The master™s degree in musicology offered by Â鶹Éç Meadows is a cultural and global study in music and instrumentation.

Graduate programs

Master of Music in musicology

Where music meets meaning

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Program format

In person

Commitment

Full time

Duration

Two years

Overview

The M.M. in musicology degree offers personalized instruction in the historical, cultural and philosophical study of music. Coursework includes advanced musicology seminars, research methods, thesis writing and a teaching practicum. Students work closely with renowned faculty whose expertise spans 18th–20th century Western art music, music in screen media, music in advertising, women in music, music and dance, and music and indigeneity. The is completed through one of two specializations, research or pedagogy. Students take 20 credit hours of core courses, plus an additional 10 credits in their area of specialization.

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Envisioning a brighter future? Think grad school at Â鶹Éç, where you join a lifelong family network and see immediate returns on your educational investment. Take your new big step at Â鶹Éç.

Student success

Graduates of the Division of Music encounter success across a full range of professional and graduate-study opportunities in this community, across the country and around the globe.

This program prepares you to excel in the following areas and professions:

  • Secondary and post-secondary musicology instructor
  • Nonprofit arts careers including grant writing
  • Music researcher
  • Music librarian degrees
  • Music critic
  • Dramaturgy/opera production
  • Public musicology (program note writer/concert presenter)
  • Media content creator

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2

specializations available: research and pedagogy

1:1

student-to-faculty ratio

Admissions

Key dates and admissions information to help plan your application with confidence.

International students

All the essential admission requirements international students need to know.

Find answers to Meadows application questions.

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Requirements

  1. Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Official transcript
  4. English language proficiency documentation (if applicable)
  5. A Bachelor of Music degree from an accredited institution

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Tuition and financial aid

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for graduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at Â鶹Éç.

Curriculum and learning

Featured courses

MUHI 6337

Conceptual Foundations of Musicology

A survey of the history, central questions and methods of musicology; includes historiography, nationalism, identities, periodization, narratives, canons, hermeneutics, archival work, empirical approaches, text criticism and semiotics.

MUHI 6154

Practicum in Musicology Pedagogy

Topics include, among others, syllabus design, discussion protocols, lecturing, in-class activities and assessment design.

MUHI 6335

Introduction to Graduate Studies

Introduces the methods, tools, resources, issues and types of musical research. Emphasis is given to several major skill areas including development of research questions; information location, retrieval, evaluation and assimilation; and communication (both written and oral) to different types of audiences.

Outside the classroom

Faculty

The distinguished music faculty at Â鶹Éç Meadows are internationally recognized performers, scholars and educators dedicated to mentoring the next generation of artists.

With expertise spanning performance, composition, music education and more, they bring real-world experience and artistry into the classroom. Together, they foster a vibrant, collaborative environment where students thrive both as musicians and as individuals. 

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Christopher Adkins

Christopher Adkins

Adjunct Professor of Cello
Charles Aguillon

Charles C. Aguillon

Director of Athletic Bands
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music

Stephen Ahearn

Stephen Ahearn

Adjunct Associate Professor of Clarinet
Sarah Allen

Sarah Allen

Associate Professor and Co-Chair of Music Education
Christopher S. Anderson

Christopher S. Anderson

Associate Professor of Sacred Music
Sergei Babayan

Sergei Babayan

Joel Estes Tate Endowed Chair in Piano and Artist in Residence
Baker-George-April-2023

George Baker

Adjunct Associate Professor of Organ
BrianBentley

Brian Bentley

Adjunct Lecturer
Aaron Boyd

Aaron Boyd

Chair of Strings, Director of Chamber Music
BryantJohn-May-2023

John Bryant

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Drumset Studies
Bryan Burns, guitar

Bryan Burns

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Guitar
Sara Chigani

Sara Chigani

JW Brown Music Therapist-in-Residence
Kim Corbet

Kim Corbet

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Jazz/Rock History/Interdisciplinary Studies
Edward Cumming

Edward Cumming

Martha Raley Peak Endowed Centennial Chair
Director of the Meadows Symphony Orchestra
Sara Daneshpour

Sara Daneshpour

Assistant Professor
Jack Delaney

Jack Delaney

Director of Bands and Professor of Music
Chair of Instrumental Ensembles
Andres Diaz

