Doctoral Dissertation, Final Project, and Piano Essay

Doctoral Dissertation, Final Project, and Piano Essay

The capstone for all doctoral degrees is a substantial research project or composition. Students in music education, music theory, musicology, and composition write a dissertation. Students in piano write a doctoral piano essay. All other majors complete a doctoral final project. The four stages to completing this requirement are outlined below.

1. Topic proposal

• Topic proposal guidelines
  
  • DM students (except composition and piano majors)
  • DM composition students 
  • DM piano students 
  • All PhD and DME students (music education, music theory, and musicology) 
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of any research involving human subjects

2. Final project or dissertation written component

• Detailed descriptions
  
  • DM students (except composition and piano majors)
  • DM composition students 
  • DM piano students 
  • PhD and DME students (music education, music theory, and musicology)
• Style guidelines

3. Public presentation

• DM students (except composition and piano majors, for whom a public presentation is not required)
• PhD and DME students (music education, music theory, and musicology)
• Public lecture or defense calendar

4. Final copies

• DM students (except composition and piano majors) 
• DM composition students 
• DM piano students 
• PhD and DME students (music education, music theory, and musicology)

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