
focus on the musicology faculty’s current research, introducing students to a wide variety of repertories, sub-disciplines, and methodologies. Students take twelve graduate seminars during their first two years, normally graded P/F, and design their program in consultation and with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS). The typical course load is three seminars per semester.

include graduate seminars taught by the composition faculty, courses in other Princeton departments, the Interdisciplinary Program in the Humanities, and exchange programs at other Universities. Students typically take no more than one course outside the program in any given semester. Advanced undergraduate courses may be substituted for graduate seminars only with the permission of the DGS. (Language courses do not count as seminars).
and works-in-progress series is curated by the third-year graduate students. All musicology students in residence are expected to attend these events. See calendar.
Students are encouraged to become active in their field, attend conferences, pursue research, and gain teaching experience through Assistantships in Instruction. Click here for more info.
Diagnostic Theory Exam and First-Year Paper: In order to evaluate students’ preparation for advanced study and recommend remedial work as necessary, all first-year students are required to take a diagnostic theory exam early in their first semester and to submit, on the first day of classes during the second semester, a written paper based on work done in one of the fall term courses. For more information, please see the Graduate Handbook.
Language Requirement: A reading knowledge of two foreign languages is required, which must be satisfied by examination before a student can be admitted to the general examination. The Graduate School offers intensive summer reading courses in selected foreign languages—typically French, German, and Latin—which the Department will subsidize; students wishing to study other languages will also qualify for Department subsidies, typically up to the cost of University courses. Subsidies are subject to the approval of the DGS. Students who wish to begin their language study at Princeton in the semester prior to their first year should contact the DGS as soon as possible after being admitted.
The General Exam: normally given in May of the second year of study. See HERE for more information.
Please note: In order to remain in good standing, students are expected to complete seminars assignments and department requirements in a timely fashion, participate fully in the intellectual life of the Department, follow University policies with regard to academic integrity, and to comport themselves in a professional manner. Failure to complete the work of graduate courses during the term in which they are taken may result in deferred re-enrollment and negatively impact financial support. According to Graduate School policy, all incompletes must be resolved within a year after the beginning of the course, or the grade in the course will be recorded as “F.”