Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory
Application deadlines are specific to degree programs. See our Graduate Admissions page for a list of all deadlines.
Designed for students seeking the highest degree in the field, the PhD is a rigorous five-year course of study culminating in a doctoral dissertation.
Curriculum
The doctoral program provides specialized training in scholarly method, music theory, and musicology. Students should normally achieve candidacy by the end of the sixth term.
Academic Eligibility
Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory must have completed a bachelor’s of music degree or equivalent to be eligible for admission.
A Master of Arts degree may be awarded after two years to those students not continuing in the Ph.D. program.
Funding
Nearly all PhD students receive full-tuition fellowships. Most also receive health benefits and a stipend attached to a Graduate Student Assistantship, which can vary in proportion to the appointment fraction and the duties associated with it. In addition to the funding packages offered by the SMTD, Rackham students are also eligible to apply for a wide range of fellowships to fund research, travel, and performance.
Students
Faculty
Karen Fournier
Marc Hannaford
Patrick Harlin
Áine Heneghan
John Knoedler
Kevin E. Korsyn
Nathan Martin
Somangshu Mukherji
Nancy Murphy
Wayne C. Petty
René Rusch
Joshua Tanis
