Description

The specialization in Systematic Musicology has three goals: to provide students with a multidisciplinary curriculum that includes a cross-cultural perspective; to encourage critical awareness of current and historical approaches to the study of music; and to develop interdisciplinary research. The specialization offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in ethnomusicology. Though the M.A. degree is offered, students with the desire and ability to attain the Ph.D are sought.

At UCLA, systematic musicology consists of two streams, one scientific and empirical, the other philosophical and critical. In a third stream, the specialization includes Adler's interest in comparative musicology through intimate contact with the Ethnomusicology specialization. (Click on Ethnomusicology, Graduate for a description of that specialization.)

The empirical stream, taught by Roger Kendall, concentrates on musical perception and cognition, instrument acoustics, tuning systems, analysis of timbre, and the relationship between music and other modalities, such as film and animation. Computer skills and statistics are crucial parts of this stream, and students and faculty are working on issues and techniques related to reporting their findings on the World Wide Web . Students and faculty have also been instrumental in reviving empirical research in world music, including the tuning of gamelans, the perception of Indian modes, and the percpetion and acoustics of gamelan modes.

The philosophical stream, taught by Roger Savage, concentrates on musical aesthetics, sociology of music, semiotics, hermeneutics, and critical theory. Reading in continental philosophy is particularly important for this stream. Students and faculty work on developing a critical understanding of music's social and cultural efficacy, often in conjunction with students in ethnomusicology.

M.A. Degree Requirements

The M.A. with a specialization in systematic musicology requires twelve courses. The core consists of three courses: Empirical Foundations in Systematic Musicology (C203), Aesthetic and Philosophical Foundations in Systematic Musicology (C204), and one of the Musicology 260A-F Seminars: Historical Musicology. The remaining nine courses are electives, including courses from other departments, selected with the guidance of the student's advisor.

Systematic musicology students at the master's level are required to pass a reading examination, or pass the fifth quarter of a course sequence with a grade of B or better, in one foreign language.

Systematic musicology students complete the degree by taking an examination that consists of an original research project of a scope agreed upon with the student's advisor; an oral examination on the paper is required only if the paper receives a grade of Low Pass. For the complete and official set of requirements for the M.A. degree, see Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees at the Graduate Division website.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. with a specialization in systematic musicology requires six elective courses beyond the requirements for the M.A. Ph.D. students must also pass an examination, or pass the fifth quarter of a course sequence with a grade of B or better, in a second foreign language.

Ph.D. students take four written qualifying examinations upon completion of all course work and foreign language requirements. They cover: (1) history, theory, and method in systematic musicology; (2) one of the theoretical approaches to systematic musicology: organology; aesthetics; psychology; sociology; acoustics, or ethnomusicology; (3) Western music theory and history; and (4) a topic outside systematic musicology or another of the theoretical approaches listed in (2) above. When the written qualifying examinations have been passed, the dissertation proposal is defended in an oral examination and the student is advanced to candidacy. It is expected that all the above requirements will be completed within two years of entering the Ph.D. program, that is, after completing the M.A. degree.

It is expected that the research for and the writing of the dissertation will be completed within three years after advancement to candidacy. For the complete and official set of requirements for the Ph.D., see Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees at the Graduate Division website.

Admissions

See Graduate Admissions Critical Information for details concerning the process of admission to the systematic musicology graduate program.

Admissions decisions for the Department of Ethnomusicology are made by the faculty as a whole. Applicants submit an autobiographical/purpose statement, a research or term paper on an appropriate topic, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts.

A bachelor's degree in music will satisfy the musical background requirement. Students from other fields may present other forms of evidence to satisfy the faculty that they have sufficient background in music theory and musicianship to work successfully at the graduate level.

Applicants admitted to the graduate program will be officially entering the Ph.D. program, with the prospect of completing a doctoral degree in ethnomusicology. However, the Ph.D. requires successful fulfillment of the requirements for the M.A. degree (including the M.A. courses and M.A. exams). This applies to those who do not already have the M.A. and those who, for curricular reasons, may be required by the Department to complete these requirements. However, students who choose to leave the program after the successful completion of the M.A. will still earn a master's degree in ethnomusicology. Similarly, students who are not accepted to pursue the Ph.D. degree, but who have successfully completed the M.A. requirements, will be granted a terminal M.A. degree.

In evaluating students for admission, the faculty look carefully at the previous academic record, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and the student's original work, which should demonstrate a critical and creative mind, an ability to write clearly, and knowledge of basic library research and bibliographic procedures.

The statement of purpose must be written by the applicant himself or herself for the purpose of giving the department relevant information on the applicant's background, qualifications, interests, and reasons for undertaking graduate study in this field. Although the content of the statement is flexible, it would be helpful for the Department to learn about: 1) the applicant's life and educational experiences; 2) musical skills and musical experiences in general, as well as exposure to world musical traditions; 3) intellectual growth and scholarly interests and concerns; 4) contacts with the field of ethnomusicology, familiarity with the discipline and prior experiences with research in this or related areas; and 5) reasons for desiring to study ethnomusicology at UCLA. If possible, applicants should include the issues, interests, and areas of study they hope to pursue if admitted to the program. The statement is expected to be informative genuine, and clearly written.

The three letters of recommendation should be written by those who have known the applicant well, have observed his/her recent work and achievements, and are able to speak of his/her intellectual and research ability, promise, and potential as a student.

The required sample work, or works, will enable the faculty to assess the applicant's research abilities. The material is expected to show originality and creative conceptual thinking, competence in dealing with technical musical issues, writing ability and good communication, and proper documentation.

The application for admission, which is only online, is available beginning in September for Fall of the following year at the Graduate Division website: https://www.gradadmissions.ucla.edu/newapp. New students are admitted only in the fall.

All U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply for need-based financial assistance. All applicants may apply for merit-based financial assistance. Failure to meet any deadline may result in a delay in action or no action on an application for admission or for a fellowship or assistantship. Late applications are reviewed only if space is available in the program. Applicants on a waiting list for admission are notified as soon as a decision can be reached.

For further information on other requirements as well as general information on the UCLA Graduate Program in Ethnomusicology, the applicant should refer to Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees available online at the Graduate Division website.

The applicant may also contact the Department of Ethnomusicology Graduate Advisor, Sandra McKerroll at (310) 206-5002 or sandram@arts.ucla.edu.

Fees and Financial Assistance

For information on current fees, go to UCLA Graduate Student Fee Information.

A small number of one-year fellowships are available to entering Ph.D. students. These typically cover fees, nonresident tuition (if applicable), and a stipend for living expenses. In the second year and until advancement to candidacy, all students judged by the faculty to be making good to excellent progress in the program receive financial support either from the department or other campus entities. Department support usually takes the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or research fellowships that provide for fees and a salary (and fellowships to cover nonresident tuition, if applicable).

Financial support for fieldwork after advancement to candidacy is normally up to the student and secured through grants from university and external agencies. When the student and his/her advisor are reasonably certain that the dissertation is within one year of completion, the student may apply for a dissertation-year fellowship from the UCLA Graduate Division. Our students have been notably successful in receiving this type of support.

Housing

MyHousing provides general information about on-campus and University-owned housing (go to http://my.housing.ucla.edu).

The UCLA Community Housing Office provides information about off-campus housing to UCLA students, faculty and staff. Their online listing, updated daily, includes rooms in private homes, roommate situations, private residence homes, apartments, houses, and guest houses.

The website Finding a Place to Live provides additional advice to members of the UCLA community in search of housing.