Coursework
The primary objective of doctoral study, as distinguished from other studies at the graduate level, is to promote your original contribution to scholarly research in a given field. Upon entry into the doctoral program, you should begin exploring the literature and methods pertinent to your particular research interests, and identifying specific faculty members—both inside and outside of the department—who might serve as dissertation committee members.
In MPAP, each doctoral program has a distinct curriculum, as delineated below. All doctoral students are expected to successfully complete at least 36 credits of coursework (depending on the program) as part of their degree requirements, and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B). The specific number of credits and their distribution varies from program to program. Note: The points listed for each degree represents the minimum points for the degree or the range of required points. Additional points may be required as the result of placement and candidacy exams.
Please note that transfer credits from other institutions are not permitted for doctoral students. Also, all international students who have not completed a previous degree at NYU are recommended to take SAHS-GE 2003 New Graduate Student Seminar for International Students, a 0 credit extended orientation experience during their first semester of study at NYU Steinhardt. Students should direct any questions about the New Graduate Student Seminar to Nick Voelker.
Educational Theatre PhD
Points/Credits
Foundations of Education 6 points
Specialized Research Methodology/Electives 15 points
Specialization Course Electives* 18-24 points
Cognate Study (course related to but not in specialization) 6 points
Department Study 3 points
Departmental Content Seminar 3 points
Doctoral Proposal Seminar 3 points
Minimum Points 54-60 points
*Areas of specialization in Educational Theatre include Drama in Education, Applied Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences/Play Production. The number of credits required in this area are decided by the academic advisor at the time of enrollment based on the student's prior coursework at the master’s level.
A more detailed explanation of the course requirements is available at the Educational Theatre PhD Curriculum Website. A suggested semester-by-semester program of study for full time and part time study is available here.
Educational Theatre EdD
Points/Credits
Common Core 9 points
Content Knowledge 6 points
Methods of Inquiry 3 points
Practical Knowledge 12 points
Specialization Course Electives* 9 points
Culminating Study 3 points
Minimum Points 42 points**
*Areas of specialization in Educational Theatre include Drama in Education, Applied Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences/Play Production.
**Prerequisites in theatreform competence are required, especially in theatre history, dramatic literature, acting and directing, and drama criticism. Applicants who have not taken courses in these area at the undergraduate or master’s level must take them before fulfilling the Specialization Course Electives requirement, even if it means that more than 42 points are required to complete this EdD program. Additional courses in theatreform in excess of those required for this degree may be selected by advisement.
A more detailed explanation of the course requirements is available at the Educational Theatre EdD Curriculum Website. A suggested semester-by-semester program of study for full time and part time study is available here.
Music Education PhD
Points/Credits
Foundations in Music Education/Therapy 6 points
Cognates (course related to but not in specialization) 6 points
Research Courses 18 points (full-time students should be enrolled in at least one research course the first 4 semesters)
Guided Electives 12 points
Doctoral Proposal Seminar 3 points
Minimum Points 45 points
A more detailed explanation of the course requirements is available at the Music Education PhD Curriculum Website and the Music Education PhD with a Focus in Music Therapy Curriculum Website.
Music Performance and Composition PhD: For Composers
Points/Credits
Foundations 6 points
Specialized Research Methodology 3 points
Cognates (course related to but not in specialization) 6 points
Departmental Content Seminar (Seminar in Composition) 3 points
Doctoral Proposal Seminar 3 points
Advised Research Courses 15 points
Recital (Seminar in Music) 3 points
Applied Study (Private Composition) 6-12 points
Guided Electives 4 points
Minimum Points 49-55 points
*There are two basic concentrations: traditional/ contemporary and music computers/ technology
A more detailed explanation of the course requirements is available at the Music Performance and Composition: Composers PhD Curriculum Website.
Music Performance and Composition PhD: For Performers
Points/Credits
Foundations 6 points
Specialized Research Methodology 3 points
Cognates (course related to but not in specialization) 6 points
Departmental Content Seminar (Chamber Music) 3 points
Doctoral Proposal Seminar 3 points
Advised Research Courses 15 points
Two Recitals (Seminar in Music) 4 points
Applied Study (private lessons) 6-12 points
Guided Electives 3 points
Minimum Points 49-55 points
A more detailed explanation of the course requirements is available at the Music Performance and Composition: Performers PhD Curriculum Website.
