Music Composition (PhD)
The University of Oregon offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Data-Driven Music Performance and Composition, Music Composition, Music Education, Music Theory, and Musicology.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- The doctoral degree program in composition stresses creative activity emphasizing the development of a personal aesthetic expressible in sound.
- Competencies also include a broad knowledge of historical and contemporary compositional practices, music theory, history and criticism, and creative approaches to relationships of these to the compositional process.
Doctor of Philosophy in Music Composition Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 611 | Research Methods in Music | 3 |
| MUS 629 | Repertoire and Analysis | 3 |
| MUE 641 | College Music Teaching | 3 |
| MUS 665 | Music in the 20th Century | 3 |
| Music in Historic Era - select one from the following: | 3 | |
| Music in the Middle Ages | ||
| Music in the Renaissance | ||
| Music in the Baroque Era | ||
| Music in the Classical Period | ||
| Music in the Romantic Era | ||
| Non-Music Courses 1 | 8 | |
| Research Development Courses (8 credits or 2 courses) 2 | 6-8 | |
| MUE 639 | Pedagogy and Practicum: [Topic] | 3 |
| MUS 538 | Composers Forum (at least 4 terms) | 4 |
| Two sequences of the following: | 18 | |
| Advanced Composition Studies | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Interactive Media Performance | ||
| Advanced Electronic Composition | ||
| MUS 533–535 | Counterpoint | 12 |
| MUS 530 | Tonal Analysis: Linear Prolongational Analysis | 3 |
| MUS 516 | Post-Tonal Theory I | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Post-Tonal Theory II | ||
| Tonal Analysis: Form in Tonal Music | ||
| Advanced Post-Tonal Theory | ||
| One additional graduate-level seminar or course in musicology/ethnomusicology | 3-4 | |
| Ethnomusicology - select one course from the following: | 2-4 | |
| Introduction to Ethnomusicology | ||
| Musical Instruments of the World | ||
| Balinese Gamelan (two terms) | ||
| MUS 605 | Reading and Conference: [Topic] 3 | 1 |
| Notation Proficiency Exam | ||
| Orchestration Proficiency Exam | ||
| Recital | ||
| Comprehensive Exam | ||
| Dissertation | 18 | |
| Dissertation | ||
| Performance of dissertation and final defense | ||
| Total Credits | 102-108 | |
| 1 | Chosen in consultation with faculty advisor. These courses are intended to assist with content creation of the final writing/creation of dissertation or lecture document. |
| 2 | Chosen in consultation with faculty advisor. These courses are intended to prepare students for the research and writing/creation of dissertation or lecture document. |
| 3 | Composition dissertation proposal. |
Musicology/Ethnomusicology Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 528 | Cultures of Musical Celebrity | 3 |
| MUS 551 | Introduction to Ethnomusicology | 4 |
| MUS 552 | Musical Instruments of the World | 4 |
| MUS 562 | Popular Musics in the African Diaspora | 4 |
| MUS 575 | History of Opera | 4 |
| MUS 587 | Music and Emotion | 4 |
| MUS 614 | Introduction to Musicology | 4 |
| MUS 643 | Notation of Medieval and Renaissance Music | 3 |
| MUS 660 | Music in the Middle Ages 1 | 3 |
| MUS 661 | Music in the Renaissance 1 | 3 |
| MUS 662 | Music in the Baroque Era 1 | 3 |
| MUS 663 | Music in the Classical Period 1 | 3 |
| MUS 664 | Music in the Romantic Era 1 | 3 |
| MUS 670 | Graduate Seminar in Musicology: [Topic] | 4 |
| MUS 671 | Seminar in Ethnomusicology: [Topic] | 4 |
| MUS 680 | Historical Performance Practices I | 3 |
| MUS 681 | Historical Performance Practices II | 3 |
| MUS 682 | Historical Performance Practices III | 3 |
| MUS 683 | Rhetoric and Music | 4 |
| MUS 684 | Musical Iconography | 4 |
| 1 | MUS 660-664 can only count after the student has already fulfilled the Music in Historic Era requirement. |