PhD Program Information
The First Two Years: Coursework
Sixteen 4-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 in musicology, two courses in offerings outside the department, and 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 get weekly individual lessons, and choose from composition and electronic music courses and other offerings within the department or from other departments at Harvard. 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 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.
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. Click here for a full list of departmental course offerings organized by category.
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.
Note: Graduate students who have one or more incompletes will not be considered for department summer grants.
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 examination, 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. Once 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 each year to ensure satisfactory progress. In addition to adequate course work, there are special requirements for first- and second-year students, including submitting at least one paper written for a graduate course as part of the first-year review. For those in Historical Musicology, every first- and second-year student must write a least one seminar paper per term. First- and second-years generally receive a letter from the faculty annually to discuss student progress.
A student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences must be making satisfactory progress to be eligible for any type of financial aid. 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 this requirement will have a healthy effect on students’ academic progress, and that it will enable us to preserve resources for those most deserving of financial assistance.
1. During the first two years of graduate study, any student who is permitted to register is considered to be making satisfactory progress.
2. A prospective third-year student must have achieved the minimum grade-point average required by this faculty (B). They must have also passed general examinations.
3. A prospective fourth-year student must have obtained approval of a dissertation prospectus.
4. A prospective sixth-year, or more advanced, student must have produced at least one acceptable chapter of the dissertation or its equivalent for each year beginning with the fifth.
5. A student who fails to meet a requirement may, upon the department’s recommendation, be considered to be an “exception”–and remain eligible for financial assistance–for a grace period of up to one year. At the close of the 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.
6. No student may have more than one such year of grace during his or her 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.
Language Exams and Requirements
Written language exams are given at three specified times throughout the year: in late October/early November, mid-February, and April. Reading knowledge must be proved before taking the general examination. For all programs, these exams should be completed before your General Examinations. Sample practice exams are downloadable below. If you need to take an exam other than in French, German, or Italian, please request your exam from Eva Kim in the department office in advance.
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.
For musicology, ethnomusicology, and theory students, two languages are required. The languages will be chosen in consultation with the graduate advisor, and should reflect 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 semester of the third year. This revision is being implemented to give students more time, but 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 for becoming ABD.
For Composition students, 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.
For CPCI students, one language exam in a language relevant to their research interests must be taken, and the student’s chosen language should 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.
Language Exam Guidelines
1) Departmental language examinations are given three times during the academic year. Students will be notified at the beginning of each academic year as to the precise dates, and no exceptions can be made regarding the scheduling of these exams except in rare cases. Students should sign up for an examination at least three weeks before the desired examination date. If requested, one sample of each language exam will be provided to the student when they sign up for an examination.
2) A graduate student may retake an examination but only within the regular academic cycle and in accordance with the guidelines of his or her particular graduate program.
3) Language examinations in German, French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish will be administered by Music Department faculty members. Students anticipating any special language need should bring this to the attention of the Graduate Advisor to allow for adequate consultation and planning.
4) Students should consult with the graduate advisors of their respective programs about language requirements at the beginning of their first semester on campus. At that time, they should agree upon a tentative schedule by which they plan to satisfy the language requirement.
5) Under specific conditions, students who second a non-English language natively, upon approval of the graduate advisor, may satisfy one language examination by taking a special English examination. This exam will be administered by the Department and involve translation of a text from their native language to English.
6) The student and the Director of Graduate Studies will be notified in writing of the outcome of an examination by the faculty member who administers it.
7) All language exams are hand written. Students may use two hard-copy dictionaries to aid translation; for example, an abridged volume for fast access and a complete one for greater detail. Students are not permitted to use any other translation resources, such as online dictionaries, online translation programs, or any other electronic programs or translation facilitators.
Sample Language Exams
Master’s Degree (non-terminal, on the way to PhD)
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 may be obtained if necessary after successfully completing the following (it is assumed the student will continue on with the PhD program):
-Eight courses
-Two languages (one, in the case of composition students)
-Music B
-Written portion of the general examinations
In unusual circumstances, students who cannot successfully complete the General Examination may be given the option of completing these requirements for a terminal AM degree.
