Philadelphia,
PA,
United States
Type
Public
Degrees offered
Bachelor's Degree
PhD in Music - Composition in Philadelphia United States | Temple University
Temple University
|
Philadelphia United States
Visit institution website
for more information
Qualification
Doctor of Philosophy
Languages
English
Delivery Mode
On-Campus
Tuition (2025)
USD
23,128
Attendance
Full-time
Full-time Duration
36 months
The Music Ph.D. program offers four specialized tracks: Composition, Music Studies, Music Theory, and Musicology. Each track features a compact set of core requirements, giving students flexibility to tailor their remaining courses with faculty guidance to align with their academic or artistic goals. The Music Studies concentration enables interdisciplinary combinations (such as Music Theory/Composition or Musicology/Music Theory) to address evolving trends in global music scholarship and creation. Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance provides doctoral candidates the opportunity to specialize in one of these four research-focused areas. Whether focusing on Composition, Music Studies, Music Theory, or Musicology, graduates emerge prepared for careers in musical composition, academia, and scholarly research. The program accommodates both full-time and part-time students, with a seven-year completion window. Culminating the program, students produce a dissertation showcasing their research capabilities - composition students create original musical works as part of this final project.
The Composition concentration develops musical writing proficiency through specialized courses and seminars that explore diverse compositional styles and technical approaches.
Destination of Study
Subjects of Study
Language Requirements
English
IELTS 7.0
Qualification Requirements
Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: For each of the four concentrations, the following master's degree is expected:
Composition
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Composition is preferred.
Music Studies
A degree in Music is expected.
Music Theory
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Music Theory is preferred.
Musicology
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Musicology/Music History is preferred.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: For each of the four concentrations, the following baccalaureate degree is expected:
Composition
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Composition is preferred.
Music Studies
A degree in Music is expected.
Music Theory
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Music Theory is preferred.
Musicology
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Musicology/Music History is preferred.
Statement of Goals: Include your special interests within the discipline and your expectations for the program.
Standardized Test Scores:
GRE/MAT: Required.
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
TOEFL iBT: 100, 600 PBT
IELTS Academic: 7.0
The minimum admissions standard for all graduate students is ordinarily an undergraduate grade point average of B or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the functional equivalent for students who have attended universities outside of the United States.
Portfolio: For those undertaking the Composition concentration, a portfolio is required. Applicants must submit, via Acceptd, evidence of compositional activity. If an applicant has enrolled in MUST 8740 Seminar in Composition prior to submitting her/his application for formal admission to the program in Composition, the work accomplished there may serve to meet this entrance requirement, if satisfactory.
For the concentrations in Music Studies, Music Theory, and Musicology, a portfolio is not required.
Resume: Current resume required.
Composition
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Composition is preferred.
Music Studies
A degree in Music is expected.
Music Theory
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Music Theory is preferred.
Musicology
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Musicology/Music History is preferred.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: For each of the four concentrations, the following baccalaureate degree is expected:
Composition
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Composition is preferred.
Music Studies
A degree in Music is expected.
Music Theory
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Music Theory is preferred.
Musicology
A degree in Music is expected, a degree in Musicology/Music History is preferred.
Statement of Goals: Include your special interests within the discipline and your expectations for the program.
Standardized Test Scores:
GRE/MAT: Required.
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master's degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
TOEFL iBT: 100, 600 PBT
IELTS Academic: 7.0
The minimum admissions standard for all graduate students is ordinarily an undergraduate grade point average of B or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or the functional equivalent for students who have attended universities outside of the United States.
Portfolio: For those undertaking the Composition concentration, a portfolio is required. Applicants must submit, via Acceptd, evidence of compositional activity. If an applicant has enrolled in MUST 8740 Seminar in Composition prior to submitting her/his application for formal admission to the program in Composition, the work accomplished there may serve to meet this entrance requirement, if satisfactory.
For the concentrations in Music Studies, Music Theory, and Musicology, a portfolio is not required.
Resume: Current resume required.
Tuition
USD
23,128