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Degree Requirements

The requirements listed below are specific to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School.

There are two graduate degree programs in Music. The program in Musicology (comprising ethnomusicology, historical musicology, music theory, and interdisciplinary combinations of these with one another and with aesthetics, cognition, and philosophy) leads to the degrees of M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. The program in Composition leads to the degrees of M.A. and D.M.A. Many faculty members participate in both programs, and courses in all areas are available to all students. The programs are described separately below.

Teaching requirement: Teaching is part of every student’s training. Students are expected to teach for at least three years during their course of graduate study.

The Musicology Program

It is possible for a holder of the M.A. degree from a comparable institution to be admitted with advanced standing, normally amounting to exemption from the M.A. course requirements but not from the other requirements for this degree.

Within Musicology, a student normally concentrates in ethnomusicology, historical musicology, or music theory (although there is some flexibility). To the extent possible, the requirements stated below are defined without reference to these concentrations; but differences are described where they arise.

For the M.A. Degree

Students must fulfill the following requirements in order to receive the M.A.:

• Complete six graduate courses, including the following:

• The proseminar in the area of concentration: Ethnomusicology (MUSI G6411); Historical Musicology (G6105); or Music Theory (G6333)

• At least one other proseminar

• At least two courses in field methods (for ethnomusicology) or one course in music analysis (for historical musicology and music theory)

• Other courses chosen in consultation with the advisor (as well any remedial work that may be required in music theory or music history)

• Pass a translation examination in a language approved by the advisor, most often French, German, or Italian

• Complete an M.A. thesis or essay whose nature depends on the orientation of the student’s work

For the M.Phil. Degree

Students must fulfill the following requirements in order to receive the M.Phil.:

• Complete eight graduate courses beyond those required for the M.A., chosen in consultation with the advisor

• Pass a translation examination in a second language

• Pass a multi-part written general examination in the student’s area of concentration, concerned both with specific cultural areas, historical periods, or works and with the history, methods, and concepts of the discipline

• Begin work on the dissertation proposal

For the Ph.D. Degree

Students must fulfill the following requirements in order to receive the Ph.D.:

• Complete the dissertation proposal and defend it in an oral examination

• Complete the dissertation with an approved Ph.D. faculty sponsor in Music; defend it before a committee of examiners (from within the Department and outside it); and deposit the dissertation in accordance with GSAS proceedures.

The Composition Program

For the M.A. Degree

A student must fulfill the following requirements in order to receive the M.A.:

• Complete at least ten graduate courses, including:

• Four semesters of the Composition Seminar (G8231-8232 and G8233-8234)

• Two semesters of Music since 1900 (G6379-6380)

• Two semesters of Basic Electroacoustics (G6601-6602)

• Two graduate courses in theory or analysis (as well as any remedial work that may be required in music theory or music history)

• Pass a translation examination in a language approved by the advisor, most often French, German, or Italian

For the D.M.A. Degree

A student must fulfill the following requirements in order to receive the D.M.A.:

• Take at least six graduate courses beyond those required for the M.A., including at least two semesters of electronic or computer music

• Pass a translation examination in a second language

• Pass two oral examinations in music analysis, one dealing with a work from the standard concert repertoire and presented to a committee of three faculty members, and the other dealing with a recent work in an hour-long lecture to the Composition Seminar

• Submit a portfolio, whose contents depend on the student’s interests and accomplishments (typically including three substantial compositions and two other items, such as essays, style-imitative compositions, computer programs, performances, or further compositions): evaluation of the portfolio will determine the student’s qualification to undertake dissertation work

• Submit a dissertation proposal for approval by the composition faculty; the dissertation includes both a composition of major scope and an essay (about the composition or about another subject)

• Write the dissertation, defend it before a committee of Department faculty and outside examiners, and deposit it according to GSAS procedure.

Financial Aid

A comprehensive program of financial aid, including fellowships and appointments in teaching, is available to Ph.D. students. After the first year, all Ph.D. students admitted to the program receive full funding, which includes the prevailing stipend and appropriate tuition and health fees through the fifth year, provided that they remain in good academic standing. If students receive a year of advanced standing they are entitled to only four years of fellowship funding.

Activities and Facilities

Current Musicology

Current Musicology is a periodical published by the graduate students of the department. Students in the Musicology program are expected to participate as contributors and members of the editorial staff.

Collegium Musicum

The aim of the Collegium Musicum is to study music through performance and to acquaint students with neglected and unfamiliar compositions. Students in the Musicology and Composition programs are encouraged to participate actively in the performance of vocal and instrumental music. Activities are supervised by the graduate student director.

Columbia Composers

Columbia Composers, an organization of students enrolled in composition courses, each year presents a series of concerts of new music written by its members. Some of the concerts are given on campus and some off campus; they are broadcast occasionally on radio stations WKCR and WNYC.

Center for Ethnomusicology

The Center for Ethnomusicology, in 701C Dodge, provides materials and facilities including an archive of music recordings and a laboratory. These are available to students enrolled in ethnomusicology courses. The Center also sponsors extracurricular lectures and performance sessions.

The Computer Music Center

The Computer Music Center offers instructional and studio facilities in electronic and computer music to composition and other students and to visiting composers from this country and abroad. It also conducts research and develops electronic music equipment and software. Staff and visiting composers realize compositions, including scores for television, theatre, film and dance productions. Performances of electronic and computer music are given in the Kathryn Bache Miller Theatre of Columbia University, which has facilities for twelve-channel reproduction on nineteen loudspeakers. Students’ works are periodically presented using these facilities.

The Center also provides opportunity for faculty and graduate students to conduct research in music perception and cognition and other areas, using the facilities of the computer music studio.

Departmental Colloquium Series

The department holds a series of colloquia during the fall and spring semesters on a broad range of topics. Speakers are mostly guest composers, scholars, and performers. In addition, the department has noontime Brown Bag luncheons at which Columbia faculty and graduate students in music and other disciplines present their work in a more informal setting.

University Orchestra, University Jazz Orchestra, and Barnard-Columbia Chorus

Descriptions of the activities of these groups and the times of auditions and rehearsals are given in the bulletins of the School of General Studies and Columbia College.

Instrumental Instruction

For courses in instrumental instruction, see the directories of classes in the School of General Studies and Columbia College, which list courses in chamber music, organ, piano, violin, viola, violoncello, string bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, drums and percussion, and early instruments. See the Music Performance Program website at http://music.columbia.edu/mpp/Musicperform.html for biographies of instructors and eligibility requirements.

Practice Rooms