Program Requirements

Students admitted to a Master’s program, and holding a Bachelor’s degree from a university other than the University of Victoria, will be required to write a theory placement examination, involving the analysis of compositions from various style periods. The examination will be administered early in September, before classes begin. While the results of the examination will not affect the student’s admission into the program, they will determine whether the student must take undergraduate theory courses. Theory courses numbered below 300 cannot be counted toward the course requirements of a Master’s degree.

The student's work is guided by the Supervisory Committee (see the Faculty of Graduate Studies Guidelines). The supervisor chairs the committee. For Composition or Performance candidates, the supervisor is the student's major teacher; for candidates in Musicology, the academic supervisor is the person responsible for the guidance of the thesis or dissertation. The function of the supervisory committee is to assist the graduate student in all facets of the program whenever necessary; to supervise the preparation of the thesis or dissertation, composition or recital; to act as the core for the examining committee; and, generally, to supervise the student's progress in the program.

Transfer credits for courses towards the master’s and doctoral programs taken at other universities will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances. Transfer students should note that the Faculty of Graduate Studies will require them to pay the same number of fee installments for the degree as other students.

A student registered in the master’s program may take up to 3.0 units of undergraduate courses at the 300 level or above; undergraduate credits must be approved by the academic supervisor and relevant to the student’s program of study.

The Graduate Adviser administers the graduate program and is the faculty member responsible to the School of Music Director for the administration of graduate studies in the School of Music.

In addition to the requirements listed below, graduate students are encouraged to take an active part in the performing groups and musical life of the University, and to participate in the Graduate Colloquium.

MA in Musicology – Thesis Option

The MA in Musicology is an integrated program involving music criticism, analysis, and applied theory as well as cultural and historical study. It offers students close mentoring leading to the development of skills appropriate to a career in musicology.

* Student may also select courses in other disciplines appropriate to the student’s research interests. Students are encouraged to select these electives to create a secondary area of concentration in music theory, performance, composition, ethnomusicology, or an area outside music relevant to their thesis work.

Thesis

A substantial thesis is required of all students in the MA in Musicology (MUS 599, MA Thesis), followed by an oral examination. The thesis proposal is completed in the context of MUS 534 (Advanced Research Forum in Musicology).

Other Requirements

These include the language requirement, the first-year review, and the oral comprehensive examination. In addition, students are expected to participate in Musicological Explorations, the graduate student journal in musicology and theory.

Language Requirement

Candidates are required to pass an exam in German, or another foreign language relevant to their intended field of specialization. Courses taken to prepare for this requirement are remedial. Students should discuss the administration and scheduling of this exam with their academic supervisor. The language exam should be completed by Sept. 15 of the second year in the program.

First-year Review

By May 15 of the first year of study, candidates will submit a writing portfolio containing two samples of graduate work, proposed field topics for the comprehensive examinations, a preliminary draft of the thesis proposal, and a report on the status of the required language examinations. The musicology faculty will review the portfolio and provide comment on the candidate's progress in the program by May 31. At that time the student will also receive the faculty recommendation for School of Music secondary adviser for the thesis work.

Oral Comprehensive Examination

Full-time students are required to pass a comprehensive oral examination in the context of MUS 534 (Advanced Research Forum in Musicology) during the fall term of their second year. The exam is designed to prepare students for doctoral work and teaching at the post-secondary level. In consultation with their academic supervisor, candidates develop a total of three topics of inquiry that address a range of approaches to musicology, theory, and analysis. The selection of these research areas takes place in the Spring semester of the student’s first year, in the context of Music 533: Graduate Forum in Musicology. The selected topics are expected to represent a variety of historical periods and genres or issues that have not been addressed in his/her coursework and research experience.

Preparation for the Comprehensive Orals involves critical reading, listening and repertoire building, and evaluation of current research in each area; the student is expected to:

1. prepare a select formal bibliography of the most important "classic" and recent scholarship on each topic: this bibliography represents the student's reading list for each area
2. prepare a repertoire list consisting of a select representative sampling of musical literature related to each area, including (where relevant) editions consulted and/or performances selected: this list represents the student's required listening for each area
3. write a 2-3-page summary of the present state of research in each area
4. submit this material to the student’s academic supervisor one month before the scheduled Oral Comprehensive

On the basis of the above, the musicology faculty will prepare a question related to each topic, which will be presented to the student two weeks before the oral examination. The Oral Comprehensive Examination will be adjudicated by the members of the musicology faculty, with the student’s academic supervisor as chair, and will normally last about 60 minutes. The student will be requested to speak on the three pre-selected questions for about 30 minutes. The remaining time will be devoted to discussion of issues elicited by the research summaries, as well as additional questions related to them. The thesis proposal will also be formally presented to the supervisory committee in the course of the meeting. Unsuccessful exams may be repeated, once, no later than three months after the first test.

