The Best Schools Offering Graduate Degree Programs in Ethnomusicology
Higher Education Articles March 23, 2017Overview of Schools offering Ethnomusicology Graduate Degree Programs
The term, ethnomusicology, refers to a specific area of musicology with a focus on the cultural and social aspects of dance and music. The University of California offers the best programs in ethnomusicology through its campuses at Berkeley and Los Angeles. The U.S. News & World Report has ranked both locations among the country’s best schools. Programs leading to master’s and doctoral degrees are among the graduate degrees available. In this article, we take a look at these two schools:
University of California – Berkeley
In 2011, the U.S. News & World Report had the University of California – Berkeley (UC – Berkeley) in 22nd place on its list of national universities. Students enrolled in the graduate degree program will be prepared for research through the study of cultural theory and methodology. They can opt for a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Ethnomusicology or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Ethnomusicology. The program is renowned for imparting expertise in popular music studies, cognitive studies, Asian, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern music, and critical theory.
University of California – Los Angeles
In 2011, the U.S. News & World Report had the University of California – Los Angeles in 25th place on its list of national universities. As in the case of UC – Berkeley, an MA in Ethnomusicology and a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology are also offered at UCLA.
Students can complete the master’s degree program including 12 credit hours within two years; they can complete the doctoral program within three years. Admission criteria in the Ph.D. program typically require students to hold an MA degree in Ethnomusicology or similar field.
In the ethnomusicology program, the cultural and social facets of musicology are combined with the in-depth study of the music native to specific regions of the world. Students can take the assistance of faculty to focus on the complexities of regional musical performances, as well as the structural nuances of the music.
List of Schools offering Ethnomusicology Programs
| School Name | Distinction | Campus Location |
| Arizona State University | Students at the school can perform in the ethnomusicology ensembles, which include groups with concentration on Indonesian, Latin, and African traditions | Tempe, AZ |
| Boston University | The Center for Early Music studies is ran through the Department of Musicology and Ethnomusicology that concentrates on the study of music from the Classical, Baroque, Renaissance, and Medieval periods | Boston, MA |
| Harvard University | The Department of Music at Harvard University offers a Doctor of Philosophy program in Ethnomusicology at the graduate level | Cambridge, MA |
| University of Arizona | Students who graduate from the ethnomusicology program will have the opportunity to do fieldwork in countries such as Ghana, Brazil, Israel, and Spain | Tucson, AZ |
| University of Illinois – Urbana – Champaign | The School of Music at University of Illinois – Urbana – Champaign is home to the Center for World Music, which is organization that is committed to the appreciation of global arts | Champaign, IL |
| University of Maryland – College Park | Students in the graduate programs has access to the School of Music Ethnomusicology and Musicology Technology laboratory that is used to edit and record scores, DVDs, CDs, etc. | College Park, MD |
| University of Minnesota – Twin Cities | Students enrolled in the doctoral program at University of Minnesota – Twin Cities work with advisors to develop an individualized course of study | Minneapolis, MN |
| University of Pennsylvania | Faculty members in the Ethnomusicology program have expertise in the music of the Indian Ocean, Africa, Western Europe, and Americas | Philadelphia, PA |
| University of Texas – Austin | The Latin American Music Review is published through the School of Music. This is a scholarly journal that focuses on the study of Latin American music | Austin, TX |
| University of Virginia | The Department of Music at the University of Virginia has one of the state’s largest music library and over fifteen music ensembles | Charlottesville, VA |