Andres Diaz

Professor of Cello
Dupuy-Virginia-October-2023

Virginia Dupuy

Professor, Voice
Stefan-Engels-April-2024

Stefan Engels

Leah Young Fullinwider Centennial Chair in Music Performance and Professor of Organ
Donald Fabian

Donald Fabian

Adjunct Associate Professor of Saxophone
Mark Feezell

Mark Feezell

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition,
Co-Chair of Music Theory and Composition
Kevin Finamore - Adjunct Professor of Trumpet

Kevin Finamore

Adjunct Professor of Trumpet
Clifton Forbis

Clifton Forbis

Professor and Chair of Voice
Kevin Gunter

Kevin Gunter

Associate Director, Division of Music
Senior Lecturer II, Coordinator of Class Piano
Harder-Lane-2022

Lane Harder

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition
Co-Chair of Music Theory and Composition
Carole Harris

Carole Harris

Assistant to the Director, Coordinator for Business Operations and Planning
Daniel Hawkins

Daniel Hawkins

Adjunct Professor of Horn
HearnBarry

Barry Hearn

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trombone

Laura Hearn

Assistant Director, Division of Music
Willa Henigman, Oboe

Willa Henigman

Adjunct Associate Professor of Oboe
Christopher Hepburn

Christopher Hepburn

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
DavidHeyde

David Heyde

Adjunct Associate Professor of Horn
Sam Holland

Sam Holland

Algur H. Meadows Dean and Professor of Music
Chad Hoopes with Violin

Chad Hoopes

Professor of Practice in Violin
Haley Hoops

Haley Hoops

Adjunct Associate Professor of Horn
Derrick Horne

Derrick Horne

Professor of Practice in Music
Director of the Meadows Jazz Orchestra
Ronald Houston

Ronald Houston

Adjunct Associate Professor of Viola and Violin
Hyae-Jin Hwang

Hyae-jin Hwang

Lecturer in Piano Pedagogy
Lynne Jackson

Lynne Jackson

Adjunct Lecturer in Wind Pedagogy
BrianJonesOct2020

Brian Jones

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Percussion
Jonathan Jones

Jonathan Jones

Director of Meadows World Music Ensemble
Tom Keck

Thomas Keck

Director, Division of Music and Professor of Music
Camille King

Camille King

Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice
Kara Kirkendoll Adjunct Flute Professor

Kara Kirkendoll Welch

Adjunct Associate Professor, Flute
Diane Kitzman

Diane Kitzman

Adjunct Associate Professor, Violin
April Kondrat

April Kondrat

Adjunct Lecturer
Peter Kupfer

Peter Kupfer

Associate Professor of Musicology
Drew Lang

Drew Lang

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Percussion
Pierre LaPointe

Pierre Lapointe

Adjunct Associate Professor of Viola
Jon Lee

Jon Lee

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Music Education
Carol Leone in red shirt

Carol Leone

Professor of Piano, chair of Piano Studies
Emily Levin

Emily Levin

Adjunct Associate Professor of Harp
Janice Lindstrom

Janice Lindstrom

Chair and Senior Lecturer II, Music Therapy
Michael Lively

Michael Lively

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory
Catharine Lysinger

Catharine Lysinger

Professor of Practice, Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Piano Preparatory Department

Alessandro-Mazzamuto

Alessandro Mazzamuto

Adjunct Associate Professor of Piano
Darren McHenry

Darren McHenry

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bass Trombone
Andreas Mitisek

Andreas Mitisek

Associate Professor of Practice
Director of Opera Theatre 
Jamal Mohamed

Jamal Mohamed

Adjunct Lecturer, Director of Hand Drumming Ensemble
Barbara Hill Moore

Barbara Hill Moore

Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Professor of Voice
Susie Moten

Susie Moten

Adjunct
Melissa Murray

Melissa Murchison Murray

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory
Naoko Nakamura

Naoko Nakamura

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Harp
GeorgeNicksonPercussion

George Nickson

Chair of Percussion Department, Professor of Practice, Director and Conductor of SYZYGY,¦
Kristina Nielsen

Kristina Nielsen

Chair, Department of Musicology
Associate Professor of Musicology
Chris Oliver

Chris Oliver

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trombone
Brian Perry with Double Bass

Brian Perry

Adjunct Associate Professor, Double Bass
Andrey Ponochevny

Andrey Ponochevny

Adjunct Artist in Residence
Diane Powell

Diane Powell

Adjunct Professor
Gregory Raden

Gregory Raden

Adjunct Associate Professor of Clarinet

James Richman

James Richman

Adjunct Lecturer, Harpsichord
Jarrod Robertson, Tuba

Jarrod Robertson

Adjunct Assistant Professor
James Romeo

James Romeo

Adjunct Associate Professor of Flute
Adam Salas

Adam Salas

Adjunct Associate Professor
Paul Schmidt

Benjamin Scheer

Adjunct Lecturer in Music Composition and Theory

Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt

Adjunct Lecturer in Wind Pedagogy
Julie Scott

Julie Scott, Ph.D.