MA in Musicology (with Performance) – Thesis Option

This program is intended for musicology students who are proficient performers and who wish to continue serious study of their instrument. The program is modeled on the MA in Musicology, but reduces the seminar requirement in order to accommodate performance activities.

Students who already hold the MMus in Performance or the MA in Musicology are not eligible for this degree.

*Depending upon the student’s instrument and upon the needs of the School, the student will be assigned to either MUS 580 or 581 in any given year.

Other Requirements

The Language Requirement, First-Year Review, Oral Comprehensive Examination, and Thesis requirements are identical to those of the M.A. in Musicology (see above).

Additional requirements are:

• First-year Jury: A jury examination in performance must be taken in April of the first year of study. Results will be considered in First-Year Review.
• Lecture-Recital (MUS 596): Students are required to give a lecture-recital, which usually forms a basis for the written thesis and for the oral defense.

Program Length

All master’s programs require a minimum attendance of five terms, including two Winter Sessions, and at least 18 units of course credit. All requirements must be completed within five years (60 months) of the date of first registration

MMus in Composition – Non-Thesis Option

The program includes private instruction in composition, and courses in musicology and theory. Opportunities are available to work in the School’s electronic music studio and to take part in solo and ensemble performance.

Final Project

Candidates for the degree are required to complete one or more extensive original compositions (MUS 598B). These works will normally be performed during the final year of graduate study.

The candidate will also submit an analysis paper in addition to the graduating composition. The candidate’s academic supervisor will approve the topic of the analysis paper and the graduating composition.

Final Examination

An oral examination will be administered by the supervisory committee a short time after the performance of the candidate’s graduating composition(s). The student is required to demonstrate knowledge of the repertoire and major trends of contemporary music composition. Procedures and guidelines are available from the graduate adviser.

Program Length

All master’s programs require a minimum attendance of five terms, including two Winter Sessions, and at least 18 units of course credit. All requirements must be completed within five years (60 months) of the date of first registration.

MMus in Performance – Non-Thesis Option

The candidate's individual program is designed to further growth as a soloist and ensemble participant; in addition to performance-related courses, the program includes study in related areas, such as conducting, performance practices, and music history.

* Note that one of the electives will normally be MUS 504 (Performance Practices)

** Addition to program, on recommendation of the supervisor

Final Project

All candidates will perform a final graduating recital (MUS 598A), followed by an oral examination.

Other Requirements

All graduate performance majors are expected to participate in ensembles where appropriate to their instrument, as determined by the Head of Performance and the student's academic supervisor, in each year of their residency. Placement in large and small ensembles will be made according to the student's needs and the needs of the School.

In order to qualify for MUS 545 (Individual Tuition, 4 units), the performance major must be registered as a full-time student, taking a minimum of 9 units of course work within an eight-month period.

Final Examination

An oral examination approximately one hour in duration will be administered by the student’s supervisory committee approximately a week after the student’s graduating recital and will constitute part of the graduating requirements. The student is expected to demonstrate knowledge of solo and chamber music repertoire for his/her instrument or voice. Procedures and guidelines are available from the graduate adviser.

Program Length

All master’s programs require a minimum attendance of five terms, including two Winter Sessions, and at least 18 units of course credit. All requirements must be completed within five years (60 months) of the date of first registration

PhD in Musicology

The PhD program in Musicology is small and selective, offering advanced students the opportunity for intensive directed research in the areas of expertise of its faculty. It emphasizes professional training in research and scholarship. Given the current character of the discipline, the program encourages interdisciplinary work linking scholarship in music with related humanistic fields relevant to the student’s area of research.

Course Requirements

The School normally requires a minimum of 12 units of course work, usually taken during the first three semesters of study, successful completion of the candidacy examinations and language requirement, approval of the dissertation proposal, and the writing and defense of the dissertation. Courses will be chosen in consultation with the student’s academic supervisor and the supervisory committee.

and an additional 6.0 units of electives in music and other areas relevant to the student’s research as determined in consultation with the student’s supervisory committee. These may include a maximum of 3.0 units of undergraduate courses at the 300 level or above in a department outside the School of Music, if relevant to the student’s area of specialization. With the exception of MUS 421 (Special Topics in Musicology), no credit will be given for undergraduate courses taken in the School of Music.

