PhD in Music - Critical and Comparative Studies in Charlottesville United States | University of Virginia

The CCS initiative leads the way in cross-disciplinary exploration of music and sound studies. This curriculum introduces learners to diverse academic perspectives while maintaining an inclusive, non-hierarchical framework. We welcome students to collaborate with us in reshaping doctoral music education, considering evolving academic environments and the significance of artistic practice within multifaceted graduate training at public institutions. Our program accommodates individuals from varied educational backgrounds, mirroring our faculty's expertise spanning numerous fields such as anthropology, music scholarship, sound research, performance analysis, historical studies, philosophical inquiry, rhetorical examination, creative composition, political science, and legal theory. Recent advanced seminars have focused on themes including sonic memory, sound curation, identity and accessibility, ethnographic authorship, African American vocal traditions, auditory jurisprudence, operatic arts, American roots music historiography, musical enjoyment, and Afrofuturist concepts. Students are urged to pursue doctoral coursework outside Music, participate in artistic performances, and connect with surrounding communities.