Dr. David Borgo

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. David Borgo. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

David Borgo is an accomplished ethnomusicologist and jazz saxophonist, holding a Ph.D. from UCLA (1999). He joined the faculty of the Department of Music at the University of California, San Diego in 2002 and served as Department Chair from 2017 to 2020. He is also an affiliated faculty member in Ethnic Studies and Cognitive Science, and was awarded the 2020 Diversity Equity Inclusion Teaching Award. Borgo's research focuses on musical improvisation in the context of cultural cognitive studies, cybernetics, and complexity. His book, "Sync Swarm: Improvising Music in a Complex Age" (2005), received the Alan P. Merriam Prize from the Society for Ethnomusicology for distinguished scholarship. He has published extensively in prestigious audio-visual and journalistic forums, contributing to volumes that examine musicianship, improvisation, and music cognition. Throughout his career, Borgo has performed and collaborated with renowned jazz musicians and has presented his work at various international venues. His artistic work includes not only jazz but also electro-acoustic improvisation. His teaching and research embody a commitment to exploring the nuances of music across cultural and scientific dimensions.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

— Present

University of California, San Diego • La Jolla, CA

Joined the faculty of the Department of Music and served as Department Chair from 2017 to 2020.

Requirements for University of California, San Diego

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:85
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:120
Overall
Required:120
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in physical, biological, or earth sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Differential and integral calculus. One year of calculus-based physics with laboratory. One year of chemistry with laboratory.
Application Checklist
  • Statement of Purpose (max 2 pages)
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Application fee ($135 domestic / $155 international)
Specialization Notes

Administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Curricular groups include Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere (COAP), Geosciences (GEO), and Ocean Biosciences (OBP).