Professor of Practice in Music Education; Co-Chair, Music Education; Director, Â鶹Éç Music¦
Julie Scott

Alexander Sitkovetsky

Artist-in-Residence, Violin
Ed Smith

Ed Smith

Adjunct Lecturer, Vibraphone
jason-smith-voice

Jason Smith

Senior Lecturer and Vocal Coach
Ted Soluri

Ted Soluri

Adjunct Associate Professor of Bassoon
Stuart Stephenson, Trumpet

Stuart Stephenson

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trumpet
Marcell Steuernagel

Marcell Silva Steuernagel

Associate Professor of Church Music and Director of the Master of Sacred Music Program
Christina Stock

Christina Stock

Adjunct Professor
Story-Rosalyn-November-2023

Rosalyn Story

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
Leon Turner

Leon P. Turner

Assistant Professor of Practice
Laureen Whitelaw

Laureen L. Whitelaw

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
Winchell-Margaret-August-2024

Margaret Winchell

Director of Choral Activities
Assistant Professor of Music
WuQianSept2022

Wu Qian

Adjunct Associate Professor in Piano Chamber Music
xie-dongni-october-2025

Dongni Xie

Collaborative Piano Coordinator
xi-wang

Xi Wang

Professor of Music Composition and Theory

Facilities

The Meadows School of the Arts boasts a multitude of environments for performing arts and learning.

Concert performances take place in Caruth Auditorium, O’Donnell Hall and Perkins Chapel, with opera productions in the Bob Hope Theatre.

An inspiring collection of more than 110,000 books and scores, 31,000 audio and video recordings, and 100,000 items in special collections are housed in the Jake and Nancy Hamon Arts Library.

Music students benefit from 50 individual practice rooms and a laboratory for class instruction in piano, theory and improvisation. The school also features 30 Steinway grand pianos, three harpsichords and eight pipe organs.

Other facilities include an electronic music studio for research, creation, production and instruction of electro-acoustic music and an on-campus music therapy clinic that offers student therapists opportunities for faculty-supervised, clinical practicum experiences.

Hamon Arts Library is home to thousands of musicology texts used by the music degree programs.

Hamon Arts Library

A robust collection of musicology literature with helpful music library staff.

Â鶹Éç Podcasting Studio

Students can reserve the studio in Fondren Library to create audio and visual content for personal and professional use.

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Frequently asked questions

is the historical, cultural and philosophical with analysis, research and theory utilized to better understand a part of history, era or period; a nation or region’s musical style; the people involved and the performances they employed; as part of society, and its structure, function and perception.

There are many career paths open to an individual with a master’s in musicology, including:

  • Secondary and post-secondary musicology instructor
  • Nonprofit arts careers including grant writing
  • Music researcher
  • Music librarian degrees
  • Music critic
  • Dramaturgy/opera production
  • Public musicology (program note writer/concert presenter)
  • Media content creator

Yes. The master’s in musicology program offers comprehensive training in research and pedagogy. It includes ample opportunities for classroom teaching experience and scholarly writing, which can be used for Ph.D. applications.

Musicology master’s degree majors are expected to have a reading ability in at least one world language. By the end of their program, students must pass a translation exam in a second language relevant to their specialization.

For the pedagogy track, students complete a 20- to 30-page project. Projects might include annotated syllabi and rationale for original courses, historical investigations of pedagogical techniques in musicology classrooms, or empirical studies to test novel pedagogical approaches.

For the research track, students complete a 60- to 80-page thesis on a topic determined in consultation with their advisor.

SMU musicology students have opportunities for hands-on experiences that include pre-concert talks and collaborations on campus and in the wider Dallas community.

Topics include historiography, nationalism, identities, periodization, narratives, canons, hermeneutics, archival work, empirical approaches, text criticism, semiotics of music and culture (ethnomusicology+), guided by your supervisor/chair.

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