Music
Questions about these requirements? See the contact info at the bottom of the page.
The First Two Years
Courses
Sixteen four-credit courses are required, and at least fourteen are usually taken during the first two years. Musicology students must take two courses in ethnomusicology and two courses in either theory or composition. Ethnomusicology students are required to take at least two courses each in musicology and in offerings outside the department. Ethnomusicology students must also take at least two courses in music theory. It is recommended that at least one theory seminar be in cross-cultural music theory. Theory students are required to take two courses in analysis and techniques (typically course numbers MUS 151–159), ideally during their first year. Composition students do not have a set curriculum and should plan their course of study with their advisor. As a general rule, requirements should be met by taking courses with faculty in the relevant programs (i.e., history, ethnomusicology, or theory). There are exceptions, however, when seminars cross disciplinary boundaries. In those cases, students need to consult with both the seminar professor and their area advisor during the first week of classes.
Creative practice and critical inquiry (CPCI) students survey multiple fields of intellectual inquiry while nurturing and refining their creative work. Students in the program may take any of the graduate courses offered by the Department of Music and occasional courses in other departments and programs with approval from the graduate advisor, as well as practice-based music-making courses (composition, improvisation, creative music, and interdisciplinary collaborations).
All students may be allowed academic credit (normally no more than two courses) for work done in other graduate schools in the United States or abroad, subject to the evaluation by the department and acceptance by the Graduate School. Petitions may be submitted after the completion of one full year of graduate work in the department. Normally students may petition to transfer credit for up to two courses in their major field.
Every first- and second-year student must select courses that result in at least one substantive creative work or seminar paper per term. In general, for all students, 100-level courses should be taken as supplemental to the graduate program and should not be the major portion of the student’s coursework. In order to receive graduate credit, permission to take any courses at the 100 level must be granted by the graduate advisor before taking the course.
Competence and fluency in traditional techniques (such as harmony, counterpoint, and analysis) are prerequisites for taking the general examination. Entering students will be given a placement test to assess skills. Music B will address these musicianship skills but does not count as one of the required 16 courses. Work must be undertaken in the first year of study.
Graduate students who have one or more incompletes will not be considered for department summer grants.
Languages
Written language exams are given at three specified times throughout the year. Reading knowledge must be proved before taking the general examination. For all programs, these exams should be completed before your general examinations.
If your native language is a research language and your spoken and written English skills are proficient, you may be exempted from taking a language exam in your native language. At most one language exam may be passed by exemption, and at least one foreign language exam must be taken. In other words, in programs that only require one language exam, a different foreign language may have to be selected. Exemptions are determined on a case-by-case basis by the program advisor and need to be approved by the department.
Musicology, Ethnomusicology, and Theory
Two languages are required. The languages will be chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor and should reflect, wherever possible, languages that will be relevant to future research. We strongly encourage students to pass both languages before taking the general exam. In the event this is not possible, both languages need to be passed by the end of the fall term of the third year.*
*While this revision is being implemented to give students more time, we also want to be sure that no one gets caught short. Students should consult with area advisors about their overall plan and be cautious not to cut the deadline too close; they cannot apply for their master’s degree until the language requirement is fulfilled.
Composition
German, Italian, or French unless an alternative language is approved in writing by the graduate advisor. Students must complete this requirement by spring of their second year.
Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry
Once enrolled, CPCI students must pass a language exam in a language relevant to their research interests to be approved in writing by the graduate advisor. Students must complete this requirement by spring of their second year.
Requirements for languages not tested regularly within the department may be satisfied through special examination or through presentation of other documentation at the discretion of the graduate advisor.
See the Music Department website for more details.
Advising Pre- and Post-Generals
Advising in the department during the pre-generals period is primarily handled by the appropriate graduate advisors and faculty members in the various programs, with the director of graduate studies available for further advice. After successful completion of the general examinations, students consult with individual faculty members on their proposed fields of concentration, and when a dissertation proposal has been completed, it is presented to the faculty in that field of study. When the dissertation proposal has been approved by the faculty in the program, it is brought to the entire department for final approval, and a dissertation committee is set up for each student. The dissertation committee consists of an advisor and two readers. Any questions or concerns about advising in the department can be brought to the attention of the director of graduate studies or the chair.
Review
The progress of all graduate students is reviewed at the end of Spring semester each year to ensure satisfactory progress. G1-G3 students receive annual progress reports from faculty program advisors.
A student in the Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences must be making satisfactory progress to be eligible for any type of financial aid and teaching appointments. The following items provide a general definition of satisfactory progress that has been adopted for this purpose by the Music Department. It is hoped that these guidelines will have a healthy effect on students’ academic progress and enable us to preserve resources for those most deserving of financial assistance.
1. During the first two years of graduate study, satisfactory progress is achieved through full-time enrollment (16 credits), satisfactory academic performance via attendance, participation, and grades in classwork, as well as regular meetings with program advisors.
2. A prospective third-year student must have achieved the minimum grade-point average required by this faculty (B). They must have completed Music B, fourteen courses, and the language requirements stipulated by each program. They must also have passed general examinations.
