46 PhD programmes in Music Composition in North America

In the Music Theory and Composition program from Texas Christian University, you’ll learn from five full-time faculty composers and theorists, as well as several other accomplished composers, in a highly selective program based on individual instruction and mentoring.

The mission of the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma is to advance learning, teaching, scholarly and creative activity, and service. The school offers this degree in Composition.

Join our community of exceptional composers and performers. We offer a Composition degree at Indiana University Bloomington.

The DMA in Composition at Stanford University is offered to a limited number of students who demonstrate substantial training in the field and high promise of attainment as composers.

Princeton offers a very open curriculum in which students from Music Composition program at Princeton University are free to pursue their own individual compositional interests.

Known for its aesthetic diversity and openness to the ever-changing and progressive world of composition, the Frost School of Music's Department of Music Theory and Composition at the University of Miami has a long tradition of distinguished faculty and students. 

The Music - Music Theory program at Louisiana State University is intended to develop in students the knowledge, concepts, and techniques for research in music theory and to prepare students for teaching at the college/university level.

Prospective Doctor of Musical Arts students at University of Houston in all areas except Music Education must audition before a faculty committee. 

Gain a broad exposure to a wide range of musical repertoire and knowledge through required and elective Composition coursework offered at the Florida State University. 

The UC College-Conservatory of Music offers students unparalleled opportunities to perform, learn and live in a thriving next-generation city known for its intense interest in the performing and media arts. This Composition program is offered at the University of Cincinnati.

The DMA in Music Composition at Arizona State University is a comprehensive professional degree program designed for outstanding students of acoustic, electronic and multimedia composition who are preparing for professional careers, including teaching positions at the university level.

Study with nationally recognized faculty in one of North America’s leading Music Composition programs with this degree at the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

The D.M.A. Voice program at University of British Columbia is designed for performers who have already reached a high level of proficiency and artistry in their fields and who may wish to teach at the university level. 

Theories of music describe ways that listeners, composers, and performers conceive of the elements of their art. We offer a Music Theory degree at the University of British Columbia.

Graduate studies in Music (Composition) at the University of Washington prepare students for careers in academia and performance. 

Conduct cutting-edge research in music and music composition, develop and complete a dissertation, and present a final recital of your compositions. We offer a Music Performance and Composition - Composers degree at New York University. 

Students in the Music - Music Education program at Northwestern University design a course of study incorporating their individual interests and a broad-based approach to contemporary music research. 

Students in the Music - Music Theory and Cognition program at Northwestern University design a course of study incorporating their individual interests and a broad-based approach to contemporary music research. 

This Musical Arts doctoral program at James Madison University helps students prepare for careers in higher education by emphasizing pedagogy, literature and advanced-performance skills. 

The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Composition at Boston University School of Music is a comprehensive professional program in the College of Fine Arts.