Department of Music

Music > Graduate Programs > Composition and Theory Ph.D

Composition and Theory Ph.D

Founded by American composer Irving Fine, the Brandeis Music Department’s program in composition and theory offers in-depth study in composition, theory and analysis, and electro-acoustic music. The graduate program provides students with the time and means to develop a secure command of the craft of composition under the guidance of its faculty. Students have their compositions performed and recorded on the graduate student composers’ concert series New Music Brandeis. They may also have their compositions read by the Lydian String Quartet, whose members are Professors of the Practice in the music department, and by ensembles-in-residence that are invited to Brandeis by the music department. Ensembles have included the New York New Music Ensemble, NotaRiotous, the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), and Speculum Musicae. The Slosberg Music Center houses the Brandeis Electro-Acoustic Music Studio (BEAMS) where composers can work with analog and digital equipment. There is also an extensive collection of period instruments including two harpsichords and an historic Viennese fortepiano, which are kept in the Jencks Early Music Room.

Since teaching is an important aspect of graduate training, graduate students receive assignments as teaching fellows for music courses during their second, third, fourth and fifth years of training. Responsibilities include course preparation, lecturing, administering and grading exams, and meeting individually with undergraduates. The culminating doctoral thesis consists of an extensive original composition and a written analytical thesis. Students who complete the Ph.D. program have gone on to successful careers in composition and in teaching at colleges and universities throughout the country. A partial list of graduate alumni and placement can be downloaded via this link: Graduate Alumni.

The basic requirements for the Ph.D. program include:

• Sixteen courses at the graduate level.
• Teaching: preparation of graduate students for teaching careers is an integral part of the Ph.D. programs in music. Beginning with the second year of residence, doctoral candidates in composition participate as teaching fellows in the relevant undergraduate courses, for a minimum of seven semesters. All teaching comes under the guidance of the primary course instructors and the department chair.
• Satisfactory completion of the language requirement in one language (French, German, Italian, or another language by petition).
• Examinations: general examinations during the second year. Oral qualifying examination in the third year.
• Dissertation: an original musical composition and a thesis on a theoretical or analytical subject. Two copies of the thesis, as well as an abstract not to exceed 350 words in length, should be submitted to the program chair no later than December 1 for a February degree, or March 1 for a May degree, of the academic year in which the Ph.D. degree is to be conferred. Upon completion of the thesis, the candidate is expected to defend it in a final oral examination.
• Three years of residency.
• Attendance at departmental composition colloquia.

Boston Area Graduate Consortium: for cross registration at other institutions

This consortium allows for Brandeis graduate students to take graduate level courses at Boston College, Boston University, and Tufts University as part of their tuition at Brandeis. A full-time graduate student in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is permitted to enroll in no more than one graduate cross-registered course each term. This should be viewed as an opportunity to enhance their graduate experience, and not as a substitute for courses already offered at Brandeis. Graduate students wishing to consider this option must first discuss it with their Graduate Program Chair. For compete information about the consortium, go to: www.brandeis.edu/gsas/teaching_and_learning/cross.html

Financial Aid

Students admitted to the Ph.D. program are offered full tuition and living stipend by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, which is renewable based on successful academic progress for a total of 5 years. Information about this and other sources of funding may be found on the GSAS website: www.brandeis.edu/gsas/financing/index. GSAS also offers graduate student awards, prizes, and annual travel grants for presentations of works.

Application Procedure

Applicants are asked to apply directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences using the online application procedure Apply Online, or by paper application. The deadline for applications for admission for the fall semester is January 15. Students are not admitted to the Ph.D. program during mid-year. GRE scores are recommended, as well as TOEFL scores when applicable.

Application Fee: check the GSAS Admissions site for the fee, which must accompany the application. Applications will not be considered without payment of the application fee. Current Brandeis students are exempted from paying the application fee.

Statement of Purpose: in essay form, state reasons for undertaking graduate study. Please describe your qualifications for the academic program to which you are applying and your objectives in undertaking this program.

Applicants should clearly outline their research interests. The statement should also indicate how the applicant’s research interests would complement those of the faculty. Applicants should discuss their plans for their academic and professional career and how the particular graduate program will help them attain their goals.

Written Work: a selection of original scores and recordings should be mailed directly to GSAS.

Music Composition Exam: the department of music employs an informal testing procedure designed to assist the admission committee in reviewing applications to the graduate programs in Music Composition and Theory. There are two short exercises in tonal music. (download exam) You are asked to spend up to, but under no circumstances more than, four hours (including copying time) in the preparation of your answers. Please note that the application will not be considered complete without this.

Upon completion of the test, you are asked to sign the appended statement affirming that you have received no outside assistance in preparing your answers. The exam is to be mailed directly to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences along with any other application materials or email in .pdf format only to gradschool@brandeis.edu. It is highly advised that you keep a copy of your exam for your own personal records.


Two Letters of Recommendation: the members of the admissions committee prefer to receive electronically letters written in support of your application for admission. Please include the complete contact information, including e-mail address, for your referees in your application. GSAS will then contact the referees directly with the electronic link for submission of their letter.

GSAS will continue to accept hard-copy letters of recommendation from those referees who prefer this method. All letters should be mailed directly to GSAS.

Transcripts: applicants must provide a final transcript indicating successful completion of an undergraduate degree program before registration. Transcripts for any graduate study should also be provided.

Graduate Record Examinations General Test: the GRE General Test is recommended, but is not required. The ETS code for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is 3092. For more information about the GRE, visit www.ets.org/gre.

Non-native Speakers of English: international students should visit the international admission section of the GSAS website for information on TOEFL and IELTS requirements. The GSAS TOEFL school code is 3261.

Sending the Application: although it is preferred that all required supporting credentials be received in one package, we will certainly accept credentials mailed separately. Please send all credentials to:

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
MS 031 Brandeis University
PO Box 9110
Waltham, MA 02454-9110

Application Deadline: the deadline for Ph.D. applications is January 15. Admission to the program is for the following fall semester.

Tracking the Application: GSAS will provide information for tracking the application online in the form of a checklist. Data is updated daily.

Visiting Brandeis: applicants are welcome, but not required, to visit Brandeis and interview with faculty during admissions time, or at another time during the academic year if more convenient. Interviews can be arranged directly with the individual faculty members by email or telephone. Attending seminars and meeting with current graduate students can also be arranged. A complete list of concerts is available online. Tours of the Brandeis campus are conducted daily.

Dept. of Music  |  Slosberg Music Center, MS 051  |  415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02453  |  (781) 736-3310 | music@brandeis.edu