The degree application dates are the same as the PhD dates. Please see the Director of Administration for more information.
Music as a Secondary Field
A student enrolled in a PhD program in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University may achieve formal recognition for completing a secondary field in musicology or ethnomusicology. The following requirements must be met to complete this secondary field.
- Completion of a minimum of four courses (16 credits).
- One of these courses must be an introductory course: Music 201a: Introduction to Historical Musicology, Music 201b: Introduction to Ethnomusicology, or Music 221: Current Issues in Theory.
- The remaining three courses may be chosen from other graduate courses (200 level: “Primarily for Graduates”) or intermediate courses (150 level: “For Undergraduates and Graduates”). With 150-level courses, graduate-level work is required, with confirmation of such to the Director of Graduate Studies. Grades must be B+ or above. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure that the necessary documentation is submitted to the DGS.
- Neither pass/fail nor audited courses will count towards a secondary PhD field.
For further information contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Harvard University Department of Music or GSAS information on Secondary Fields.
Third Year Requirements and Beyond
Once the student passes their general exams (see below), the third year is primarily devoted to developing a dissertation proposal and the beginning of work on the dissertation. All students will complete their required courses; in most cases, that will mean two half-courses. Music 250hf, “Colloquium on Teaching Pedagogy,” is required during most students’ first year of teaching, and does not count as one of the sixteen courses required.
General Examinations
The General Examination consists of two parts: written and oral. The orals are taken soon after submitting 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, if needed, but no more than once. The format differs significantly for each program; please follow the links below for more information about specific programs. If you have questions about exam logistics, please speak with Nancy Shafman and Eva Kim in the department office. Eva also keeps a file of previous years’ exams, which you are also welcome to consult; sample exams are included below for reference.
Historical Musicology
Ethnomusicology
Theory
Composition
Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry
Sample General Exams (to come)
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.
Dissertating
Within the academic year in which the general examination is passed, the PhD candidate is expected to develop a proposal for a dissertation, which should be a major original contribution to the field. The proposal must be submitted for approval to the department, which is responsible for assigning the student a committee consisting of a dissertation advisor and two other faculty members. Normally, the complete dissertation must be submitted within five years after passing the general examination, and satisfactory progress must be demonstrated every year in order that the student remains in good standing. If the dissertation is submitted thereafter the department is not obligated to accept it. The formal requirements for the dissertation are set forth in The Form of the PhD Dissertation, provided by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
Final Steps in the Dissertation Process
The procedure for completing the dissertation is as follows:
1. The full text must be submitted to the members of the Dissertation Committee for suggestions, corrections, changes, etc. Candidates are encouraged to discuss drafts of individual chapters with all members of the Dissertation Committee.
2. The application for the degree must be submitted to the Registrar by the date published on GSAS Policies website for the November, March or May degrees.
3. All departmental doctoral candidates who are about to submit or have submitted their dissertation are required to make a final presentation of their work. A dissertation workshop (Doctoral Conference) is required of all dissertation-writing students in composition, CPCI, historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and theory.
4. Students must submit their dissertation in PDF format to the FAS Registrar’s Office through ProQuest ETD by the deadline established for each degree conferral date (see the Degree Calendar or the Registrar’s Office website.
Final Requirements for the PhD Degree
Registration and Tuition Requirements
All degree candidates must register continuously until completion of the requirements for the degree. PhD candidates must have paid two years of full tuition and two years of reduced tuition before receipt of the degree, unless they have completed the PhD in less than four years from initial registration. All PhD candidates must pay the facilities fee in their last term of registration (unless a higher tuition has been paid). Resident students automatically will have paid at least the facilities fee for the term. Non-resident students who paid the active file fee for the term will be charged the facilities fee and given credit for the active file fee already charged. This final charge for the Ph.D. is billed when a student applies for the degree; it is cancelled if the degree is not received at that time.
For students receiving degrees in November, the last term of registration is the previous spring term; for degrees in March the last term is the previous fall; and for degrees in May the last term is the spring term. Students who are uncertain whether they will finish in time for degrees in November or March are encouraged to register for the fall or spring terms respectively, either in residence or on leave of absence, to avoid late registration fees if they miss the degree deadlines. If they then do finish in time, their registration for the term will be cancelled. Students should see the GSAS Handbook section on Medical Fees regarding health fees coverage.
