Award for Diversity Course Design

About this program

The Society for Music Theory offers its annual Award for Diversity Course Design to recognize outstanding undergraduate syllabi advancing diversity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice in music theory. Two awards honor syllabi for core theory curricula and for topical courses or seminars, with winning entries and honorable mentions published as models for the field. Current SMT members, including graduate students and non-teaching or unemployed members, are eligible to submit original, anonymized semester- or quarter-length syllabi designed for undergraduate instruction. Applications must include a course description, a syllabus of no more than 15 pages, and an anonymized cover letter, and are due September 14, 2026.