Musicology Major

Summary of Requirements

Course Requirements

• 24 Credits of Principal Private Study Courses
• APST 110 - Piano Class I  
• APST 111 - Piano Class II  
• 16 Credits of Ensemble Elective Courses
• MUSY 100 - Introduction to Ethnomusicology  
• 24 Credits of Musicology 200-Level Elective Courses
• MUSY 301 - Introduction to Music Research and Writing  
• Eight Credits of Musicology 300-Level Elective Courses
• Eight Credits of Foreign Language Study Courses
• Four Credits of Conservatory Elective Courses
• 24 Credits of Liberal Arts Elective Courses
• 16 Credits of Free Elective Courses

Non-Course Requirements

• Private Study Committee Examination Requirement
  • First Major Committee Examination

Declaring the Major

Those students coming to Oberlin intending to major in musicology must follow the regular Conservatory admissions procedures concerning performing auditions. Admission to the major will be determined by the musicology division following an interview with the division director, usually in the sophomore year, after successfully completing at least two courses in musicology.

Note: Continuation in the major is subject to annual review by the department. Majors must maintain a minimum average of 3.00 in all musicology (MUSY) courses. All MUSY courses required for the major must be taken for a letter grade.

Honors in Musicology

An honors program is offered for musicology majors qualified to do research leading to a Bachelor of Music degree with Honors, High Honors, or Highest Honors. Qualified students must have a minimum GPA of 3.00. Generally, in their penultimate year, a musicology major wishing to do honors work will submit a detailed proposal to a member of the faculty of the Division of Musicology who has agreed to become their advisor. Upon approval by the advisor, the proposal will be submitted to the Division of Musicology for approval. Entry to the honors program is contingent upon the division’s approval of the proposal.

Students admitted to the honors program must enroll in MUSY 400  and MUSY 401 ; this may not substitute for the musicology 300-level elective course requirement.

The requirements for successful completion of the Honors Program in Musicology are:

1. Submitting an acceptable scholarly paper on some topic in musicology. A digital copy should be submitted to the Director of the Division of Musicology.
2. Passing a written comprehensive examination in music.
3. Taking an oral examination to defend the paper and to discuss aspects of the written examination as well as broad areas of music history and theory related to the honors paper.

At the end of Winter Term, the advisor will submit a short report to the division on the student’s progress. If this progress is such that the division approves continuation of the project, then the normal schedule for the second semester is as follows:

• Paper due: on the first day of classes after spring break.
• Comprehensive examination: on two successive days during mid-April.
• Oral examination: during the last week of April.

The student should contact the Director of the Division of Musicology as soon as possible after submitting the completed paper—during the first week of April at the latest—in order to schedule exact dates for the comprehensive and oral examinations. Typically, the examination committee consists of four to five people: the Director of the Division of Musicology, at least one other faculty representing the Division of Musicology, one or more other members of the Conservatory or College faculty, and possibly someone from outside Oberlin College. The student’s advisor is invited to sit in on the oral examination as an observer.

Detailed Major Requirements