DMA in Music Performance
All DMA students must receive at least a B in courses that fulfill degree requirements. Any course graded below a B must either be repeated or the student register for a different course within the curriculum guidelines. The required theory and research courses are graded as pass/fail. Students wishing to pursue a Composition sub-specialization must submit a portfolio of scores and recordings/videos for approval.
Instrumental Performance, Piano and Jazz Studies
Points/Credits
Private Lessons 12 points
Sub-Specialization (select from this link) 12-13 points
Theory (Survey of Analytical Methods) 2 points
Research (Performing Arts Research Collegium) 2 points
Three Recitals 3 points
Performance Electives 3 points
Advised Electives 2 points
Minimum Points 36 points (plus remediation)
Vocal Performance
Points/Credits
Private Lessons 12 points
Sub-Specialization (select from this link) 12-13 points
Theory (Survey of Analytical Methods) 2 points
Research (Performing Arts Research Collegium) 2 points
Three Recitals 3 points
Performance Electives 12 points
Advised Electives 2 points
Minimum Points 43-44 points (plus remediation)
Music Technology PhD
Points/Credits
I. Steinhardt School Required Courses
Foundations (school-wide requirement) 6 points
Specialized Research Methodology 3 points
Content and Dissertation Proposal Seminars 6 points
II. Research Electives 12-18 points
III. Specialization Electives 9-15 points
Minimum Points 36-48 points
Students entering with a master’s degree will receive advanced standing following a careful review of their transcripts and may be able to complete their doctoral studies for as few as 36 credits by taking fewer research and specialization electives.
A more detailed explanation of the course requirements is available in the Music Technology PhD Guide.
Explanation of Course Credit Requirements
The student must discuss and gain approval from their academic advisor for course selections and plan of study. Courses are categorized according to the following: foundations, cognates, and advised research. The information that follows provides general explanations for the categories, but students must consult their academic advisor for guidance when selecting courses.
Foundations
All students are required to complete 6 credits (two courses) of coursework in foundations during their first 24 credits of doctoral study. Graduate courses qualify for the foundations requirement when they are upper division courses (NYU Steinhardt 2000-level courses or their equivalent in other schools) and designed to broaden students’ access to knowledge outside of the areas of specialization. To this end, courses are considered foundational when they: (1) provide broad basic content, not limited to a single profession, and are outside the student's specialization, and do not require prerequisites; (2) are based on current scholarship in the arts, humanities, sciences and/or social sciences; and (3) have wide applicability to common issues of the student's specialization and profession.
Cognates
A cognate is defined as a course outside of the student's specialization that supports the student’s research or a course that combines the student’s specialization with another academic discipline. These courses are to be selected by the student subject to approval by the academic advisor.
Advised Research
Research courses by advisement should be related to the student's proposed topic or area of research interest. Because it can take as many as four or more semesters to complete a sequence of research courses adequate for doctoral level research, students should consider beginning this sequence in their first semester. Because of the necessity of starting the research sequence at the outset of doctoral study, it is essential that the student have a research direction articulated at this time so that the proper sequence can be selected and completed in a timely way. Gaining approval for a dissertation proposal requires the demonstration of the research competencies of the chosen method, something that requires completion of the appropriate research method coursework.
These courses should be carefully selected to ensure that the student has the appropriate skills and expertise to conduct research and analysis necessary to write the dissertation. The aim of this requirement is to give students more focused training in particular research methods – this is particularly important for qualitative research methods using interviews, participant observation, artefact analysis, and/or self-inquiry; historical and archival research; quantitative research using statistical analysis; or content analysis. You should seek out classes in relevant methods in departments throughout the university. With the help of your advisor, you should determine the most appropriate research and methodology courses for your project. You may consider relevant research-based courses that are specialization electives as well. By advisement, you can also conduct independent study courses under the supervision of qualified faculty to gain experience in understanding and applying specific methodological principles and practices.
