Theory & Composition Resources

Teaching assistantships in music theory are available to qualified graduate theory or composition majors, and in some instances to students in the theory pedagogy certificate program.

Teaching assignments are drawn from required core theory and aural skills courses for undergraduate music majors, as well as music theory courses for non-music majors. The majority of assistantships in our area involve teaching music theory and/or aural skills; graduate students in composition may also be assigned to teach composition lessons or an introductory composition course. Teaching duties are determined based on the needs of the area, which may sometimes change from semester to semester, and may even need to be adjusted on short notice.

Most teaching assignments during a given semester correspond to either a “0.25-time” or “0.50-time” level.

• Quarter-time assistantshipsExamples of 0.25-time duties include teaching two sections of aural skills (50-minute classes meeting twice a week; same curriculum in both sections) or one section of theory (a 50-minute class meeting three times a week). Most assistantships for master’s-degree students will involve teaching two sections of aural skills.
• Half-time assistantshipsExamples of 0.50-time duties include teaching two sections of theory (same curriculum in both sections) or one section of theory and one section of aural skills.

Selected students may be offered a 0.33-time assistantship, associated with teaching duties exceeding a 0.25-time assignment but less intensive than a 0.50-time assignment.

Selected doctoral students may be offered a summertime teaching assistantship in music theory and/or aural skills, usually involving a 0.25-time teaching assignment.

Selected doctoral students in composition may be assigned to teach individual composition lessons and/or to assist with the Festival of New Music. Either assisting with the Festival or teaching six individual students would be counted as a 0.25-time teaching load.

All sections of a given course use the same syllabus, texts, and exams, which are provided by the supervising faculty member. Instructors are responsible for all teaching and grading of classes they are assigned to teach.

0.25-time research assistantships are also available to incoming graduate students. Typical research assistantship duties include assisting faculty in research and instruction, working in the computer-assisted instruction lab, assisting with the New Music Ensemble and the New Music Festival, and tutoring undergraduate theory students.

2022-23 assistantship stipends amount to $16,000 (0.50-time) or $8,000 (0.25-time) for two academic semesters, fall and spring. Select applicants will be offered stipend enhancement funding, which comes with no additional duties and is renewable for each year of assistantship support. Summertime assistantships are available for a small number of doctoral students who are selected to teach classes. Graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver for up to twelve (12) credits per semester as well as a health insurance subsidy. Assistants from states other than Florida receive out-of-state tuition waivers during the first year in residence only; assistants will establish Florida residency after twelve months, prior to their second year of study. Please consult the Graduate Office for further details. Recipients of stipends (fellowships or assistantships) from the University must be full-time students during the entire appointment period. Tuition waivers are entered into the student’s financial account at the beginning of the term by the Graduate Music Office after the student is completely registered for all of their credit hours.

While most funding for graduate students in music theory and composition comes in the form of area assistantships, the Office of Graduate Studies at Florida State University offers prestigious named fellowships that carry stipends ranging from $18,000 to $23,000. For more information on these awards, please see Graduate School Fellowships and Grants.