About PhD Program,
The first three years of graduate study for graduates in musicology are devoted to completion of required coursework and passage of the qualifying and special area examinations. After the successful defense of the dissertation proposal (incorporated within the special area exam), the student concentrates on researching and writing the dissertation. The dissertation demonstrates the student’s ability to work systematically and independently to produce a substantial work of competent scholarship.
Below you will find a chart with the placement of the major milestones for your career as a doctoral student in musicology. Please note that each of the major milestones and recommended/required coursework for the degree plan are discussed and defined more elaborately in the Department of Music Graduate Handbook.
Register for all courses for the maximum number of units allowed (unless your desired course load exceeds the limit). Plan on 15–18 units per quarter in Year 1 and exactly 10 units per quarter in Years 2–4. Total required units by the end of Year 4, Fall Quarter: 135. All courses in Music must be taken at the 100 level or higher and for a grade, unless the course has been designated Pass/Fail.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
To pursue doctoral level graduate study in Music, applicants are required to have earned a Bachelor’s degree, and it is expected that applicants to the doctoral programs will have the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree in Music. If you have not actually earned a degree in Music, comparison with the Stanford Department of Music’s requirements for the Bachelor’s degree will help you determine whether or not you will need to take courses in music theory, history, etc., on your own.
The terminal Master’s program in Music, Science, and Technology is designed for candidates having an undergraduate engineering, science, music, or arts degree, or a degree that includes course work in engineering mathematics.
PhD Funding Coverage,
Doctoral students in the Department of Music receive 5 years of 12-month funding to support their academic progress.
Individual Cardinal Care Health Insurance Premiums will be covered during 3 academic quarters of all 5 years.
There are a variety of funding options for Stanford graduate students based on academic merit, financial need, course of study, or type of degree program. Most fellowships and grants are secured through academic departments, outside agencies or governments.
Application Requirement,
Include the following as uploaded documents within the online application:
- Statement of purpose;
- Three letters of recommendation;
- Scanned (i.e., unofficial) transcriptsfrom each school attended for at least one year; and
- PhDand MA applicants must also include a writing sample demonstrating scholarly ability (i.e., Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, papers submitted for classes, published papers, )
- DMA composition applicants must also include:
- A complete list of your compositions, AND
- One or more links to representative scores, audio and video recordings (3–6 recommended) provided online. Please use a streaming service for audio and video content; one or more download links may be provided for PDF files only. (Please make sure that links remain active for at least two months after the application deadline.)
Send official FINAL transcripts to the Department of Music ONLY after you have accepted an offer of admission! Details about final transcripts may be found here.
- Official transcripts: May be EITHER electronic or hard copybut must meet the criteria listed here.
- For additional information about academic credentials, see the Office of Graduate Admissions “Minimum Education Requirements” site.]
- Educational Testing Service (ETS)should send the following scores to school code 4704 (there is no department code):
- TOEFLscores are required of all international applicants, if English is not your primary language and you do not meet the requirements for a waiver to this requirement.
Per current University policy, all international students including those from Mainland China must receive English language clearance from the English for Foreign Students program prior to becoming a teaching assistant.
Note that GRE scores are optional for all graduate programs in Music.
Application Deadline,
Dec 10, 2024
Application Fee,
The application fee is $125 and is nonrefundable.