Students who desire a career in a recording studio, or even as an independent artist, should consider a music production program. Courses usually focus on training students in using programs and technology that are currently standard in the industry, but courses can also include music-centric topics like theory and composition.

The PhD is a doctoral degree, specifically called a "doctor of philosophy" degree. This is misleading because PhD holders are not necessarily philosophers (unless they earned their degree in philosophy!). That said, PhD recipients are able to engage in thought experiments, reason about problems, and solve problems in sophisticated ways.