Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory

The Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory is a rigorous five-year course of study culminating in a doctoral dissertation. This program is designed for students seeking the highest degree in the field.

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 bachelors 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.

Faculty

The faculty members for the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Theory program include:

• Karen Fournier, Associate Professor of Music
• Marc Hannaford, Assistant Professor of Music
• Patrick Harlin, Lecturer
• Áine Heneghan, Associate Professor of Music
• John Knoedler, Lecturer
• Kevin E. Korsyn, Professor of Music
• Nathan Martin, Associate Professor of Music
• Nancy Murphy, Associate Professor of Music; Director of the Program in Music Studies
• Bryan Parkhurst, Assistant Professor of Music
• Wayne C. Petty, Associate Professor of Music
• Marie-Čve Piché, Assistant Professor of Music
• René Rusch, Chair of Music Theory and Associate Professor of Music
• David Sears, Associate Professor of Music; Faculty Associate, Department of Psychology
• Joshua Tanis, Lecturer
• Aleksandra Voji, Associate Professor of Music

Students

The program includes a community of students who are pursuing their doctoral degrees in music theory.