Ph.D. in Music
Program Residency Requirements
Time Allowed to Complete the Degree
Sample of a Ph.D. Degree Program (Composition)
The Ph.D. in Music offers concentrations in four areas - Composition, Ethnomusicology, Music Education and Musicology. Students work closely with faculty advisors to define coursework in their specialties and in related areas of study, remove pre-program deficiencies, and prepare for the comprehensive exam and dissertation.
Exam-driven rather than course-driven, the Ph.D. in Music requires a variable number of credits depending on the concentration chosen and the background of the individual student. In general, the student takes courses required by his/her area as well as those specified by an advisory panel. Coursework to improve scholarly graduate level writing skills may also be required. At a minimum doctoral coursework must satisfy program residency requirements. (see Program Residency Requirements, below)
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Program Residency Requirements
Three semesters of full-time work at UH Manoa or its equivalent in credits fulfills the doctoral program residency requirement. These three semesters may consist of fall semesters, spring semesters, summer sessions, or any combination thereof. Please note that in some areas required coursework may be spread out over a four semester sequence. Students are therefore advised to find out which courses these are and take them when offered.
Up to two semesters of residency earned during a UHM master's degree may be credited toward doctoral residency requirements if doctoral work continues in the same field. For part-time classified graduate students, completion of 8 credits of required coursework serves as the equivalent to one full-time semester.
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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 ideally taught/supervised by a faculty member in the student's area of concentration. The Seminar in College Music Teaching is usually followed by or is concurrent with supervised college teaching experience in the area of concentration.
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 (3) credits chosen from | 3 |
|
|
| Total Credits for the Ethnomusicology Component | 11 |
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Language Requirements
For doctoral students in Ethnomusicology and Musicology, as well as Music Education doctoral students interested in comparative music education, proficiency in one or more foreign languages is required of student whose native language is English. This requirement can be met in one of three ways:
- Foreign Language 202 or its equivalent (at the intermediate level of study) in which the student receives a grade of B or higher.
- A reading proficiency examination administered by the appropriate university department. Exams are given three times per year. Students must sign up to take the exam in the Graduate Records Office, Spalding Hall 352, by the posted deadline.
- Native speakers of a language other than English will be considered to have fulfilled the foreign language requirement, if their native language is relevant to their thesis research.
At the doctoral level both Ethnomusicology and Musicology require two foreign languages, and Music Education requires one foreign language when it is relevant to the intended dissertation topic.
Area specific foreign language requirements:
- 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.
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Time Allowed to Complete the Degree
All requirements must be completed within seven years after admission in the doctoral program.
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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 (3) 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. | |
| 702 Seminar for Doctoral Students (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).
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Sample of a Ph.D. Degree Program (Musicology)
| course | credits |
| 659 Seminar in College Music Teaching | 3 |
| 702 Seminar for Doctoral Students (repeatable) | 3 |
| 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 (3) 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.).
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Graduate Entrance Examinations
This exam is to be taken, as scheduled, during the registration period of the student's first semester of study, and is referred to as the Graduate Diagnostic Examinations.
Suggested Reading List for Entering Graduate Students
Diagnostic Exam
Prior to enrolling for the first semester of study, each classified graduate student will take a diagnostic examination in music history (part I) and music theory (part II) to determine whether or not the general exams or qualifying exams in those areas (or specified courses in lieu of the general exams) are needed to clear pre-program deficiencies. Students are also tested in their area of concentration (part III). The purpose of this examination is twofold: (a) to assess the student's background and determine if there are deficiencies that should be remedied, and (b) to assist the advisor and the student in planning a program of study. Detailed information about the examination is available on request. Successful performance on specific parts of the diagnostic examination exempts the student from the equivalent parts I and II of the general examination or qualifying examination.
The diagnostic/general/qualifying examination is offered in August (before the beginning of the fall semester), in January (before the beginning of the spring semester) and in the third week of April.
- Students who enter in the fall semester will take the diagnostic examination in August. If the student does not pass any portion of the diagnostic examination, he or she may re-take the examination in January and April or take the recommended course(s) between August and May and clear deficiencies in the first academic year of study by earning a grade of B or higher.
- Students who enter in the spring semester will take the diagnostic examination in January. If the student does not pass any portion of the diagnostic examination, he or she may re-take the examination in August and the following January or take the recommended course(s) between January and December and clear deficiencies in the first year of study by earning a grade of B or higher.
N.B. Students who enter in the spring semester will be exempt from taking the April examination and will not need to submit a petition for approval to the graduate faculty.
Dismissal from the graduate program will occur if the student does not pass any part of the diagnostic examination and then: (1) does not pass the general examination or qualifying examination twice; or (2) does not take the prescribed course(s) to clear deficiencies in their first year of study; or (3) does not earn a B or better in the prescribed course(s).
Students with deficiencies are strongly advised to take the recommended course(s). Students may also wish to study on their own and re-take the examination. Keep in mind that many classes recommended to rectify deficiencies are offered only once per year. The student should consult with his or her advisor to discuss the most suitable course of action.