The internationally renowned musicology faculty is the program's greatest asset. Their collective expertise covers all periods of traditional music history as well as neglected geographies that are gaining increasing prominence in the field, such as the former Soviet Republics, Spain, Britain, the Middle East, and Latin America. A particular program strength is eighteenth-century studies. All of these areas, coupled with Northwestern's historic strength in African and African-American studies, create a group of specializations that is unique to Northwestern.

The MM in Musicology is a one-year intensive, comprehensive degree that immerses students in all periods of Western music history as well as select topics in popular and global music. The course of study also introduces them to current research methods in Musicology/Ethnomusicology. Students may take an additional one or two courses in Music Theory/Cognition or Music Education and may undertake successive MM degrees in Musicology and an applied area (i.e. Voice and Opera, Saxophone) provided they are admitted separately to both degree programs.