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Thesis Criteria

In this section: Thesis criteria and deadlines. 听For writing tips, visit听Student Resources.

The Ph.D. thesis in Composition听involves both the creation of an original large-scale work and research that increases our understanding of music and musical processes. The thesis document consists of the research report and the score of the composition (the musical work).

• The research report is considered the primary document and is understood to make an original contribution to knowledge;听
• The composition may be the outcome or application of research findings听or the study of compositional strategies, processes, and tools that generates new understanding of music perception and musical understanding. It is evaluated for the way in which in supports the report and for its technical and artistic mastery.

Below you will find thesis information for music students. 听For more comprehensive guidelines, visit McGill's GPS website.听

Thesis Evaluation Criteria

The thesis document will be reviewed by an expert from outside the University听and a Schulich School of Music faculty member in discipline expertise.

Each of the following criteria are ranked on the following scale, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Satisfactory, Fail.

1. Evidence of originality and creativity;
2. Resourcefulness, alertness to significance of findings;
3. Diligence, care, technical skill in the research;
4. Usefulness of the results to other workers in the field; value as a contribution to knowledge;
5. Grasp of subject, powers of criticism and general adequacy in review of previous work;
6. Quality of presentation (coherence, lucidity, grammar, style, freedom from typographical errors).

Dissertation Committee

The committee consists of a minimum of two professors - your supervisor and one other.

Thesis Proposal Submission Deadline

Submit your completed ( PhD/D.Mus. Dissertation Proposal Form)

• The proposal is first approved by the Supervisor, then submitted to the Composition Area Committee.
  Within one week, committee members may then offer feedback and suggestions to the Supervisor and to the Composition Area Chair. The candidate may be required to revise the proposal based on this feedback.
• Once the Supervisor and Composition Area Chair are satisfied with the revision, the Supervisor will schedule a Thesis Proposal Presentation.
• The proposal must be submitted to the Composition Area Committee by:
  • October 1 for evaluation during the Fall Term
  • April 1 for evaluation during the Winter Term

Thesis Proposal Format

A complete Ph.D. Composition thesis proposal consists of:

• a project description (four to five pages, twelve-point font, single-spaced)
• a bibliography (two pages, twelve-point font, single-spaced)

Tips for Submitting an Effective Project Description

An Effective Description of the Project:

• exhibits a听concise听title听framing the听research and its听compositional听applications
• contains an opening impact statement explicating the听context(s) of the听research and its听compositional听applications
• employs听language understandable to the non-specialist
• succinctly听states what you are going to research (goals and objectives)
• indicates how one is to do this听(methodology)
• indicates why听it is worth doing (originality, contribution to knowledge)
• indicates how听results, be they framed as tools or findings, will be applied to or take form in the composition (outcomes)

The proposal develops a clear vision of the theoretical or conceptual framework that will guide the work by:

• citing sources that have inspired the work
• comparing the proposed research to past and current听scholarly work
• identifying a gap that your work will fill
• explicating the methodological choices and compositional outcomes/processes that they will engender to explain how the combination of research/composition makes an original contribution to knowledge
• describing the听compositional process听and by听briefly detailing the听title, instrumentation, form, structuring materials, and orchestration principles听that are听relevant

Thesis Proposal Presentation

The Thesis Proposal Presentation will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the Supervisor, Co-Supervisor, and other members of the Composition Area Committee.

The Thesis Proposal Presentation will consist of:

• A brief presentation by the candidate providing an overview of the proposal鈥檚 contents (maximum 15 minutes)
• A discussion period in which the candidate will respond to questions from the committee (approximately 5 minutes)

Candidates are advised to respect the fifteen-minute time limit for the presentation.
Since all committee members will have read the submitted proposal in advance, the presentation should be used as an opportunity to go into greater detail to provide additional context and/or to discuss examples that demonstrates the proposed methodology.

Evaluation of the Proposal

The Committee will deliberate to reach a consensus on one of the following three outcomes:

• Pass (with no revisions): indicates that the Area Chair may sign and forward the thesis proposal and the thesis proposal form to Graduate Studies Office.
• Provisional Pass (with minor revisions): indicates that the candidate must revise the proposal based on feedback provided by the Composition Area Committee.
  • The revised proposal will be approved by both the Area Chair and the candidate鈥檚 Supervisor.
    Once they are satisfied with the revision, the Area Chair will sign and forward the thesis proposal and the thesis proposal form to Graduate Studies Office.
• Fail (major revisions required): indicates that major revisions are needed and that a new proposal must be submitted to the Composition Area Chair within one month.

听

Thesis Submission Timeline

Initial Submission Steps

Your supervisor may find some useful tips for selecting examiners on the Graduate Supervision website.

• At least two months before initial submission:

Students must submit their 鈥淚ntent to Submit Thesis鈥� through myThesis.

You will be asked to provide your thesis title, abstract, length of thesis and date of submission.
You will also be asked to nominate examiners (please discuss the examiners with your supervisor(s) prior to submitting the names). Once this is submitted, the request will be sent to your supervisor(s) and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Music for approval. Then an invitation to the examiner will be sent through myThesis for the examiner to accept or decline. This whole approval process must be completed prior to your submission date.

Doctoral students can access myThesis through the GPS website. Detailed guidelines and an instructional video are available on this page.

Verify MyProgress to ensure that all components of the program are complete or components of the program are marked as 鈥淐omplete鈥� or 鈥淚n Progress鈥�.

• Day of submission:

Submit your thesis through the submission page on myThesis on the date submitted in your 鈥淚ntent to Submit Thesis鈥� form. Your supervisor(s) and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies in Music will be advised of your submission and they will be asked to approve it.

Final Submission Steps

1. Review the examiner's comments with your supervisor and make revisions if required. Consult the Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) and the GPS website if the thesis has not been passed.
2. Submit online as per instructions by the date in the above table.
3. Notify your supervisor that this has been completed. Your supervisor will review and issue the final confirmation.
4. Check out the convocation website for further details, and prepare to celebrate!

Keys for a Successful Oral Defense

Many helpful hints about content, developing the right mindset, and practice can be found on the Graduate Supervision website. ProDeans, who oversee the defenses, remind us that they come hoping to hear some music!