CCM's musicology and music history programs foster a learning environment in which civility, inclusiveness and a sense of spirited inquiry converge with a commitment to rigorous thought, practical application of learning and a commitment to the larger local and world community.
We endeavor to communicate the best scholarly practices, encourage a commitment to ethical scholarly behavior and seek to cultivate an atmosphere of collaboration and collegiality.
Our graduate students are encouraged to look beyond the ivory towers of academe to communicate their love of music and history to both adults and to young people. We encourage them to find the balance between an intense commitment to their chosen specialty and a willingness to expand their scholarly and cultural horizons.
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The MM in musicology is designed to provide a comprehensive course of study in the history, literature, and philosophy of music and related subject areas. Students are expected to acquire competence in the broad range of endeavors characteristic of music historical research and to develop intellectual breadth and intimate familiarity with the discipline.
To accomplish these goals, students will need to develop the requisite skills in music theory and a language in addition to English. The culminating requirement for the degree is either a capstone project or Master's thesis.
The PhD in music with an emphasis in musicology is designed to provide a comprehensive course of study in the history, literature and philosophy of music and related subject areas beyond the level required for the master’s degree. This includes specific studies in performance practices, American music, history of theory, music and gender, world music and other related areas.
In addition, students are expected to demonstrate intellectual breadth through the completion of a significant program of study in a secondary field (cognate) and to develop the requisite skills in music theory and two languages in addition to English.
The culminating requirement for the degree is a dissertation demonstrating original research. Determination of a student’s specific course of study will be made in consultation with an academic adviser, cognate representative and director of graduate studies.
The combined MM and PhD in musicology is for those students who wish to pursue the PhD in musicology but do not yet hold a MM in music history. This program allows students to pursue both degrees at once.
Students enrolled in a doctoral program at CCM are expected to demonstrate intellectual breadth through the completion of a significant program of study in a secondary field (cognate).
The cognate in Music Composition cognate requires a minimum of 9 credit hours of courses offered within the Composition Department (i.e. with the “COMP” prefix in the course number).
The core course requirement for the cognate is Composition Elective (COMP6030, 1 to 2 course units), which the student should take for at least two consecutive semesters. This course enables the student to compose their own music under the guidance of weekly lessons with one of our Graduate Assistants in Composition.
Beyond that, the student may take any other course within the Composition program, provided the course is at the graduate level (i.e. 6000 course number or above). Available courses for which the student may register include the following:
Interested students first meet with a member of the Composition faculty to determine their interest and readiness to pursue a cognate in Composition. Once accepted, the student draws up a course plan in consultation with a member of the Composition faculty who acts as that student’s cognate advisor. After the student has completed their coursework in the cognate, they consult with their cognate advisor at least one semester before they take the DMA Orals Exam in their major to devise a focused course of study that will provide the basis for questioning during the cognate portion of the orals exam. The cognate advisor then questions the student on composition-related topics for 20 minutes during the cognate portion of the DMA Orals Exam. Once this requirement has been passed, the student has successfully completed the cognate.
The music history cognate will consist of three graduate-level MUHS topics courses or seminars (at least 9 semester hours at the 6000, 8000, or 9000 level). The student should consult with a musicology faculty member whose specialty is in an area of the student’s interest. If the faculty member agrees, they will become the student’s cognate advisor and will help the student draw up a suitable plan of study according to the following guidelines:
The cognate advisor will participate on the committee for the student's final oral examination.
The music theory cognate (12 credit hours) consists of three required courses (9 credit hours) and one graduate-level elective (3 credit hours). The cognate aims to provide students with a solid grounding in advanced tonal and post-tonal analysis, theory pedagogy and another practical/theoretical area depending on the student’s interest. Applicants will be interviewed by the cognate advisor (a member of the music theory faculty) to discuss their experience and interest in music theory. Approval will be granted to students with sufficient background and proficiency in analytical and/or theoretical studies in music at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.
Required Music Theory Cognate Courses (9 credit hours)
Cognate electives (3 credit hours)
Students may choose any one course from the following list of graduate-level courses:
Students enrolled in a doctoral program at CCM are expected to demonstrate intellectual breadth through the completion of a significant program of study in a secondary field (cognate).
Requirements (9-15 credits)*:
* The following courses may not be used for cognate credits:
The cognate advisor will participate on the committee for the student's final oral examination.
CCM's graduate admissions process begins on September 1 for entrance in the following year's fall semester. All application materials must be submitted on or before December 1 to be considered for specific scholarship awards. Visit the CCM Admissions website for additional application instructions.
Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 3 in order to be considered for admissions.
Admissions decisions will be made from evaluating application materials and pre-screening submission.
August 19, 2025
Experience world-class performances by the next generation of performing and media artists at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM)! The college’s fall 2025 schedule of major events is now available; tickets are on sale now through the CCM Box Office.
August 13, 2025
UC’s College-Conservatory of Music will welcome a variety of new faculty and staff members to its roster of distinguished performing and media arts experts, researchers and educators this fall.
August 13, 2025
UC College-Conservatory of Music Dean Pete Jutras welcomes Alexandra Kori Hill as a Provostal Post-Doctoral Fellow at CCM, where she will continue her research and teach while preparing for a future faculty position. Hill will be mentored by CCM Assistant Professor of Music Studies Kristy Swift and CCM Professor of Ethnomusicology Stefan Fiol during the one-year appointment, which begins this fall.
