An Analysis of Postgraduate Theses in the Field of Music Theory in Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study is to reveal current academic trends in music theory in Türkiye by evaluating postgraduate theses created in this field between 2022 and 2026 (inclusive of April) in terms of various variables. The research employed a document analysis method, and data were obtained from the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) National Thesis Center database. Based on searches using predetermined keywords, a total of 143 publicly accessible and diverse theses were included in the research. The collected data were analyzed in terms of factors such as thesis type, year, university, institute, department, advisor title, and subject headings, and frequency (n) and percentage (%) values ​​were used in the analysis phase. According to the research results, the majority of theses are master’s theses (62.94%), followed by doctoral theses (34.26%); the proportion of theses for artistic proficiency remains quite low (2.80%). When the distribution by year is examined, it is seen that thesis production is particularly concentrated in the 2022-2024 period. In university-based evaluations, Istanbul Technical University stands out significantly; while institute-based evaluations, Graduate Education Institutes have been found to play a central role in academic production. In terms of departments, it has been determined that theses are largely concentrated in the fields of “Musicology and Music Theory” and “Music Theories”. The distribution of advisor titles shows a more balanced structure in master’s theses, while in doctoral theses, advisory roles are largely undertaken by professors. An examination of the subject distribution reveals that the majority of theses focus on music theory education, teaching processes, and student-centered variables, while interdisciplinary and theoretical studies remain more limited. It has been shown that postgraduate theses in the field of music theory in Türkiye are concentrated around specific institutional centers and education-focused topics; there is a need to increase doctoral and especially proficiency in arts level studies, develop interdisciplinary approaches, and enhance theoretical depth. This study is expected to serve as a resource guiding future research by demonstrating the current state of the field.