Ethnomusicology

Graduate Student Resources

Program Information

The MA/PhD in Ethnomusicology investigates music in cultural and social contexts. In preparing students for careers in studying global music communities, our program assists students in understanding music as social practice from a variety of disciplinary perspectives. Students are introduced to the intellectual history of the field and its paradigmatic shifts, and research methodology in preparation for ethnographic fieldwork. Our ethnomusicology program seeks to prepare students for careers in the academy, public sector, the music industry, and/or cultural heritage policy-making. We also offer seminars in select global music cultures as well as topics, which examine music as related to gender, politics, religion, economics, philosophy, aesthetics, and musical practice.

Ethnomusicology MA/PhD, Graduate Program Guide
Ethnomusicology MA/PhD, Graduate Program Guide
Ethnomusicology MA/PhD, Graduate Program Guide
Filing your thesis or dissertation
Filing your thesis or dissertation
Filing your thesis or dissertation
Division of Graduate Education
Division of Graduate Education
Division of Graduate Education

As you progress through your programs, pause to explore the resources we’ve gathered to assist you in navigating your studies. This page contains program checklists, petitions and forms, exam details, enrollment requests, and recital information for all our graduate students in The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.

We aim to support you in achieving your academic aspirations and succeeding in your educational journey. Should you have any questions regarding enrollment or planning that cannot be answered on this page, please contact OSA@schoolofmusic.ucla.edu.

Office of Student Affairs
1642 Schoenberg Music Building
UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
445 Charles E Young Drive E
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1616
Phone: 310-206-5802

Petitions and Forms for Ethnomusicology

Departmental Course Petition

Graduate Departmental Course Petition

This petition is used to substitute courses taken within the department or an outside department and have them count towards a degree required course. Students are only able to substitute courses taken at UCLA only. Students requesting transfer of credit from an outside institution must use the Division of Graduate Education Graduate Degree Petition.

Ethnomusicology 596 Enrollment Petition

This petition serves as a course proposal for enrollment into the 596 courses directed to individual studies. Prior to completing this petition, the student must contact the instructor they plan to complete their assignment with to confirm they will be available to work with the student in the requested quarter. This petition must be approved by relevant faculty and filed with the SAO prior to enrollment.

Ethnomusicology Qualifying Exam Committee Request

Students are required to submit this petition prior to the start of their qualifying exams to request the appointment of their qualifying exam committee. For questions regarding the makeup or appointment of committee members for the Qualifying Exam, please contact your Graduate Advisor or Faculty mentor.

Ethnomusicology Doctoral Committee & Dissertation Topic Request

This form is used to request the department approval of the student’s doctoral committee and dissertation topic after having completed the Qualifying Exam. This should be submitted in conjunction with the Nomination of Doctoral Committee Form.

Nomination Doctoral Committee Form, Graduate Division

This form is used to nominate your doctoral committee with the Division of Graduate Education. Once all signatures are completed, the SAO will submit the form to the Division of Graduate Education. Allow two weeks for processing after the nomination has been submitted by the SAO to the Graduate Division. The committee must be appointed prior to holding the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Language Petition

*Not a DocuSign form* Once you have completed your language requirement, please complete this form, sign, and submit to Bria Russ.

Both MA and PhD students are required to show reading knowledge of one language other than English that is relevant to the student’s research. The choice of language and the method of satisfying the requirement must be approved by the Graduate Advisory Committee. The Language Petition will need to be submitted to Bria Russ once you have completed one of the following:

  1. Passed an examination administered by a faculty member in ethnomusicology or in another department, or an exam administered by the university;
  2. Completed the fifth quarter in the language with a minimum grade of B;
  3. Demonstrated literacy through submission of transcripts or other documents that show course work or experience in the language.