Encompassing much more than music history, the Musicology Program at Northwestern approaches music as a social activity shaped by aesthetic movements and intellectual theories – in essence, the humanistic study of music in culture.
Students are invited to view music through an interdisciplinary lens to reveal cultural contexts and meanings not accessible through the study of music notation alone. By integrating the perspectives of historical musicology and ethnomusicology, the program trains open-minded yet critical scholars adaptable to varied repertoires and academic strategies, in an atmosphere of collegiality and peer support.
The graduate student support provided to PhD students includes year-round tuition and stipend and fully subsidized health insurance.
We offer Ph.D. degrees in composition, musicology and ethnomusicology. Although there is no separate degree track in music theory, students...
Learn MoreOur graduate program in musicology aims to produce well-rounded scholars who will have the knowledge and skills to teach at...
Learn MoreOne of the premier musicology programs in the nation, we offer courses in music from all periods, an outstanding music...
Learn MoreThe PhD in musicology is oriented toward preparing students for scholarly research and teaching, aiming for breadth and depth in...
Learn MoreThe Graduate Program in Music offers both MA and PhD degrees in broadly defined research areas that include composition, ethnomusicology,...
Learn MoreThe graduate program in Critical Music Studies (CMS) takes a broad approach to the humanistic study of music and sound.Faculty...
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