Degree Requirements

Music & Human Learning

PhD • Music & Human Learning

Overview

In the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Music & Human Learning, students study the fundamental principles of human learning and behavior as applied to all aspects of musical activity. Individual courses of study are uniquely designed to broaden and refine the knowledge and skills of experienced music educators, preparing them for advanced careers as teachers and scholars in the various dimensions of research and professional music education.

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Contacts
Degree Requirements
Advising & Registration
Graduation Timeline
Important Links

Contacts

Administrative Contacts

Graduate Advisor | Director of Graduate Studies

James Buhler

Scholarships & Assistantships

Anne Hall

Graduate Admissions Coordinator

Daniel Seriff

HR Coordinator

Theresa Orendain

Graduate Coordinator

Marina Martinez

Operations & Scheduling

Page Stephens

Division Contacts

Division Head, MHL

Robert A. Duke

Area Counselor, MHL

Robert A. Duke

Faculty

Robert A. Duke

Director, Center for Human Learning
Suzanne Pence

Associate Professor of Music and Human Learning, Choral Conducting
Laurie Scott

Associate Professor of Music and Human Learning
Director, The University of Texas String Project
Director, Musical Lives
Amy Simmons

Senior Lecturer in Music and Human Learning
Justin J. West

Assistant Professor of Music and Human Learning
Marjorie Yankeelov

Lecturer in Music and Human Learning

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Degree Requirements

The Ph.D. in Music & Human Learning requires 51 hours of registered coursework, a comprehensive examination, a foreign language or statistics/computer science competency, and a dissertation.

Major Coursework

Major Coursework for the Ph.D. in Music & Human Learning
Hours	Course Number	Course Title/Description
3	MUS 391	Foundations of Music Education
15		Music & Human Learning courses chosen from the following: MUS 383L: Seminar in Music & Human Learning MUS 384J: Advanced Studies in Music & Human Learning MUS 392: Psychology of Music MUS 393: Problems in Music & Human Learning
6	MUS x99R/W	Dissertation

A reading competence in one foreign language (usually German or French) is required. Six semester hours of upper-division or graduate level statistics or computer science may be substitute for the language requirement.

Specialized Comprehensive Examination

The Ph.D. specialized comprehensive examination consists of long-form answers to questions chosen for each student by a faculty committee.

Supporting Coursework

Supporting Coursework for the Ph.D. in Music & Human Learning
Hours	Course Number	Course Title/Description
24		Additional music courses selected from at least two of the following areas: Music history, music literature, and ethnomusicology Music theory and composition Performance (ensemble, conducting, applied study, pedagogy) Related work outside the School of Music (e.g., psychology, kinesiology, instructional technology, special education, etc.)

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Advising & Registration

For information about course registration, deadlines, adding and dropping courses and other policies, visit the Graduate School Academic & Registration Policies webpage.

Students who wish to take an independent study course need to fill out a Consent Form. Once the faculty member and Graduate Coordinator have approved your request, the bar to register for the course will be lifted.

To be eligible for fellowships, scholarships and assistantships, graduate students are required to be enrolled full-time (at least 9 hours).

All international students are also required to be enrolled full-time during each long semester, regardless of whether they receive funding from the Butler School of Music.

Transferring Coursework

A new doctoral student may petition to substitute up to twelve credits of graduate level coursework completed at another institution for degree requirements at the University of Texas, subject to approval by the Butler School Graduate Studies Committee. This process must be completed during the first semester of enrollment, before the close of the fall advising period.

Courses approved for substitution typically fall into the areas of music history, theory, literature, and pedagogy, as well as chamber music.

Under normal circumstances, transferred coursework should have been completed within the four academic years prior to the start of the doctoral work at UT. The GSC will consider on a case-by-case basis whether coursework completed more than four years prior to the start of doctoral study at the Butler School can count toward the program of study.

Coursework completed for a master's degree at the University of Texas at Austin may be included in the course work for the doctoral degree without a petition form, but is subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee chair in Music, the candidate's supervising committee, and the Dean of Graduate Studies.

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Graduation Timeline

Semester-by-Semester Overview

Prior to 1st semester

Take the diagnostic examinations in music history and music theory.

Semester 1

Review degree requirements and milestones agreement form with advisor.
For students who completed an M.M. degree before coming to UT Austin, course transfer requests must be submitted in the first semester. If they have not been submitted by at least the advising period for spring classes (i.e. late October), the student’s registration will be barred.

Semester 5

Complete all required, formal coursework.
Successfully complete comprehensive exams.
Form doctoral committee and advance to candidacy (may take place later if the comprehensive exams are delayed).
After an individual’s candidacy is approved, all Ph.D. students must see the Graduate Coordinator to add MUS X99W to their registration.

Semester 7-8

Schedule and complete final oral defense. The defense may not take place in the last week of classes. The defense must be officially scheduled with the graduate school using the Request for Final Oral Exam application.
After the final defense, students must obtain all committee signatures on the Report of Dissertation document supplied by the graduate school and return it to their office by the deadline listed on their website, along with any required pages.
All students must apply to graduate by the deadline.

For a more detailed list of program requirements and timelines, see the Milestones for each Ph.D. degree program.

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