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MA in Musicology

The Master of Arts in Musicology is for students who are working toward entrance to a PhD program, performing students with academic interests, and students preparing for positions in the music industry. To enter, students normally possess an undergraduate degree in music or its equivalent. Please see also the College of Fine Arts policies for graduate students, which apply to this program.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, students are expected to:

Be able to conduct research in Historical Musicology and/or Ethnomusicology.

Demonstrate knowledge of disciplinary history of Historical Musicology and/or Ethnomusicology.

Demonstrate proficiency with relevant theoretical and methodological paradigms.

Understand and convey the relationship between musical sound and broader intellectual, social, economic, and/or political spheres of human endeavor.

Conduct research that contributes to knowledge in the field.

Demonstrate mastery of subject material of a main field.

Be able to analyze music from a variety of periods or cultural settings.

Be able to conduct scholarly activities in a professional and ethical manner.

Be able to present and defend their research in public forums.

Have reading knowledge of two languages apart from English.

Be able to teach the discipline at the undergraduate level.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 32 units is required for the degree of Master of Arts.

Candidates choose one of the following fields of specialization:

Historical Musicology

Requirements are as follows:

CFA MH 820 Proseminar in Musicology and Ethnomusicology (taken in first term)

CFA MH 711 Research and Bibliography (Music) (taken in first year)

There are no specific course requirements for the MA specializing in Historical Musicology other than CFA MH 820 and CFA MH 701, but students should customize their program in consultation with their advisor. A general guide for the distribution of remaining courses can be found on the department website.

Ethnomusicology

Requirements are as follows:

CFA MH 820 Proseminar in Musicology and Ethnomusicology (taken in first term)

CFA MH 336/436 Musical Cultures of the World, either as auditor or teaching fellow

CFA MH 860 Research Methods in Ethnomusicology

CFA MH 861 Contemplating Ethnomusicology

4 units in CFA MH 799 Master's Thesis

At least two terms of CFA MH 561 or MH 562 World Music Ensemble, either as student, auditor, or instructor (worth 0 to 1 unit)

16 units of approved electives from areas such as anthropology, musicology, music education, history, or specific area studies

Language Requirement

All students pursuing an MA in Musicology are required to demonstrate graduate-level reading proficiency in a foreign language prior to completion of the degree. Language proficiency can be demonstrated through either a language examination or successful completion of a non-unit graduate-level foreign language reading course offered by Boston University.

Comprehensive Exams

MA candidates in the historical musicology specialization must pass a Comprehensive Exam. This exam should be taken no later than the beginning of the fourth term of coursework. The one-half hour oral exam will consist of short answers to questions about some fundamental areas of scholarship, the work of some of the main scholars in the field, and landmark repertories and genres.