Graduate Division

Curricula for Graduate Degrees

Musicology

Doctor of Philosophy in Musicology (through University Graduate School)

Admission Requirements

Strong preparation in music history. Students with outstanding credentials may apply directly from a bachelor’s degree. For additional information, see "Admission Requirements" in the Graduate Division section of this bulletin.

Progress toward Degree

Proficiencies in music history and music theory should be met by the end of the first year. One language examination should be passed by the end of the first year, and a second must be passed before the qualifying examination along with keyboard and performance proficiencies. Students should ordinarily complete coursework by the middle of the third year (end of the third year for students admitted from a bachelor's degree), complete qualifying examinations in the following semester, and submit a dissertation topic proposal a semester after that. The M605 tutorial may be taken concurrently with major-field qualifying examinations. Deviations from this schedule should be the subject of consultation with the department chair.

Major

48 to 78 credit hours

  • M551 Introduction to Historical Musicology (3 cr.)
  • M602 Seminar in Musicology (3-3-3-3-3 cr.)
  • M603 Methods of Musical Scholarship (3 cr.)
  • Six credit hours drawn from M602 or M603 (3-3 cr.)
  • Courses in musicology, music history and literature, music theory, ethnomusicology, or other musical subjects with approval of the department chair and director of graduate studies (3-3-3 cr.). Students holding an MA or MM in musicology may be exempted from some or all of these courses on the recommendation of the department. If these credit hours are waived, students must enroll in an additional 9 credit hours of M700 Dissertation in Musicology.
  • M604 Qualifying Exam Tutorial (3 cr.)
  • M605 Qualifying Exam and Dissertation Area Tutorial (3 cr.)
  • M700 Dissertation in Musicology (6-36 cr.)
Minor

One minor, which may be inside or outside of music, with sufficient credit hours to satisfy the course requirements for a PhD minor, as determined by the department in which the minor is taken. All such minors must be recognized or accepted by the University Graduate School. A PhD minor typically requires 12 credit hours of coursework, and departments may also require a written and/or oral examination in the minor field.

Tool Subject

Reading knowledge of two non-English languages. The first language must be French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian, or Spanish; the second should be relevant to the student’s research area and is to be determined in consultation with a musicology faculty advisor and the department chair. Reading knowledge in a language may be demonstrated in the following ways:

  • by passing an examination administered by the appropriate language department
  • by passing a translation examination administered by the musicology department
  • by grades of B or higher in two semesters of reading courses at the graduate level
  • by receiving a grade of B or higher in a literature or civilization course at Indiana University numbered 300 or higher (exclusive of individual readings and correspondence courses) in which the reading is done in the foreign language.

Academic Bulletins

PDF Version

Click here for the PDF version.

Previous Bulletins

Students are ordinarily subject to the curricular requirements outlined in the Bulletin in effect at the start of their current degree. See below for links to previous Bulletins.