Admissions to a Joint Program
Penn allows one application per applicant to be submitted in Arts & Sciences. Students interested in a joint program are encouraged to apply to their main program of interest and note this interest in their application, this would be a student’s home department and your primary point of contact if admitted.
Applicants interested in the joint degree program should reach out to the Graduate Chair and Graduate Coordinator to indicate that they wish to be considered for the joint degree. Joint degree applicants should also indicate in their statement of purpose whether they would also like to be considered for the standard Music PhD, should a joint degree not be possible.
Those interested in applying can find application information here.
Joint Music — South Asian Studies (SAST) Degree Requirements
Language
Students must demonstrate proficiency in at least two non-English languages relevant to his or her program, as well as mastery of the languages of all “major” literary and cultural traditions. One of these languages must be a South Asian language (defined as a non-European language spoken primarily in South Asia).
SAST often requires language proficiency to be completed by taking additional courses.
Course Requirements
Students must take 14 seminars and up to six semesters of language study. Students should take four seminars each semester (one of which can be language). Students are encouraged to take seminars in both SAST and Music each semester
- 5 CUs Research Seminars in Music Department
- 3 CUs methodology seminars in Music department
- 5 CUs taken with five different standing faculty of South Asia Studies
- 1 CU elective or independent study
Teaching Requirements
- 3rd Semester: TA in SAST
- 4th Semester: TA in Music
- 5th Semester: TA in SAST
- 6th Semester: TA in Music
Examination Timeline
Summer of 1st Year
Music: Practicum Exam
4th Semester
SAST: Qualifying / Candidacy Exam committee and bibliography by end of semester
5th Semester
3 papers prior to exam (end of 5th semester)
6th Semester
Candidacy exam at beginning of semester
Proposal/Prospectus Defense by end of semester
Joint Music — Francophone, Italian, and Germanic Studies (FIGS) Degree Requirements
Language
All students would do two required languages; for some parts of FIGS, an additional language may be required (to be determined on a case by case basis). Candidates working on early periods would be expected to include Latin in their language requirements.
Course Requirements
3 CUs methodology seminars in Music department
1 CU FIGS Proseminar (FREN 5990, ITAL 5990 or GRMN 5590)
1 CU FIGS Pedagogy Seminar (offered Fall of Year 2)
1 CU FIGS Topics Seminar
1 CU FIGS Literary Theory Seminar
4 CU Electives (in consultation with FIGS)
5 CU Electives (in consultation with MUSC)
Total units of coursework: 16
Teaching Requirements
All students would teach 50/50 in FIGS and Music in Years 2 and 3.
Benchmarks
All students would complete the practicum exam (Music) before the beginning of Year 2
Depending on their primary affiliation, students would complete either the PhD exam (FIGS) or the comprehensive exam (Music) in Year 3. The FIGS exam takes place in the beginning of Fall of Year 3; the Music exam is in January of Year 3. The exam can be tailored according to students' profiles.
Joint Music — Anthropology Degree Requirements
For more information about the requirements for the joint PhD program in Anthropology, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies.
Joint Music — Africana Studies Degree Requirements
For more information about the requirements for the joint PhD program in Africana Studies, please contact the Director of Graduate Studies.