Music History & Literature

Student reading for music history and literature.
Areas of Study

About Studying Music History & Literature

The Music History and Literature area forms the academic backbone for our music degrees of all levels. No matter your degree, you’ll dive into an inclusive curriculum that covers historical musical repertoire, evolving styles and performance practices. We offer master’s and doctoral degrees in Music History and Literature, both of which emphasize research.

You can complete the master’s program in about two years. In addition to your coursework, you will receive teaching guidance and write a research-based thesis. The Doctor of Arts degree is designed for those who want to teach at colleges or universities. This degree typically takes three or more years to finish and requires you to write a dissertation. Our graduates of these programs have held faculty positions at colleges and universities across the United States.

Degree Programs

Get hands-on experience.

  • Skinner Music Library
  • National/Regional Conference Attendance
  • Conference Presentation Opportunities
  • 1-on-1 Research & Publication Mentorship
  • Teaching Experience
  • Ensemble and/or applied music participation

 

Apply to this Program See Audition Requirements Music Ensembles

Creative Spaces Beyond the Classroom Alumni

Dive into Music History

Conferences

You’ll have the chance to be a part of a few professional conferences for music history and music theory organizations that we help host or organize. The School of Music has ties to the Rocky Mountain Society for Music Theory, American Musicological Society (Rocky Mountain Chapter) and International Symposium on Musical Topics and Topic Theory.

Presenter playing piano at the 2nd International Symposium on Musical Topics and Topic Theory, 2025.

Skinner Music Library

You’ll spend a lot of time in our stand-alone Skinner Music Library.This is a great place to study, complete assignments, research and print.

Exterior entrance to Skinner Music Library

Our Music History Faculty

Headshot of Deborah Kauffman.

Deborah Kauffman

Professor of Music History and Literature, Music Graduate Coordinator

Headshot of Heeseung Lee.

Heeseung Lee

Assistant Professor, Music History and Music Theory

Headshot of Jessica Castleberry.

Jessica Castleberry

PVA Academic Advisor & Scholarship Coordinator: Music Culture and Expression, LatinX Music, Instrumental & Vocal Music Performance, Jazz Studies, Graduate Students