PhD Program; Field: Ethnomusicology

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Faculty of Music's additional admission requirements stated below.

• The PhD in Music, Ethnomusicology field is a research degree. Applicants must hold a master's degree with specialization in ethnomusicology, musicology, or music theory, but may also be in a cognate field such as anthropology or cultural studies. Applicants must have an average standing of B+ or better.

• An essay of approximately 3,000 words which demonstrates their ability to handle a research problem.

• Applicants, whether from the University of Toronto or elsewhere, may be interviewed by the department.

• Two letters of reference commenting on the applicant's academic ability and promise.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students holding a master's degree specializing in musicology, ethnomusicology, or theory must fulfil the following requirements by the end of Year 2:

  • 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

    • MUS1250H PhD Seminar, taken in the first session

    • MUS1997H Research in Ethnomusicology

    • 1.0 FCE in graduate-only seminars in ethnomusicology

    • 1.0 FCE in electives, of which 0.5 FCE may be taken outside of musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit). With approval from the course and program advising (CPA) committee, one 0.5 FCE course may be deferred to the first session of Year 2.

  • Coursework should be completed during Year 1 with an average grade of at least A–. The exception is MUS1997H Research in Ethnomusicology, which lays the groundwork for the field examination and the dissertation: this course must be started at the beginning of the second session of Year 1 and completed by the end of the first session of Year 2.

  • The CPA committee will review course selections to ensure that they meet the requirements of the program and are appropriate to the field. The department may prescribe additional courses if it is felt they are necessary to develop the knowledge and skills required for a student's proposed subject of study.

• Advanced oral and reading knowledge of a language other than English is required: this should be relevant to a student's musical and scholarly interests. The department may also require competence in additional languages deemed necessary for a proposed area of research. Language requirements must be completed successfully by the end of Year 2.

• Supervisor. During Year 1, students are expected to discuss their interests, expectations, and research objectives with faculty members. An appropriate supervisor of MUS1997H must then be agreed upon. The supervisor will be primarily responsible for determining the structure and content of MUS1997H, which will include a research paper.

• A set of three comprehensive exams in (1) contemporary issues, (2) history of the field, and (3) repertoire, to be taken at the beginning of Year 2.

  • Students are permitted two attempts to complete each exam. A second attempt must take place at the beginning of the second session. If students are unsuccessful in their second attempt at the comprehensive exam, the department will make a recommendation for program termination.

• Students must prepare a thesis and will defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

• The residency requirement is two years, whereby students must be on campus full-time and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program; Field: Ethnomusicology (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Faculty of Music's additional admission requirements stated below.

• The PhD in Music, Ethnomusicology field is a research degree. Exceptional students may be admitted directly to the doctoral stream with an appropriate bachelor's degree (direct entry). Applicants must have an average standing of A– or better.

• An essay of approximately 3,000 words which demonstrates their ability to handle a research problem.

• Applicants, whether from the University of Toronto or elsewhere, may be interviewed by the department.

• Two letters of reference commenting on the applicant's academic ability and promise.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

  • Year 1: complete 3.0 FCEs, exclusive of MUS1250H and MUS1997H. Students must maintain an average grade of at least A– in order to continue with the doctorate; otherwise, the student will be required to transfer into the master's program. Successful direct entry students go on to Year 2.

  • Years 2 and 3: 3.0 FCEs as follows:

    • MUS1250H PhD Seminar, taken in the first session of Year 2.

    • MUS1997H Research in Ethnomusicology lays the groundwork for the field examination and the dissertation. This course must be started at the beginning of the second session of Year 2 and completed by the end of the first session of Year 3.

    • 1.0 FCE in graduate-only seminars in ethnomusicology.

    • 1.0 FCE in electives, of which 0.5 FCE may be taken outside of musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory (either in the Graduate Department of Music or another graduate unit). With approval from the course and program advising (CPA) committee, one 0.5 FCE course may be deferred to the first session of Year 2.

    • All course requirements must be completed by the end of Year 3.

  • The CPA committee will review course selections to ensure that they meet the requirements of the program and are appropriate to the field. The department may prescribe additional courses if it is felt they are necessary to develop the knowledge and skills required for a student's proposed subject of study.

• Students must complete an intermediate-level language examination in Year 1. Advanced oral and reading knowledge of a language other than English is required: this should be relevant to the student's musical and scholarly interests. The department may also require competence in additional languages deemed necessary for a proposed area of research. Language requirements must be completed successfully by the end of Year 3.

• Supervisor. During Year 1, students are expected to discuss their interests, expectations, and research objectives with faculty members. An appropriate supervisor of MUS1997H must then be agreed upon. The supervisor will be primarily responsible for determining the structure and content of MUS1997H, which will include a research paper.

• A set of three comprehensive exams in (1) contemporary issues, (2) history of the field, and (3) repertoire, to be taken at the beginning of Year 3.

  • Students are permitted two attempts to complete each exam. A second attempt must take place at the beginning of the second session. If students are unsuccessful in their second attempt at the comprehensive exam, the department will make a recommendation for program termination.

• Students must prepare a thesis and will defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination.

• The residency requirement is three years, whereby students must be on campus full-time and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 5 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 7 years full-time