Application for the Degree
Degree applications are available from academic departments, the Registrar’s Office (20 Garden Street), and the Dean’s Office (University Hall). They must be completed by the student, signed by the Department Chair and filed with the Registrar’s Office by the appropriate due date. In unusual circumstances late applications may be accepted for the next two weeks only; there is a penalty fee for late applications.
There are deadlines for filing the application for your degree. Dates change slightly each year. Doctoral candidates should work closely with their advisors to insure that their committee members receive near final drafts of the work at least one month prior to the degree application deadline.
Note: It’s always best to check with the Registrar for final dates; the following dates are guidelines only.
For Degrees Awarded in November:
• July: Draft due
• August: Application due
• September: Dissertation certificate due/dissertation submitted electronically (see below)
For Degrees Awarded in March:
• October: Draft due
• November: Application due
• January: Dissertation certificate due/dissertation submitted electronically (see below)
For Degrees Awarded in May:
• February: Draft due
• March: Application due
• May: Dissertation certificate due/dissertation submitted electronically (see below)
Reactivation
If a student does not receive the degree on the date it was applied for, the student must reactivate the degree application for conferral at a later date. Reactivation forms are available at the above offices; they also need the signature of the Department Chair, and must be filed by the appropriate due date for degree applications: Students may reactivate a degree application once without a fee; for any subsequent reactivation there is a fee.
Requirements When Submitting the Doctoral Thesis
When PhD applicants obtain a degree application or reactivation form, they should also receive two questionnaires: The Survey of Earned Doctorates, which is conducted by the National Research Council, and a combined Student Exit Interview from the GSAS Dean’s Office and Survey of Postgraduate Plans from the Office of Career Services. Student must complete both forms and return them to the Registrar’s Office (20 Garden Street) in advance of turning in their thesis.
Requirements for Submitting the Dissertation
1. By 5:00 pm on the day of the deadline, students must have submitted the ORIGINAL Dissertation Acceptance Certificate, Degree Application (usually due earlier), and three exit surveys (or proof of completion, depending) to the registrar.
2. By 11:59 on that day, the dissertation must have been submitted (via a link available on the registrar’s website) to UMI/ProQuest. This digital copy must have a scanned copy of the Dissertation Acceptance Certificate as the first page and conform to the guidelines available in the “Form of the Dissertation” document, available (and constantly revised) at the Registrar’s Office. When candidates file this document they are required to order a bound copy for the University Archives. But Music Department students should be advised to order (at least) a second hard copy, bound, for Isham. This is NOT pre-set in the submission form. Note: It takes UMI 6-8 (probably more) weeks to process this.
3. Students should be alerted to the TWO phases of online distribution to which they can assent or dissent: the first is ProQuest’s online database, the second is Harvard University’s DASH.
4. Permissions. With the student’s digital dissertation, he or she is required to submit a file of permissions letters when uploading the dissertation. This is also the point at which one can submit video/audio materials. Students are encouraged to go to an online submission workshop to clarify what is necessary and when.
Diplomas
Diplomas may be obtained with identification at the Registrar’s Office, 20 Garden Street. Students may also indicate a mailing address on the degree application; the mailing fee is payable when the application is filed. Diplomas are sent by certified mail; there is a small fee for mailing in the United States, Canada, and Mexico; and a slightly higher fee for mailing abroad.
Once the thesis, thesis acceptance certificate, and departmental recommendation for the degree are on file in the Registrar’s Office, a student may request certification of the expected degree in person or in writing. Requests should be addressed to the GSAS Degree Office, 20 Garden St. The first three certifications are free; there is a nominal charge for each additional certification.
Commencement
All students who receive degrees in November, March, and May of a given academic year may participate in the Commencement celebration held in May. The Dean’s Office (495-1816) sends information about the Commencement Day schedule, tickets, and academic regalia to all recipients of November and March degrees and all applicants for May degrees.