Ph.D. in Music
There are four concentrations for the Ph.D. in Music - Composition, Ethnomusicology, Music Education and Musicology. Students work closely with faculty advisors in their areas of concentration to define coursework in their specialties and related areas of study, as well as strengthen pre-program deficiencies.
The PhD in Music is exam-driven rather than course-driven, meaning the number of credits required varies according to the major and the individual student. In general, the student will take specified courses required by the student's program, as well as courses deemed necessary by an advisory panel to rectify pre-program deficiencies and prepare the student for the comprehensive exam and the dissertation. This may include courses to improve scholarly graduate level writing skills. Students must also take enough courses to fulfill the residency requirements (see RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS).
top of page
Initial Checklist
The following can serve as a checklist for applicants:
- A master's degree in music or equivalent, (see ADDITIONAL AREA REQUIREMENTS);
- an excellent academic record (TWO copies of ALL college transcripts); one sent to the Graduate Admissions Office; the second sent to the Music Department;
- three confidential letters of recommendation on forms provided by the Music Department (music education majors, see ADDITIONAL AREA REQUIREMENTS);
- a sample of academic writing proficiency, such as recent term papers, etc. (ethnomusicology, musicology, and composition majors, see ADDITIONAL AREA REQUIREMENTS);
- a GRE score taken no later than the preceding December for Fall admission (August), and no later than the preceding June for Spring admission (January); GRE scores must not be older than five years.
- TOEFL score for non-native speakers of English.
NOTE: Students completing a master's music degree in music at UHM and continuing for a music PhD degree at UHM without a break or with a break of only one semester are exempt from the transcripts and the GRE requirements. Furthermore, instead of submitting an application, they need merely complete the Doctoral Petition form, available at Spalding Hall 352. This petition is sent to the Graduate Chairperson and area for approval.
top of page
Residency Requirements
The equivalency in credits of three semesters of full-time work at UH Manoa fulfills the residency requirement. The three semesters may be all fall and spring semesters, all summer sessions, or any combination thereof. Please note that courses in some areas may be spread out over a four semester sequence. Students are therefore advised to find out which courses these are and to take them when offered. Up to two semesters of a master's degree earned at this university may be credited toward the three-semester doctorate residence requirement provided that doctoral work continues IN THE SAME FIELD. For part-time students, each 8 units completed as a classified graduate student will be equivalent to one full-time semester. Credits taken at other institutions and approved for transfer may not be used to reduce UH's minimum residence requirements for advanced degrees.
top of page
Global Requirements
Required of All Ph.D. Students
| course | credits |
| 659 Seminar in College Music Teaching* | 3 |
| 702 Seminar for Doctoral Students (repeatable) | V |
| 800 Dissertation Research (minimum one credit) | V |
*659 is to be taught/supervised by a faculty member in the student's area of concentration. The student's assignments will focus on areas in which the student has little or no prior college teaching experience. The Seminar in College Music Teaching will be followed by supervised college teaching experience.
Required of Ph.D. Students NOT Concentrating in Ethnomusicology
NOTE: The number of credits may be adjusted by the advisory committee, basing its determination on previous ethnomusicology courses taken. Refer to the ethnomusicology courses in the list of graduate music courses.
| course | credits |
| 407 Music Cultures of the World | 3 |
| 472 Sound Systems of World Musics | 3 |
| 657 World Musics in Undergraduate Education | 2 |
| Three credits chosen from | 3 |
|
|
| Total Credits for the Ethnomusicology Component | 11 |
top of page
Language Requirements
Foreign language reading proficiency must be satisfactorily demonstrated as follows, according to the area of emphasis.
- Composition: None.
- Ethnomusicology: One dissertation research language and one library research language.
- Music Education: Language appropriate to the area of research or research statistics.
- Musicology: Two European languages: German and one other language, preferably French.
top of page
Time Allowed to Complete the Degree
All requirements must be completed within seven years after admission in the doctoral program.
top of page
Additional Area Requirements
- Composition: A master's degree in composition or equivalent, in terms of course work and original compositions. A score of a large-scale work, scores of two shorter works, and a recording of at least one of the above.
- Ethnomusicology: A major research paper in ethnomusicology as evidence of extensive background in musical traditions other than Western art music.
- Music Education: A minimum of two years full-time music teaching in a public or private school at the elementary, intermediate, or secondary level. The three confidential letters of recommendation must address the applicant's teaching ability; at least two of these letters must be written by a past or present principal or other supervisor. One of the following: (a) a videotape of a teaching demonstration (or actual teaching), or (b) an in-person teaching demonstration. The evaluation of submitted teaching demonstrations (taped or in person) will be designated as the candidate's Ph.D. Diagnostic Examination in Music Education.
- Musicology: A master's degree in musicology or a minimum of four graduate seminars in musicology. A 7,500 word research paper in English on a subject in historical musicology.
top of page
Sample of a Ph.D. Degree Program (Composition)
| course | credits |
| 659 Seminar in College Music Teaching* | 3 |
| 702 Seminar for Doctoral Students (repeatable) | V |
| 800 Dissertation Research (minimum one credit) | V |
| Ethnomusicology Component of Courses | 11 |
| 407 Music Cultures of the World (3 credits) | |
| 472 Sound Systems of World Musics (3 credits) | |
| 657 World Musics in Undergraduate Education (2 credits) | |
| Three credits chosen from | |
|
|
| NOTE: The number of credits may be adjusted by the advisory committee, basing its determination on previous ethnomusicology courses taken. Refer to the ethnomusicology courses in the list of graduate music courses. | |
| Composition Requirements | 12 |
| A full (50-60 minute) recital of original works composed during the doctoral residency here. | |
| 600B Seminar in Composition (3 credits) | |
| 787 Doctoral Composition Practicum (three times)(9 credits) |
Other courses relevant to the degree (e.g., foreign languages, if any), as well as courses recommended by the advisory committee to strengthen any pre-program deficiency area and/or to prepare the student for the comprehensive exam and the dissertation research may be added to the above list of courses (e.g., graduate seminars other than 702, such as 600).
top of page
Sample of a Ph.D. Degree Program (Musicology)
| course | credits |
| 659 Seminar in College Music Teaching* | 3 |
| 702 Seminar for Doctoral Students (repeatable) | V |
| 800 Dissertation Research (minimum one credit) | V |
| (*659 is to be taught/supervised by a faculty member in the student's area of concentration. The student's assignments will focus on the areas in which the student has little or no prior college teaching experience. The Seminar in College Music Teaching will be followed by supervised college teaching experience.) |
| Ethnomusicology Component of Courses | 11 |
| 407 Music Cultures of the World (3 credits) | |
| 472 Sound Systems of World Musics (3 credits) | |
| 657 World Musics in Undergraduate Education (2 credits) | |
| Three credits chosen from | |
|
|
| NOTE: The number of credits in ethnomusicology may be adjusted by the advisory committee, basing its determination on previous ethnomusicology courses taken. | |
| Musicology Requirements | V |
| (variable number of credits depending on student background and interests) | |
| 701D Research Methods in Musicology (3 cr) | |
| 600D Seminar: Problems in Music Literature (3 cr) and/or 660 Studies in Music Literature (3 cr) |
Non-music courses relevant to the degree (e.g., foreign languages, history or cultural studies), as well as music courses recommended by the advisory committee to strengthen any pre-program deficiency and/or to prepare the student for the comprehensive exam and dissertation research may be added to the above list (e.g. graduate music theory, applied music, ensembles, etc.).