MM in Music with Emphasis in Music Education
Professionals interested in improving their teaching and advancing their careers in music education at the early childhood, elementary school, middle school, or high school level can earn a master’s degree in music education.
Students encounter a simulating curriculum that is relevant to their career aspirations, taught by faculty who are on the cutting edge of best-practice pedagogy, research, scholarship, and creative activity. Music education faculty members play active leadership roles in international, national and state organizations devoted to improving preK-12th grade music instruction. They also regularly publish their work in premier research and practitioner journals, and remain actively engaged with music teachers through presentations, clinics, and guest teaching and conducting.
The campus-based master’s degree can be completed either full-time on campus, or part-time while teaching school with evening, summer, and online courses. Graduate assistantships for full time study may be available, awarded competitively. A fully online master's degree is offered through Missouri Online, designed to be complete by certified music teachers currently teaching music in preK-12 settings, and with similar requirements (see https://online.missouri.edu/degrees-programs/mu/arts-and-sciences/music-emphasis-music-education/mm )
Degree Requirements
This degree requires 32 credit hours. At least 15 hours must be taken in music education, and 16 must be numbered 8000 or above (a course may be counted in both categories: i.e., MUS_EDUC 8150 can count toward both).
Music Education Coursework (15 - 18 credit hours)
Required Courses (3 credit hours each):
| Music Education Coursework | 15-18 credit hours | |
| Foundations of Music Education | ||
| Measurement and Research in Music Education | ||
| Psychology of Music Instruction and Performance | ||
| Advanced Techniques in Music Education-Early Childhood | ||
| Curriculum Materials in Music Education-General | ||
| Additional music education course(s) as determined by student and advisor, from among those listed below, and depending on course availability | 3 credits each, unless noted otherwise | |
| Current Issues in Music Education | ||
Problems, Research, or Independent Study (Variable credit, maximum 6 credits) | ||
| Music Coursework | 10-15 credit hours | |
Music Theory and History: 3 courses, at least one course from each area | ||
Applied Music, Music Techniques, or Conducting: 2 credits from at least one of these areas | ||
| Electives | 2-6 credits hours | |
May be in Music, and/or Education (e.g., Educational Psychology or Sociology, TESOL, Reading, Early Childhood), and/or in a related area with advisor approval. | ||
Comprehensive Examinations
Written comprehensive examinations are administered by the music education faculty, comprising take-home projects and essays based on the synthesis the coursework completed, and application of the coursework to their current or future classrooms.
Research Option
Students who aspire to pursue a doctorate in music education in the future may wish to complete a formal research project as part of the degree program, in lieu of the comprehensive examinations. If so, the degree program should include one course in statistics and completion of a publishable research project (4 credit hours total) including an oral examination/defense.
Admissions
The Master of Music in Music Education is a practice-oriented degree. Students who hold a BA or BM in music may pursue teacher certification simultaneously while working on the degree. Students without music teacher certification may be admitted with pre-/co-requisite requirements designated of up to 9 hours in education and/or music education coursework.
For admission requirements, refer to the Graduate School’s website for the minimum qualifications for the MM in Music. Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program’s graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility, and the application process. Note that the GRE exam is not required. Before official admission to the University of Missouri, your application materials will be reviewed by both the Graduate School and the degree program to which you’ve applied.
Candidates for admission to the online Master of Music degree in Music Education must hold an undergraduate degree in music education or music teacher certification.