Job Description
Northwestern University offers a fully funded Ph.D. program in Music through its Bienen School of Music. This program provides comprehensive financial support to admitted doctoral students, enabling them to focus on their academic and research pursuits.
Program Overview
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Degree: Ph.D. in Music
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Institution: Northwestern University
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School: Bienen School of Music
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Program Structure: Full-time, research-intensive, typically completed in 5–6 years
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Specializations:
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Composition and Music Technology
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Music Education
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Music Theory and Cognition
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Musicology
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The program emphasizes interdisciplinary training, offering a comprehensive music curriculum and opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge research under the mentorship of nationally and internationally renowned faculty. Students design a course of study incorporating their individual interests and a broad-based approach to contemporary music research. A unique aspect of this program is a cognate area requirement in a non-music field such as cultural studies, social sciences, learning sciences, humanities, arts, or communication studies.
Funding Package
All admitted Ph.D. students receive comprehensive financial support, which includes:
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Tuition and Fees: Full coverage for five years.
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Stipend: Competitive annual stipend provided through fellowships and graduate assistantships.
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Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage funded by the university.
In the first year, students receive a 12-month fellowship with no service requirement. In years two through four, students are supported by graduate assistantships during the nine-month academic year, with responsibilities that may include teaching coursework in their field, assisting with faculty research, or pursuing clinical and field studies. During the summers of years two through four, students are paid as graduate assistants based on their performance evaluations. In the fifth year, students return to a 12-month fellowship without a work requirement.
Admission Requirements
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Academic Background: A bachelor’s or master’s degree in music or a related field from an accredited institution.
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Application Materials:
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Completed online application form through The Graduate School (TGS) of Northwestern University.
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Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.
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Three letters of recommendation.
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Statement of purpose detailing research interests and career goals.
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Resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
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Writing sample demonstrating scholarly work.
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TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native English speakers.
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