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MA Musicology
MA Musicology
MA Musicology
The Master of Arts (MA) in Musicology is a 12-month degree program unique in Canada that serves students with a diverse range of interests in an environment that combines the strengths of both course-based and project-based learning delivered by world-class music professors.
Students benefit from a diversity of course offerings building toward a customized MA Research Project in collaboration with leading faculty members.
Admissions
Application Deadline
December 1
Admission Requirements
- A Bachelor of Music with specialization in Musicology, a Bachelor of Arts with Honours Music, or equivalent
- Minimum 70% average in last 2 years of full-time studies.
Application Materials
In the online application, you will be prompted to upload the following supplementary materials:
- Statement of interest (one page)
- Two recent essays (3,000-5,000 words) - Choose essays that demonstrate your writing skills and knowledge of bibliographical and research techniques.
- Transcripts - Upload a transcript from each university or college program you've attended.
- Two academic references - Provide names and email addresses and a unique link will be emailed to each referee to submit an online reference or upload a reference letter.
- Proof of English language proficiency, if applicable
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Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence of their proficiency in English through satisfactory achievement on an accepted language test within the past two years:
- The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT (internet-Based Test): For tests taken before January 21, 2026, Western requires a minimum overall score of 86, with no individual section score below 20. For tests taken on or after January 21, 2026, Western requires a minimum overall score of 4.5, with no individual section score below 4. Western’s TOEFL ID is 0984.
- International English Language Testing Service Academic (IELTS Academic). The minimum acceptable score is 6.5 out of 9.
- The Duolingo English Test. Applicants must attain a minimum score of 115.
- For the full list of acceptabel proficiency tests, please see the SGPS website.
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Program Requirements
Duration
12 months (3 terms)
Courses
5 half-courses (2.5 credits) including:
- Music 9725 Introduction to Music Research
- 4 additional half courses, at least 3 of which are in musicology and chosen in consultation with the Department Chair.
Check timetable for current course offerings.
Milestones
Timeline
| Fall Term (Sept-Dec) |
Winter Term (Jan-April) |
Summer Term (May-August) |
|---|---|---|
|
3 courses: Introduction to Music Research, and 2 others |
2 courses |
No courses |
|
Preliminary planning for MA Research Project (MRP) |
Discuss topic for MRP with assigned project director |
Submit and discuss outline for MRP by May 1 |
| Academic Integrity Module (by end of term 1) |
Submit proposal for MRP to project director for feedback and approval by April 1 |
Submit and discuss full draft of MRP with project director by June 15 |
|
Submit final version of MRP by August 1 |
Recent Courses Offered in Music Theory and Musicology
9523 Theory/Analysis of Musical Performance; instructor: Dr. Jonathan De Souza
9535 Special Topics in Musicology: Composers and their Autographs 1000-2000 AD; instructor: Dr. James Grier
9725 Introduction to Music Research; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan
9726 Music and Trauma; instructor: Dr. Emily Ansari
9727 Music and the Environment; instructor: Dr. Kevin Mooney
9740 Research Creation: Music for Cinema and Television; instructor: Dr. Robert Toft
9520 Transformational Theory; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan
9526 Schenkerian Analysis: Small Forms; instructor: Dr. Peter Franck
9530 Contexts of Music Analysis; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan
9542 Special Topics: Posthuman Musical Futures; instructor: Dr. Kevin Mooney
9550 Opera: Don Giovanni: Texts and Commentary; instructor: Dr. Ed Goehring
9725 Introduction to Music Research; instructor: Dr. Ed Goehring
9739 Cognitive Musicology; instructor: Dr. Jonathan De Souza
9740 Research Creation: Studies in Songwriting; instructor: Dr. Robert Toft
9523 Special Topics: Listening in/to the Anthropocene; instructor: Dr. Kevin Mooney
9523 Special Topics: Topics in Late 20th Century Jazz; instructor: Dr. Peter Franck
9530 Contexts of Music Analysis; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan
9535 Research Creation: Covers; instructor: Dr. Robert Toft
9542 Special Topics in Musicology: Music and the Cold War; instructor: Dr. Emily Ansari
9550 Special Topics: The Magic Flute: Texts and Commentary; instructor: Dr. Ed Goehring
9725 Introduction to Music Research; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan
9749 Topics in Popular Music; instructor: Prof. Hannah Burge Luviano
Student Research
Robin (Chenjie) Zhang. (2025). A Narrative-Referential Approach to Select Movements from Philip Glass's Score for the Non-Narrative Film Koyaanisqatsi. Supervised by Dr. Catherine Nolan.
Louise Concepcion. (2024). Much, Much, Much: MuchMusic and Canadian Youth. Supervised by Dr. Norma Coates.
Leah Dau. (2024). Integrated Music in Visual Media: How Medium Defines Composition. Supervised by Dr. Omar Daniel.
Jack Etchegary. (2024). Exploring Music Categorization, Consumption and Creation Through Genre in the Age of AI. Supervised by Dr. Kevin Mooney.
Rebecca Quinn. (2024). Clarity Through Light: The Development of Wilhelm Stenhammar’s Nationalism Studied Through Songs for Voice and Piano. Supervised by Dr. Emily Ansari.
Nahyeon Shin. (2024). Eco-Friendly Facades: The Contradiction of Environmental Attitudes From Classical Music to the K-Pop. Supervised by Dr. Catherine Nolan.
Huiting (Sara) Zhang. (2024). Western Elements and Chineseness in Mandarin Popular Music. Supervised by Dr. Jonathan De Souza.
Daniele Castellon. (2023). The Ultimate Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel: Original vs Localized Music. Supervised by Dr. Kevin Mooney.
Robin Dangol. (2023). Sonic Analysis of Singing Bowls. Supervised by Dr. Jonathan De Souza.
Duncan McCallum. (2023). Mastering Audio Mastering: Experiential Learning in Music Production. Supervised by Dr. Jay Hodgson.
Benjamin Schmalz. (2023). How “Medieval” is the Music of Medieval-Themed Popular Media? An Analysis of Musical Medievalism through Applications of Transformational Theory. Supervised by Dr. Catherine Nolan.
Chloe Carpenter. (2022). Music & Media: A Guide to Marketing and Public Relations as a Musician. Supervised by Dr. Jay Hodgson.
Nathan Nykor. (2022). Form and Harmony in Three Solo Piano Jazz Ballads by Barry Harris. Supervised by Dr. Peter Franck.
Gillian Radcliffe. (2022). A Study of Two Movements from Ursula Mamlok’s Der Andreas Garten (1987). Supervised by Dr. Catherine Nolan.
Cohen Chaulk. (2021). Triple Hypermeter: A Corpus Re-examined. Supervised by Dr. Jonathan De Souza.
Questions? Contact us!
Audrey Yardley-Jones
Office: TC 216
Phone: 519-661-2111, x85354
Email: ayardley@uwo.ca
Music Research & Composition Department Chair
Dr. Peter Franck
Office: TC 108
Phone: 519-661-2111 x84330
Ready to Apply?