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WORKING 2025-2026 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Music Composition PhD
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The Department of Music has-for decades-enjoyed a reputation as one of a handful of departments in North America dedicated to contemporary musical creation at the highest level. Composition at the University at Buffalo flourishes today, by providing a wide range of stimulating musical and intellectual experiences, within a program that allows students the space to develop and mature. In an atmosphere that encourages musical and technological experiment, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the development of authentic creative character, graduate composers at UB take advantage of a number of resources and opportunities.
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Curriculum
The following is the approved normal course of study for students pursuing a PhD in Composition. In all cases, a student’s particular program should be determined in consultation with his/her academic advisor. Customized tracks, involving substitutions for required and elective courses, are encouraged. These must be planned in advance with the advisor and will require the approval of the Music Department Graduate Committee. Required core (38 credits)
Musicology Core (12 credits)
Select 3 courses from the following list: Music Theory Core (12 credits)
Select 3 courses from the following list: Additional Requirements (8 Credits)
Select 8 credits from the following list: Foreign Language Requirement
One foreign language: French, German, or Italian. Another natural language may be substituted with approval of student’s academic advisor and the Graduate Committee. Total Credit Hours: 72
3.0 Degree GPA required Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
1) To create a portfolio of at least three newly composed works while in residence that demonstrate high-level proficiency in composing for a variety of instrumental and vocal formations as appropriate to each student’s experience and background; to supervise rehearsal, performance, of these works at the highest professional level manageable, and to edit, revise, and document the finished work through score and recording.
2) Acquire skills for developing creative and critical thinking through careful listening, presentation, and discussion of creative works composed by peers featuring a wide variety of techniques, aesthetic position, and aim; develop articulate means for
3) Achieve fully professional mastery of all technical aspects of composition ranging from notation through instrumentation and orchestration, computer music and music technology applications, and analyses of appropriate contemporary musical works and to bring these skills to individual creative work and to the development of teaching, presentation and all other job-related skills.
4) Students will develop increased competence at being articulate in both the public verbal and written modes about the historical, cultural, and philosophical aspects of music.
5) Understand methodologies useful in the analysis of musical experience and communicate this understanding within the modes of discourse common to music theory and analysis. SED Statement
This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED). |
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