Music, Ph.D.

Program Overview

The program prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and performance through coursework, a dissertation, and program completion within seven years.

Program Outline

The Doctor of Philosophy in Music degree program at LSU offers concentrations in Composition, Experimental Music & Digital Media, Music Education, Musicology, and Music Theory. This program is designed to prepare students for careers in research, teaching, and performance.

Outline:

• Minimum Credit Hour Requirements:
• Composition:
48 hours beyond a 30-hour master's degree in music.
• Experimental Music & Digital Media: 60 hours beyond a 30-hour master's degree in music.
• Music Education: 53 hours beyond a 30-hour master's degree in music.
• Music History: 51 hours beyond a 30-hour master's degree in music.
• Music Theory: 51 hours beyond a 30-hour master's degree in music.
• Coursework:
• The majority of coursework will be selected from courses at the 7000 level, with a minimal number of credit hours selected from 4000 level courses that carry graduate credit.
• Dissertation:
• Required for all PhD degrees.
• Requires a minimum of nine credit hours of MUS 9000.
• Program Completion:
• Must be completed within seven years.

Careers:

• Composition: Graduates will be prepared for careers as composers.
• Experimental Music & Digital Media: Graduates will be prepared for careers as composers, performers, or music researchers working with music technology, digital media, and experimentation in professional or academic settings.
• Music Education: Graduates will be prepared for careers as researchers and master teachers of music.