Requirements and Courses

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of three years of full-time resident study (six full-time terms) beyond a bachelor's degree. A candidate who holds a master's degree in the area of specialization may, on the recommendation of the Department, be permitted to count the work done for the master's degree as the first year of resident study.

Students admitted to the PhD; Music program who have a master’s degree other than a master’s degree in music from McGill University may be required to successfully complete one or more undergraduate courses before completion of the doctoral degree.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses

MUGS 701 Comprehensive Examinations
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUGS 705D1 Colloquium
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MUGS 705D2 Colloquium
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Attendance for four terms of the Doctoral Colloquium, and at least one presentation of the student's thesis research is required.

Additional Required Courses for the Ph.D.Gender & Women's Studies

WMST 601 Feminist Theories and Methods 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

WMST 602 Feminist Research Symposium 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Complementary Courses (0-30 credits)
See below for Gender and Women’s Studies Option.

Students entering in Ph.D. 1

15 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher, approved by the Department.0-15 credits of additional seminars at the 600 or higher, will be assigned by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Music in consultation with the area coordinator, or the admissions committee for students in Interdisciplinary Studies, at the time of admissions.

Students entering in Ph.D. 2

0-15 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher will be assigned by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Music in consultation with the area coordinator, or the admissions committee for students in Interdisciplinary Studies, at the time of the admissions. The selection must be approved by the Schulich School of Music. 

Complementary Courses (12-27 credits) – Gender and Women’s Studies Option only.

Students entering in Ph.D. 1

27 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher, approved by the Department (3 of the 27 credits must be in gender/women's studies, taken in the Schulich School of Music or outside and approved by the Musicology or Theory area.

Students entering in Ph.D. 2

12 credits of seminars at the 600 level or higher, approved by the Schulich School of Music (3 of the 12 credits must be in gender/women's studies, taken in the Schulich School of Music or outside and approved by the Musicology or Theory area).

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