The Steinhardt School offers a number of research courses in various qualitative and quantitative methods:
Qualitative Research Courses
APSY-GE 2835 Research: Using Mixed Methods
APSY-GE 3040 The Listening Guide Method of Psychological Inquiry
MPADT-GE 2100 Introduction to Arts Based Research
MPAET-GE 2114 Creating Ethnodrama: Theory and Practice
MPAET-GE 2115 The Ethnoactor and Verbatim Performance
RESCH-GE 2135 Historical Research
RESCH-GE 2140 Approaches/Qualitative Inquiry
RESCH-GE 2141 Case Study/Ethnographic Inquiry
RESCH-GE 2142 Interview & Observation
RESCH-GE 2143 Participatory Action Research
RESCH-GE 2147 Fieldwork Data Collection
RESCH-GE 2148 Fieldwork: Data Analysis
Quantitative Research Courses
APSY-GE 2070 Research and Evaluation Methods in Behavioral Sciences
APSY-GE.2073 Research Design & Methodology in the Behavioral Sciences I
APSY-GE.2074 Research Design & Methodology in the Behavioral Sciences II
APSY-GE.2140 Measurement: Classical Test Theory
RESCH-GE.2001 Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences I
RESCH-GE.2002 Data Analysis for the Behavioral and Social Sciences II
RESCH-GE.2003 Intermediate Quantitative Methods: The General Linear Model
RESCH-GE.2004 Advanced Modeling I: Topics in Multivariate Analysis
RESCH-GE.2134 Experimental and Quasi-Experimental Design
RESCH-GE.2139 Survey Research
External Opportunities
Students can also take courses at other universities in the New York area, including Columbia University, Rutgers University, Princeton University, the New School for Social Research, and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, as part of the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium (IUDC). Generally, students must complete one year of Doctoral study to be eligible to participate in Consortium courses. These courses are to be selected by the student subject to approval by the academic advisor.
The IUDC registration process and guidelines are outlined in the Appendix: Finding Courses.
Independent/Further Study
MPAP faculty recognize that advanced coursework in our department, as well as in departments throughout New York University and the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium, contributes to students’ intellectual development, and helps to shape the research project. If students identify a topic or project that cannot be easily explored in the context of a course, they may request to do an independent study with an individual faculty member. Together with the supervising faculty member, students would develop a curricular approach and a working timeline for the completion of the independent study.
Doctoral Collegium and Maintaining Matriculation
The Performing Arts Research Collegium includes all doctoral students and faculty engaged in performing arts research. There are five sections of Collegium in MPAP: Music Composition & Performance, Music Education, Music Therapy, Music Technology, and Educational Theatre. Each section sets its own meeting days and time. Students should contact the faculty responsible for their meeting for dates, times, and locations as follows:
Educational Theatre - Dr. Jonathan Jones
Music Education - Dr. Adriana Diaz-Donoso
Music Performance and Composition - Dr. Marilyn Nonken
Music Technology - Dr. Morwaread Farbood
Music Therapy - Dr. Ken Aigen
Through spring 2023, doctoral students who are taking other credit-bearing course work will register for the 0 credit section of MPAP Doctoral Collegium – MPAIA-GE 3401.
Doctoral students who are finished with coursework and are within the maximum allowable matriculation period (eight years for students who entered full-time, and ten years for students who entered part-time) are required to maintain matriculation by registering for MAINT-GE 4747 each semester (exclusive of summers) when not enrolled for credit bearing coursework. Those students will also register for the 0 credit section of MPAP Doctoral Collegium – MPAIA-GE 3401.
Doctoral students who are finished with coursework and are beyond the maximum allowable matriculation period (students who entered full-time in the Fall 2014 or earlier, and students who entered part-time in the Fall of 2011 or earlier) are required to maintain matriculation by registering for Doctoral Advisement DCADV-GE 3400, 1 credit, during any semester (exclusive of summers) when not enrolled for credit bearing coursework. Those students will also register for the 0 credit section of MPAP Doctoral Collegium – MPAIA-GE 3401.
Students in Music Technology are required to register for Doctoral Symposium MPATE-GE 3060, meeting Fridays 8:00AM - 9:15AM in both fall and spring.
Beginning in Fall 2023, students will no longer register for doctoral collegium as a class (MPAIA-GE 3400 and 3401 will no longer be offered), though the program-specific meetings will remain as a requirement for students in all programs.
