Brandeis University

What you'll study

The PhD curriculum combines rigorous coursework, language and methodological preparation, comprehensive examinations and an original doctoral dissertation. Students pursue one or more principal fields—historical musicology, music theory, composition or ethnomusicology—while also taking supporting courses across related areas of music, theatre and the humanities.

• Core seminars in historiography and research methods, critical theory, and advanced analysis.
• Specialist seminars in topics such as Western art music before 1800, nineteenth- and twentieth-century music, popular music studies, global musics, and advanced harmonic and formal analysis.
• Composition students take studio lessons, seminars in compositional techniques, and workshops; ethnomusicology students undertake fieldwork methods training; theory students engage with formal, tonal and post-tonal analysis at an advanced level.
• Language training and reading knowledge appropriate to the student’s research (for example German, French, Italian, or other languages relevant to archival work).
• Teaching practicum and pedagogy courses to prepare students for college-level instruction and curriculum design.
• Dissertation research and writing, supported by faculty supervision and regular milestones (prospectus, candidacy, and final defence).

Students are encouraged to take interdisciplinary coursework across Brandeis, drawing on related departments and centres (for example Judaic Studies, Near Eastern and Judaic Studies, Film and Music Technology, and digital humanities) to inform research and creative practice.

Entry requirements

• A master’s degree in music, musicology, composition, music theory, ethnomusicology or a closely related field is normally expected; exceptional candidates with a strong bachelor’s record and professional experience may also be considered.
• Evidence of academic preparation and research potential: academic transcripts, a curriculum vitae, and letters of recommendation from academic or professional referees who can speak to scholarly promise and readiness for doctoral study.
• A research statement or dissertation proposal outlining intended areas of inquiry and methodological approach; applicants to composition or performance-related paths should submit scores and recordings or portfolio materials as appropriate.
• A writing sample demonstrating analytical or scholarly ability (for composition applicants, a score plus commentary; for historians or theorists, a seminar paper or article-length sample).
• International applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency through recognised tests unless exempted by prior study in English; additional documentation for visa or funding purposes may be required.
• Applicants may be invited to interview with faculty or to meet prospective supervisors; auditions or live/recorded performance assessments can be part of the process for performance/composition applicants.

Career prospects

Graduates of the PhD in Music pursue a range of careers rooted in high-level research, teaching and professional practice.

• Academic careers as tenure-track faculty in music history, music theory, composition, ethnomusicology, or music and theatre departments.
• Positions in university and college teaching, including adjunct and full-time instructional roles, as well as academic administration and curriculum development.
• Research roles in cultural institutions—museums, archives, libraries and centres for music research—working on catalogue, curation and digital humanities projects.
• Creative careers for composers and performers in commissioning, ensemble leadership, recording and interdisciplinary arts projects.
• Arts leadership, programming and advocacy in presenting organisations, festivals and non-profit cultural organisations.
• Consultancy and public scholarship, including writing, editing, and public-facing musicological work for broad audiences or media outlets.

Why study at Brandeis University

Brandeis offers doctoral students a small, collegial department where faculty mentorship is readily accessible and interdisciplinary collaboration is encouraged. The university’s resources—special collections and archives, performance spaces, and partnerships across humanities and social science units—support both archival and contemporary research.

Doctoral candidates benefit from opportunities to teach and gain pedagogical experience in a liberal‑arts research environment, as well as from collaborative work with neighbouring programmes in theatre, Jewish studies, and digital scholarship. The department’s emphasis on rigorous scholarship alongside creative practice makes it a suitable environment for students seeking both research distinction and active engagement with performance and composition.