PhD Program; Field: Music and Health Sciences
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.
Applicants must hold a four-year bachelor’s degree, either in music (or with a musical credential [e.g., ARCT]) or music therapy, plus a field-related master’s degree (e.g., master of music, master of music therapy, master’s degree in a health field such as kinesiology, neuroscience, or speech-language pathology). Applicants must have a standing of B+ or better, from the University of Toronto, or an equivalent degree and standing from another recognized university.
An interview with Music and Health faculty members whenever possible. With faculty approval, an assigned essay may be substituted for the interview.
Two letters of reference commenting on the applicant's professional experience and academic ability.
Completion Requirements
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Coursework. Students must complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:
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Required courses (4.0 FCEs):
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MUS7995Y Music and Health Doctoral Research Project
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Two of the following quantitative methods research courses (1.0 FCE), approved by the advisor:
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Four of the following courses (2.0 FCEs) or other course(s) as approved by the department:
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MUS4248H Optimizing the Singing Mind
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MUS4613H Performance Techniques for Hospice Palliative Care
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MUS7110H Neurosciences of Music: Scientific Foundations, Clinical Translations
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MUS7406H Music Psychology
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MUS7407H Clinical Research Practicum
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MUS7412H Elementary Improvisation Methods
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MUS7415H Topics in Music and Health I
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MUS7416H Topics in Music and Health II
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Elective courses (2.0 FCEs) from the Faculty of Music or related departments as approved by the advisor. Students in the Collaborative Specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care Across the Life Course or the Collaborative Specialization in Neuroscience may use the core course(s) from the collaborative specialization for these electives.
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Language requirements, if any, will be established by the student's advisory committee, based on specific research needs.
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Supervision. As early as possible in Year 2, the student will submit a thesis proposal that must be approved by the end of that year. On approval of the proposal by the Music and Health Sciences division, a principal advisor and an advisory committee of at least three members (including the advisor as chair) will be appointed. The committee will meet with the student at least two times each academic year.
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Students must complete a comprehensive examination successfully by the end of Year 2. Students are permitted two attempts to complete the exam. If the second attempt is unsuccessful, the department will recommend termination of the student's program.
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Thesis. Upon successful completion of the field examination, the candidate proceeds to complete an oral defence of the thesis proposal, a thesis, and an oral defence of the thesis.
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Following successful completion of the comprehensive exam, a thesis supervisory committee is formed. The committee membership must be approved by the Academic Dean of Graduate Studies and should include at least one member from the Faculty of Music. The supervisor may be from an appropriate department. The supervisory committee must approve the thesis proposal. Thesis research involving facilities or research participants in other departments (e.g., fMRI scanning or use of hospital patients) must be approved by the Director of the Music and Health Research Collaboratory (MaHRC).
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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.
Program Length: 4 years full-time (typical registration sequence: Continuous)
Time Limit: 6 years full-time