Doctoral Comprehensive Exams

All students who are enrolled in doctoral degree programs within the College of Music are required to pass comprehensive examinations. For details about those examinations, see the statements on those programs in the sections that follow. The comprehensive examinations are given during fall and spring semesters and the summer session. Students must be registered for at least 1 credit during the semester(s) in which they take comprehensive examinations (see Maximum and Minimum Credits). This requirement is automatically waived if the examination is administered during the summer session immediately following a spring semester during which the student was registered or prior to a fall semester in which the student will be registered. Scheduling, composing, and evaluating the comprehensive examinations is done in accordance with college policy.

In the case of a comprehensive examination that consists of more than one part, the date that the student passes the examination is the date on which they pass the final component of the comprehensive examination.

The college shall make available to doctoral students upon matriculation a written explanation of comprehensive examination procedures. The comprehensive examinations must be passed before an oral defense of the dissertation or document and/or lecture-recital(s) can be scheduled.

For the Doctor of Philosophy and the Doctor of Musical Arts degrees, all of the comprehensive examinations must be passed within 5 years, and all remaining requirements for the degree must be completed within 8 years from the time when a student begins the first class at Michigan State University that appears on their doctoral program of study. Requests for extension of the 8-year period of time toward degree must be submitted to the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies. He will request approval from the Dean of The Graduate School and notify you of the decision.

Area-and-Degree-Specific Information

Doctoral Comprehensive Examinations in Music Theory and Musicology

The doctoral comprehensive examinations in music theory and musicology are given during fall and spring semesters and the summer session. For specific dates, check with the Graduate Studies office.

Students planning to take the comprehensive must contact Michael Armendariz, Graduate Advisor, (armenda2@msu.edu), at least six weeks prior to the exam date. No exceptions to this deadline will be allowed. Students who do not comply with this rule will not be allowed to take the comprehensive examination.

Eligibility

A student becomes eligible to attempt each of the two exams when finished with or in the last semester of coursework in that area. An eligible student may attempt either one or both exams on a given test date. If a student passes either the musicology or music theory exam, but not both; the successfully completed exam does not need to be retaken.

Preparing for the Comprehensive Examinations

Musicology:

The comprehensive examination in musicology takes place in the morning, typically from 9:00 a.m.–12 noon. Students will receive a list of questions, with one question drawn from each of the 800- and 900-level musicology courses taught during the past five years. A maximum of two questions may be attempted and at least one question must be answered satisfactorily in order to pass this portion of the examination. Students must provide their own pencils, erasers, and writing and paper. Reference materials (in printed form, on computer media, or in any other form) are not permitted.

Theory:

The comprehensive examination in music theory takes place in the afternoon, typically from 1:30–6:00 p.m. Students will receive a list of questions, with one question drawn from each of the 800- and 900-level theory courses taught during the past five years. A maximum of three questions may be attempted and at least two questions must be answered satisfactorily in order to pass this portion of the examination. Students must provide their own pencils, erasers, and writing and music paper. Reference materials (in printed form, on computer media, or in any other form) are not permitted.

The techniques, terminology, and skills addressed in a corresponding course are sufficient for answering the question satisfactorily. Reviewing course materials and consulting with the instructor of the class is strongly recommended.

MUS 868 (separate question for each individual offering)
MUS 869
MUS 870
MUS 871
MUS 872
MUS 873 (separate questions for Dr. Sly’s and Dr. Stroud’s sections; only 1 may be answered)
MUS 874/977 (A single Schenker question covering both courses)
MUS 875
MUS 867/876/972 (A single keyboard skills question covering ALL courses)
MUS 877/878 (A single orchestration question covering both courses)
MUS 879
MUS 891 (separate question for each individual offering)
MUS 970/971 (a single pedagogy question covering both courses)
MUS 973 (separate question for each individual offering)
MUS 976 (separate question for each individual offering)

PhD Music Education

Students who are enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy degree program with a major in music education are required to take a comprehensive examination in the field of music education. This involves three questions from the music education core curriculum and one question from the cognate area. Questions are designed in collaboration with faculty, and the allowable core areas are Measurement (MUS 960), Philosophy (MUS 962), Conducting Research (MUS 965), Qualitative Research (MUS 966), Psychology (MUS 861), Curriculum (MUS 862), Sociology (MUS 863), and College Music Teaching (MUS 964). Students should have completed the course prior to proposing a question in that area. The four questions are written at home, and students will have one month to complete and submit their documents. Faculty will have at least four weeks to read comprehensive examinations prior to the comprehensive examination defense meeting that includes all music education faculty and the professor who consulted on the cognate question. For specific details a student should consult with their academic advisor in music education. The comprehensive examinations in Music Education may be given during summer at the discretion of the area faculty.

DMA Composition

Students who are enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in music composition are required to take a comprehensive examination in the field of composition and the standard comprehensive examinations in music theory and musicology. Please see below for an explanation of the format of the musicology and music theory examinations. For specific details about the composition examination, please consult with the area chair in composition. The comprehensive examination in composition may be given during summer at the discretion of the area faculty.

DMA Conducting

Students who are enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in music conducting are required to take four comprehensive examinations: the standard comprehensive examinations in music theory and musicology; a question from the student’s area in conducting to be written on campus; and a “take home” question from the student’s area in conducting. Please see below for an explanation of the format of the musicology and music theory examinations. For specific details about the conducting examinations, please consult with the academic advisor in conducting.

DMA Performance

Students who are enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts degree program in music performance are required to take the comprehensive examinations in music theory and musicology. Please see above for an explanation of the format of this examination.