Master’s degrees in music education are offered through the College of Education’s Department of Learning, Teaching, and Curriculum and are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The MEd with a major in Music Education is a practice-oriented degree, designed to meet the needs of professionals interested in advancing their careers, knowledge, and skills in music education, regardless of level or specialization. This may be completed either by full-time teachers attending classes part time during evenings and full time during summers, or by traditional, full-time graduate students. Students who hold a BA or BM in music may pursue teacher certification simultaneously while working on the MEd.

The MA in Music Education, offered through the College of Education, is both research and practice based, designed to meet the needs of music teachers who not only are interested in advancing their careers, knowledge, and skills in school music education, but also who have an interest in pursuing research, often with aspirations to complete a doctorate in music education sometime in the future. The degree may be completed part time during evenings and full time during summers by full-time teachers, but is more often completed by traditional, full-time graduate study.

The doctorate in music education, offered through the College of Education’s Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum (LTC), is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. This degree is designed to prepare students for careers in higher education as music education teacher/researchers, as ensemble conductors with a strong commitment to music education teaching and research, or as master teachers or music supervisors in the K-12 system. Applicants must be certified music teachers, with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in music education, or present evidence of equivalent experience. Individuals with music teaching experience in higher education but without music teaching experience in elementary or secondary schools are eligible for admission, but are required to complete field experiences in elementary and secondary schools prior to taking comprehensive examinations. 

This program is “research-intensive,” and students are expected to complete four to five research courses, read past and current research, assist and eventually collaborate with faculty and peers on research projects, develop the ability to translate research findings to classroom applications, and ultimately achieve independence as a researcher.