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Curriculum

PhD, Music Education: For College and University Faculty

How to Apply

A PhD in Music Education from NYU Steinhardt equips you to teach at the university level and become an innovative researcher in institutional, not-for-profit, and corporate environments. You'll explore specialized methodologies and collaborate with artist-scholars from around the world. A PhD in Music Education with a focus on Music Therapy is also available for credentialed music therapists.

Collaborating with dedicated faculty and peers, you’ll access a powerful professional network of educators, entrepreneurs, and pathbreaking musicians, opening career opportunities that extend beyond graduation. You'll join a warm, supportive learning community and be mentored closely by our renowned faculty. 

Core Course Sequence

The PhD in Music Education consists of 45 credits of graduate-level coursework in specialized qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methodologies. You will conceptualize your research ideas and interests, develop a proposal, and complete your dissertation under your faculty mentor’s guidance.

Culminating Experience 

Guided by faculty mentors, doctoral students engage in innovative research, culminating in the defense of a theoretically grounded dissertation under the guidance of faculty advisors and mentors.

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
Foundations6
Departmental Content Seminar3
Cognates6
Specialized Research Methodology3
Research Courses15
Guided Electives6
Dissertation Proposal Seminar6
Total Credits45

Foundations

All students are required to complete 6 credits (two courses) of course work in foundations during the first 24 credits of doctoral study.  Graduate courses qualify for the foundations requirement when they are upper division courses (NYU Steinhardt 2000 level courses or higher) in music education or music therapy.  Courses are considered foundational when they (1) provide broad basic content not limited to a single profession, are outside the student's specialization, and do not require prerequisites; (2) are based on current scholarship in the arts, humanities, sciences and/or social sciences; and (3) have wide applicability to common issues of the student's specialization and profession.

Cognates

A cognate is a course outside of the student's specialization or a course that combines music with another academic discipline.  Graduate courses qualify for the cognates requirement when they are upper division courses (2000 level courses or higher) outside music education or music therapy.

Research Courses

Research courses by advisement are related to the student's proposed topic or area of research interest.  These courses are selected to ensure that the student has the appropriate skills and expertise to conduct research and analysis necessary to write a dissertation.  Potential research courses include those with a wide range of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method focuses.  Full-time students should be enrolled in at least one research course in the first 4 semesters.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
Foundations 3
Advised Research Course 6
Content Seminar 3
 Credits12
2nd Semester/Term
Foundations 3
Advised Research Course 6
Content Seminar 3
 Credits12
3rd Semester/Term
Advised Research Seminar 3
Guided Electives 6
Cognate Course 3
 Credits12
4th Semester/Term
Specialized Research Methodology 3
Cognate Course 3
 Credits6
5th Semester/Term
Dissertation Proposal Seminar 3
 Credits3
 Total Credits45

Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GE 4747) course.  All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.

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