The theory area at the University of Iowa School of Music comprises a small group of scholars doing cutting-edge research in areas such as transformational theory, popular music, critical theory, modal theory, and history of theory. 

Our music theory faculty engages in a broad spectrum of topics, including:

• History of music theory, especially Schenker and Schoenberg
• 20th century music (specifically Ligeti, Dallapiccola, Crumb)
• Music and ecology
• Music theory pedagogy
• Neo-Riemannian theory