In addition, students will register for MUS 689 Dissertation Proposal (1.5) in the semester in which the dissertation prospectus is developed. The Dissertation is prepared in conjunction with MUS 699 (PhD Dissertation) on successful completion of the PhD Candidacy Examinations (MUS 693) described below.

Candidacy Examinations

Students will register for MUS 693 PhD Candidacy Examinations (3.0) for the duration of their preparation for their candidacy examinations. This begins at the time a student first enrolls in the PhD program and continues until candidacy requirements have been completed.

The candidacy examinations are normally taken before the end of the second year (but in exceptional cases no later than 36 months of first enrolment in the program), and before registration in MUS 699 (PhD Dissertation). They consist of written and oral components.

The examinations deal with ten topics selected in consultation with the academic supervisor and the supervisory committee according to the student’s specific needs. Up to five of the topics may be related to his/her research area, and should represent a diversity of disciplinary approaches. The purpose of these topics is to ensure that the student has the knowledge base necessary for completion of the dissertation. The remaining field topics in music should lie outside the area of research concentration, and should represent contrasting historical periods, genres, or approaches to the field. The purpose of these topics is to ensure that the student has the disciplinary breadth essential to careers in the field. The student will submit the ten proposed topics to the musicology faculty in the first-year review portfolio.

After approval of the topics, the student will:

1. prepare a select formal bibliography of the most important “classic” and recent scholarship on each topic; this bibliography represents the student’s reading list for each area
2. prepare a list of a representative sampling of musical repertoire related to each area
3. develop a mature grasp of the major musical issues, a critical perspective on the major research related to each topic, and an understanding of the cultural and intellectual context of each topic
4. formulate a question related to each topic
5. submit the bibliographies, repertoire lists, and proposed questions to the academic supervisor no less than four weeks before the scheduled oral examination

Members of the student’s supervisory committee will select three of the questions, emending them as deemed appropriate, and the candidate will have two weeks to write an essay of at least 2000 words in length on each of them.

The oral examination is taken in the presence of the student’s supervisory committee, and is open to all School of Music teaching faculty. The examination will consist of a discussion of the three essays and the musical repertoire related to them; additional questions related to the remaining field topics and repertoire will follow. The duration of the examination is approximately two hours.

In case of failure in one portion of the candidacy examinations, the candidate may retake that portion. The requirements must be fulfilled within the calendar year and no sooner than six weeks after the original examination.

Candidacy

The student progresses to candidacy on completion of the candidacy examinations and demonstration of competency in the required languages. Two foreign languages related to the student’s research are required, normally as part of the admissions process (see Admission to the PhD Program). Those who do not submit such evidence will be required to pass language examinations before work on the dissertation begins.

Other Requirements

By May 15 of the first year of study, students will submit a portfolio in order to demonstrate satisfactory progress toward the degree and in preparation for the comprehensive examinations. This portfolio should contain two samples of work completed in the course of the first-year graduate seminars, a listing of the proposed area of research concentration and the ten proposed field topics for the candidacy examinations.

The portfolio should also include a list of the proposed supervisory committee for the dissertation work and a statement regarding progress toward completion of the language requirement. Preparation of the first-year portfolio is completed in conjunction with the Graduate Forum in Musicology (MUS 533) in the spring semester of the first year. The musicology faculty will review the portfolio and provide comment on the candidate’s progress in the program, supervisory committee, and the proposed comprehensive topics by May 31.

Dissertation

The student must register for MUS 689 Dissertation Proposal (1.5) in the semester in which the dissertation prospectus is developed. The prospectus is to be at least 20 pages in length, and should include:

1. a detailed summary of the topic and thesis
2. a description of the state of research in the chosen field of study, including specific references to existing published studies, their scope and limitations
3. a statement of the research problem(s) upon which the dissertation is to focus, and a summary of the proposed plan of study
4. a description of the state of the primary source materials and their immediate availability
5. a select but comprehensive bibliography of directly relevant scholarship

The prospectus is submitted for approval to all members of the student’s advisory committee.

The PhD dissertation must be an original contribution to knowledge. Between 20 and 30 units of credit are awarded for the dissertation.

Oral Examination

The dissertation is subject to an oral defense conducted by the supervisory committee and additional examiners, and open to the School of Music community.

Program Length

The PhD requires a minimum of three years of study, a minimum of 30 units beyond the master’s degree, and the successful completion of the Course Requirements. All requirements must be completed within seven years (84 months) from the time of first registration in the doctoral program.