Ethnomusicology
Welcome to the Ethnomusicology Program at the University of North Texas. We are dedicated to the study of music as an integral part of culture, taking the approach that all music cultures are worthy of study. Through fieldwork—conducting interviews; attending, participating in, and observing performances; learning about local history, language and customs; and doing musical analysis—ethnomusicologists study the ways in which individuals learn, create and understand music in different cultural communities, the means by which music is transmitted via both social and media networks, the significance of music revivals, and the impact of new contexts on the style and meaning of music.
We grant the MA and PhD in Music with a Concentration in Ethnomusicology and serve as a related field for majors in other areas (see the Ethnomusicology Handbook for further details). Courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level are open to all students regardless of major. Whether in graduate seminars or in one of the many world music ensembles, the program emphasizes doing ethnomusicology. The curriculum challenges students to engage musical experience in all of its dimensions in preparation for careers in both academia and the public sector.
The Ethnomusicology Program is home to a distinguished faculty, whose professional experience and expertise range from extensive work in the public sector, to specialization in the musics of Latin America, Africa, and India, and includes internationally recognized master musicians from those traditions. Our students have published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at international conferences, and have received significant external grant support, including a 2017 Fulbright-Hays Dissertation Grant. If you are passionate about the study of ethnomusicology, we encourage you to consider joining us at the University of North Texas.