Satisfactory Progress - Academic Plan and Progress Report
The school requires all doctoral students to complete an academic plan in the fall and a progress report in the spring. These reports (which must be pre-approved by the program director or chair of your dissertation committee) are reviewed by the director of doctoral studies who then sends a notification to the school about satisfactory or unsatisfactory progress for each student. This is part of a school-wide strategy for more closely monitoring student progress towards the completion of the degree.
The Academic Plan should focus upon your goals and expectations for doctoral study over the academic year. If you are required to take remedial coursework, you must include this in the plan and progress report. The plan might further include information about:
coursework expectations
research papers (conferences, articles, peer reviewed journals) and creative work
teaching and research assistance
service to the program, department, and school
timelines for completion (candidacy, topic, proposal, and dissertation deadlines)
other pertinent information concerning your academic progress
The MPAP Doctoral Academic Plan and Progress Report Google Form can be accessed here: https://forms.gle/fTPQTVBLubkYJ1Wa6
Your Academic Plan must be submitted via the Google form by November 1. Please note that this deadline will be strictly enforced. You must meet with your advisor/mentor in the preparation of the plan, and secure their approval which will be submitted as an attachment with the Google form.
In the spring students submit a progress report via the Google form. The Progress Report should focus upon your achievement of goals and expectations for doctoral study over the academic year.
Your Progress Report must be submitted via the Google form by April 1. Please note that this deadline will be strictly enforced. You must meet with your advisor/mentor in the preparation of the report, and secure their approval which will be submitted as an attachment with the Google form.
Students who do not make satisfactory progress toward the completion of their research and dissertation may be dropped from the program.
Doctoral Proposal Seminar
MPAIA-GE 3097 Doctoral Proposal Seminar (Educational Theatre students enroll for MPAET-GE 3005 when it is offered): Full time PhD students typically take this seminar during the third year to ensure that they have a strong theoretical and methodological foundation before they launch their dissertation project. The course is conducted as a workshop; students produce drafts of their topic reviews and dissertation proposals. Students must have completed candidacy prior to taking the seminar. In order to gain the most benefit from the course students should have a basic topic area they wish to pursue.
After Completing Required Coursework (ABD)
Doctoral matriculation expires eight years from the date of matriculation for full-time students, and ten years from the date of matriculation for part-time students. In the event you are unable to complete the degree within the matriculation period, your matriculation is automatically terminated without notice.
If extraordinary circumstances prevent you from completing the degree within the matriculation period, you may request an extension of matriculation.
The following policies apply to extending doctoral matriculation beyond eight years (or ten years for part-time students and students matriculated prior to 2008):
An extension of matriculation must be requested in writing prior to the end of the eight-year matriculation period. The form for requesting an extension is available from the Office of Doctoral Studies, Pless Hall, 2nd Floor. The form is also available for download at the Steinhardt Doctoral Forms Website.
All requests for extension require the approval of the student's dissertation committee chairperson and the chairperson of the department as indicated on the above-mentioned form. Extension requests are also subject to the approval of the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs.
Students should also be aware that extensions are approved only if the student is making adequate progress toward the completion of the degree. For example, if by the end of the matriculation period, the student does not have an approved dissertation proposal, it is unlikely that an extension will be approved.
No request for extension will be considered if the student has not been admitted to degree candidacy and does not have an approved dissertation committee prior to the end of the matriculation period.
All requests for extension must be accompanied by a statement explaining the reasons for the inability to complete the degree within the matriculation period, a student copy of the transcript, a detailed description of remaining work, and a proposed timetable for the completion of that work including a projected date of graduation. This timetable must be considered reasonable by the dissertation committee and must include ample time for review of dissertation drafts prior to the dissertation filing deadline.
Course work must represent a currency of knowledge in the student’s field at the time of graduation; therefore, any course completed more than ten years prior to the anticipated date of graduation, or any course completed within ten years with substantive changes in content, must be evaluated by the appropriate department chairperson. Any course not considered current in content must be repeated or an appropriate substitution must be completed.
The above-mentioned requirements are in addition to any eligibility requirements mandated by a student's department, program, or dissertation committee chairperson. Some programs do not approve extensions at all or restrict them to less than one year. Students are advised to discuss this matter with their program faculty well in advance of the expiration of matriculation.
Please note that the eight-year matriculation period is in effect for all full-time students beginning with the fall 2008 semester. Students whose initial date of matriculation was prior to fall 2008 have a ten-year period within which to complete the degree.