The Master of Music Education program addresses the professional development needs of music teachers in the field. Students are challenged to develop a greater understanding and mastery of music teaching-learning processes, to improve personal musicianship, and to become committed leaders within the music education profession.
Students in this degree program complete advanced studies that are designed to refine their teaching philosophy and practices. These studies include courses in historical and philosophical foundations of music education, psychological theories of music learning, basic research methods, curriculum development, and assessment. The minimum number of credit hours required is 30.
The college also offers a Master of Music Education degree/certification with K–12 teaching for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in music, but in a major area other than music education. Coursework leads to a master's degree and a Colorado K–12 music teaching license. The entire program requires a minimum of 71 credit hours.
Requirements
Admission Requirements
Applicants are expected to provide evidence of undergraduate preparation equivalent to that required for the bachelor of music education degree at this university. Applicants also must possess a music teaching certificate/license or agree to work toward a Colorado music teaching license. GRE scores are not required for admission, but can be helpful in determining merit-based financial aid. Individuals who wish to pursue music performance or conducting as their cognate area must demonstrate at least senior-level proficiency on their particular medium through an audition.
Program Requirements
Program of Study
Students earning the MMusEd degree must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work, including 12 credit hours in music education, 12 credit hours in music and 6 credit hours of open electives in a specialization area or other areas of interest. Of the 12 credit hours in music, a 2-credit-hour course in bibliography and research is required, as well as 6 credit hours of study in a cognate area, which includes musicology/ethnomusicology, music theory/music technology or performance (including conducting, pedagogy and jazz studies).
The music component of the degree should assist students in developing their musical knowledge and skills. One member of the student's graduate advisory committee should be from the cognate area, and it is assumed that at least some part of the student's study is with that faculty member. All music studies must be at the 5000 level or above. Under special circumstances, up to 6 credit hours at the 4000-level may be applied to the open electives portion of the degree.
Students typically complete the degree in two academic years, or one academic year plus two summers. Degree work must be completed within four years of the semester in which the student is accepted into a degree program and begins studies. A summers-only MMusEd program (completed in three summers) is also available; for details, see the Summer MMusEd webpage or contact the music education faculty. Because most master's level music education courses are offered in late afternoons, students who live within commuting distance can earn a significant portion of credit toward the degree while continuing to work full time.
Required Courses and Credits
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Category I - Music Education | ||
| MUSC 6113 | Foundations of Music Education | 2 |
| MUSC 6203 | Psychology of Music Learning | 2 |
| MUSC 5183 | Research in Music Teaching | 2 |
| MUSC 6233 | Pedagogy of Music Teaching and Learning (Required for Summer MME students; optional for AY students) | 2 |
| Music Education electives and workshops | 4-6 | |
| Category II - Other requirements in music | ||
| MUSC 5708 | Introduction to Music Bibliography and Research | 2 |
| Cognate Area 1 | 6 | |
| Courses accepted for this requirement include: | ||
5000- or 6000-level MUSC course | ||
5000-level PMUS course (Applied Lessons) | ||
| Contemporary Topics in Music Education 2 | ||
| Intermed Conducting 2 | ||
| Symposium in Choral Music 2 | ||
| Applications of Music Pedagogy 2 | ||
| Advanced Conducting | ||
| Conducting Symposium 3 | ||
5000-level TMUS course 2 | ||
| Music Electives and Workshops (outside of major) | 4 | |
| Courses accepted for this requirement include: | ||
5000- or 6000- MUSIC course (except MUSC 5XX3 or MUSC 6XX3) | ||
5000-level PMUS course (Applied Lessons) 4 | ||
5000- or 6000-level EMUS course 4 | ||
| Contemporary Topics in Music Education 4 | ||
5000-level TMUS course 4 | ||
| Electives | ||
| Elective courses and workshops/intensives. Courses accepted for this requirement include: | 6 | |
Any 5000- or 6000-level course (music or non-music) | ||
5000-level PMUS course 2 | ||
4000-, 5000- or 6000-level EMUS course 2 | ||
4000-level MUSC course 2 | ||
| Contemporary Topics in Music Education 2 | ||
5000-level TMUS course 2 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 30-32 | |
| 1 | Summer MME: Technology, Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Conducting. Acadmic Year MME: Technology, Theory, Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Conducting, Performance, Performance & Pedagogy, Piano Pedagogy, Vocal Pedagogy, Jazz Studies. |
| 2 | Repeatable up to 6 hours. |
| 3 | Repeatable up to 2 hours. |
| 4 | Repeatable up to 4 hours. |
Dual Degree Program
Master's Degree in Two College of Music Programs
Students may apply for a dual master's degree that combines any two master's programs (with approval from both departments) in the College of Music. To guarantee the ability to pursue a dual master’s degree, the student must apply separately and be admitted by the faculty in each of the degree programs under their respective admissions procedures and standards. The student must be accepted into both degree programs at the time of the initial application. If a student is already accepted to the College of Music in one degree program and is interested in adding a second degree (dual degree plan), the second master’s degree must be approved by both area Department Chairs and the Associate Dean of the College of Music. In consultation with the Department Chairs, Associate Dean and Graduate Studies Coordinator, a comprehensive degree plan will be devised for all requirements expected for the student to earn the dual degree. This plan must be completed before the last anticipated semester of study in the student’s original degree. With the exception of thesis credit hours, courses that fulfill requirements in both degree programs need only be taken once to be counted for both degrees. A minimum of 45 credit hours must be earned.