The Master of Music, Music Education Specialization (M.M.) is designed for elementary and secondary music teachers who already hold a K-12 State music-teaching license. Specifically, this program is designed to inspire and develop the next generation of leaders in the field of music education by developing and applying scholarly research skills in the field of music education, the in-depth study of advanced pedagogical expertise, and the impact of contemporary learning theory on K-12 music education.
In this program, successful students will have the opportunity to gain content knowledge regarding the history and philosophy of music education, an understanding of how quantitative, qualitative, and historical music research is conducted, advanced skills in music analysis and interpretation, and a contemporary understanding of the pedagogy of music teaching and learning. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in CSU music ensembles to continue to develop as musical artists. Also, students are expected to be full-time students in residence and will most likely be given the opportunity to teach or assist with undergraduate music education coursework depending on expertise and program demands.
The degree coursework is designed to be completed over two years and includes both on-campus and online coursework. Students in this program are expected to be in residence full-time during the school year and are encouraged to take advantage of the diverse summer elective offerings.
All students in this program are strongly encouraged to undertake the Plan A Track, which involves one extra semester of coursework to write a master's thesis. The thesis distinguishes work in the program and prepares the student with the qualifications needed to pursue doctoral work in the future. Plan B Track students do not undertake a thesis.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Transfer research knowledge and skills to practice-based applications in the K-12 music education context.
- Evaluate pedagogical approaches intrinsic to a variety of music education arenas.
- Create innovative approaches to music learning in school systems.
- Be poised to be both highly qualified practitioners and leaders in K-12 education at the elementary and secondary levels.
- Apply learned skills in professional K-12 music teaching settings, including age-appropriate instructional delivery, ensemble leadership, a curricular and pedagogical process, learning theory, and the impacts of assessment on student learning.
- Develop the ability to think abstractly, analyze complex ideas or phenomena, synthesize or generalize knowledge across disciplines and sub-disciplines, interpret and apply scholarly findings to specialized topic areas, and communicate ideas effectively in oral and written forms.
- Develop an awareness of substantive publications in the field of music education and the field of education as a whole.
- Define national trends in music education that impact K-12 educational settings.
- Describe the contemporary role curriculum and assessment design plays in the teaching-learning process.
- Create music curriculum assessment tools designed to measure simple and complex learning in classroom and studio/applied settings.
- Engage in informed, critical discussion regarding current standards-based frameworks in music and contemporary K-12 American education contexts.
Admission
For information about the admissions processes to the Graduate School and School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, as well as coursework details and information about graduate teaching assistantships, please visit our website.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Music Program Fee
A music program fee is assessed with Undergraduate and graduate music and musical theatre majors and music minors, per semester. Does not apply to the following students: online degree students and summers-only master's degree students. . Please visit the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for special course fees.
Effective Fall 2023
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDRM 600 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| MU 510 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| MU 517 | Tonal Analytic Techniques | 3 |
| or MU 518 | Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques | |
| MU 550 | Social Psychology of Music Learning | 3 |
| MU 551 | Curriculum and Assessment of Music Learning | 3 |
| MU 552 | Contemporary Issues in Music Education | 3 |
| MU 592D | Seminar: Music Education | 3 |
| MU 699 | Thesis | 3 |
| Music History Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 30 | |
A minimum of 30 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
Select any graduate level Music History course, including but not limited to MU 53X courses.
- 2
Select enough elective credits to bring program total to a minimum of 30 credits. Elective courses must be outside of the field of music education and at the graduate level in music to ensure breadth of competence. Courses will be approved by the candidate's graduate committee. Students may be required to take additional course work as determined by diagnostic examinations and/or their graduate committee.
Effective Fall 2023
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDRM 600 | Introduction to Research Methods | 3 |
| MU 510 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| MU 517 | Tonal Analytic Techniques | 3 |
| or MU 518 | Post-Tonal Analytic Techniques | |
| MU 550 | Social Psychology of Music Learning | 3 |
| MU 551 | Curriculum and Assessment of Music Learning | 3 |
| MU 552 | Contemporary Issues in Music Education | 3 |
| MU 592D | Seminar: Music Education | 3 |
| Music History Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective 2 | 6 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 30 | |
A minimum of 30 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
Select any graduate level Music History course, including but not limited to MU 53X courses.
- 2
Select enough elective credits to bring program total to a minimum of 30 credits. Elective courses must be outside of the field of music education and at the graduate level in music to ensure breadth of competence. Specific courses will be approved by the candidate's graduate committee. Students may be required to take additional course work as determined by diagnostic examinations and/or their graduate committee.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |