PhD Music Education at University of North Dakota

Programme overview

Immerse yourself in the study of music and prepare to contribute to the field as a scholar and educator. Inspire the next generation and share your love for music. UND's Music Education Ph.D. prepares you for a leadership role in research, university teaching, or any other area of music.

Department: Department of Music | Duration: 3-4 years (90 credit hours) | Study mode: full-time | Intake: Fall (Aug. 1) | Location: Grand Forks, ND, United States

What you will study

90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree are required for the PhD degree. Also required for the PhD Music Education degree are a written comprehensive exam, a dissertation, dissertation prospectus, and preliminary and final dissertation defenses. A minimum of two semesters must be spent in continuous full-time residence at UND. Required courses include MUSC 503 Psychological Foundations of Music Learning; MUSC 507 Foundations of Music Education; MUSC 509 Trends in Music Education; MUSC 510 Seminar in Music Education; MUSC 598 Research in Music Education; EFR 515 Statistics I.

Career pathways

The Ph.D. program prepares you to take on a leadership role in music education. Some Ph.D. graduates go on to teach at the university level and contribute to the field through original scholarship research. Roles include Major orchestral and band instruments, Voice, Piano, Composition, Conducting, Music education.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Education are listed below. The applicant must meet the School of Graduate Studies’ current minimum general admission requirements as published in the graduate catalog. A master's Degree in music (or international equivalent) with a grade point average above 3.0. A scholarly writing sample. Three references that speak to academic ability, professional accomplishments related to your field of study, and positive character traits. A statement of clear professional goals that can be met by our program as specified in the graduate catalog. An interview with the Music Education faculty. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

Domestic applicants: USD 13,441 a year (2026-27). North Dakota resident rate. On-campus tuition for 2026/2027 as shown in the programme's tuition table (fall and spring semesters, rate band 'Arts & Science'); excludes mandatory student fees, housing and books. The same table lists Minnesota residents $17 Source

International applicants: USD 26,882 a year (2026-27). International student rate. On-campus tuition for 2026/2027 as shown in the programme's tuition table (fall and spring semesters, rate band 'Arts & Science'); excludes mandatory student fees, housing and books. Source

Terms run Fall (August-December), Spring (January-May) and Summer (May-August).

Graduate applications go through the UND admissions application with a $35 non-refundable fee (no waivers); each graduate program sets its own deadline, listed in the Program Finder.

International graduate applicants: Fall May 1, Spring Sept. 1, Summer Feb. 1, unless the program sets a specific deadline. Application fee $35.

Apply through the official page: https://und.edu/admissions/graduate/apply.html

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