3. A prospective fourth-year student must have completed all required course work, language requirements, and have obtained approval of a dissertation prospectus.
4. A prospective sixth-year student (or more advanced), must have produced at least one acceptable chapter of the dissertation or its equivalent for each year beginning with the fifth. Students are expected to apply for the Dissertation Completion Fellowship in the spring of their G5 year, which requires two dissertation chapters or their equivalent. Students may also apply for the DCF in their G6 year. GSAS requires students to accept the DCF by their G7 year at the latest.
5. In rare instances, a student who fails to make satisfactory progress may, upon the department’s recommendation, be eligible for a grace period of up to one semester. At the close of that grace period, in order to be considered to be making satisfactory progress, the student must have met both the requirement missed earlier and the requirement that would normally be imposed at that time. If the student cannot make such a showing, they will be withdrawn from the program for unsatisfactory progress.
6. No student may have more than one such semester of grace during their study. Students in “grace” status may not hold teaching appointments and will not receive their stipend. Students in “grace” status remain eligible for institutional aid subject to availability, except for federal Title IV loans and/or work-study
7. In addition, the requirements of this calendar may be deferred by a department during one year of departmental approved Leave. A department may, if it wishes, defer requirements for a more extended period of approved leave in order to facilitate a student’s obtaining a professional degree.
Master’s Degree
The Graduate Program of the Department of Music offers advanced training leading to the degree of PhD in Music. There is no admission to an AM program separate from these PhD programs. A non-terminal AM degree can be granted after successfully completing the following four requirements. Most students who attain these four benchmarks continue to pursue a PhD.
- Eight courses
- One language exam
- Music B
- The written portion of the general examinations
Students who complete the first three requirements, but who do not pass the general examinations, may be awarded a terminal AM degree.
The degree application dates are the same as the PhD dates. Please see the director of administration for more information
Third Year Requirements
Once a student passes their general exams (see below), the third year is primarily devoted to developing a dissertation proposal, teaching, and beginning work on the dissertation. We expect students to have completed at least 14 courses by the time they take their general exams; any remaining coursework must be completed in the third year. In addition, Music 250hf, “Colloquium on Teaching Pedagogy,” is required during students’ G3 year; it does not count as one of the 16 courses required.
By the end of the G3 year, the PhD candidate is expected to have developed a proposal for a dissertation, which should be an original contribution to their field. The proposal must be submitted before the final department meeting of the spring semester. The department is responsible for approving the student’s Dissertation Advisory Committee (DAC). The DAC generally consists of a chair and two other faculty advisors. Stipulations for constituting the DAC are set forth by GSAS in The Dissertation Advisory Committee. The Advising Project has useful resources for optimizing advising relationships.
General Examinations
The general examination consists of two parts: written and oral. The orals are taken soon after passing the written portions. The exam dates differ by program but are usually between May and August of the student’s second year of study. Both the written and the oral parts can be repeated, but no more than once. The format, which is significantly different for each program, is as follows:
Teaching
Since teaching is an integral part of graduate training, most graduate students are teaching fellows during part of the time they are at Harvard. Teaching fellows are also eligible to apply for a resident or nonresident tutorship in one of the 12 undergraduate houses, or in the Dudley Community. In addition to financial benefits, teaching fellowships and tutorships provide excellent professional experience.
Beginning in the third year, graduate students in good standing are eligible for teaching fellowships. Most teaching fellows devote two "term fifths" to teaching. Following successful completion of the general exam, students are required to take M250ht (Teaching Practicum). This course does not count towards the 16 courses required for the PhD.
G4-G6 Years and Progress to Degree
Normally, the complete dissertation must be submitted within four years after passing the general examination, and satisfactory progress must be demonstrated every year for a student to remain enrolled. Students who are not making satisfactory academic progress towards degree may be withdrawn from the program. The formal requirements for the dissertation are set forth by GSAS in The Form of the PhD Dissertation.
Students are expected to meet with their DACs each semester in the G4-G6 years to discuss their work and progress. Students are responsible for scheduling these meetings. At the end of Spring semester each year, the chair of the Dissertation Advisory Committee will produce a progress report with the following:
- dates the advising meetings took place and list of attendees
- teaching assignments and/or research support (term-time etc.), time management
- research that has been conducted
- what has been produced (creative products, written work in draft or final form).
Concerns should be flagged along with an outline of measures that need to be taken for the student to remain in satisfactory academic progress. DAC chairs should be sure to consult progress reports from the G3 year when they take over advising from program advisors. Progress reports will be shared with the student, the DAC, DGS, department administrator, and program advisor and kept on file.
Final Steps in the Dissertation Process
The formal requirements for the dissertation are set forth in the dissertation policies of the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The department requires one bound copy for the music library in addition to the two copies (one bound, one original) required for the registrar.
Doctoral Colloquium
All departmental doctoral candidates who are about to submit or have submitted their dissertation are required to make a final presentation of their work.
See the music department website for more details on the dissertation process and final requirements for graduation.