PhD in Music in Davis United States | University of California Davis

Students develop expertise in composition theory, exploring all historical periods of musicology while honing bibliographic skills, ethnomusicological understanding, American music traditions, conducting techniques, and performance abilities essential for music education and creation. The curriculum focuses on composition theory, music history, ethnomusicology, and conducting. Composition theory covers theoretical foundations, analytical methods, and creative composition. Musicology involves historical examination of musical pieces, their creators, and cultural contexts, incorporating both traditional and modern research approaches while developing scholarly writing proficiency. Ethnomusicology provides comprehensive training in the discipline's intellectual development, theoretical frameworks, field research methods, ethnographic studies, and musical transcription, with specialized faculty knowledge in American music traditions (including African American, Latin, and Native American music) and Asian musical cultures (particularly Korean and Indonesian). The conducting specialization (available only in the M.A. program) focuses on advanced skills for directing major orchestral and choral works, addressing contemporary music elements, rehearsal strategies, score analysis, and performance traditions. Department-sponsored performance ensembles are available to all students.