application Deadline,
Dec 02, 2024
Application Fee,
Please refer the official website
