Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts / BOYER COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND DANCE

Learn more about the Master of Music in Music Education.

About the Program

The Master of Music in Music Education degree offers opportunities for advanced studies on broad-based principles and practices in Music Education, as well as theories of learning and teaching, and introduces research methodology. The program includes a capstone option to design and conduct research with human subjects.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 6 years,  although the program is designed to be completed in 2 years (full-time)

Campus Location: Main. Whether enrolling in the in-class or the online program, students must already hold teacher certification in at least one state.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Accreditation: Temple University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and is an approved provider of educational programs leading to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Professional Certification.

Areas of Specialization: The MM in Music Education provides opportunities for advanced study through specialization in either music education practice or music education research. This program of study is designed for students intending to pursue a doctoral degree in Music Education, those seeking permanent certification in Pennsylvania or those who view the degree as terminal.

Job Prospects: Students typically apply their master’s degree credits to achieve PDE’s requirements for Level II PK-12 Music Certification or find employment in educational systems or within the music industry. The program also is recommended for those who plan to pursue a doctoral degree in Music Education.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: With permission from the Dean's Office, individuals may be granted permission to enter the College as a non-matriculated student, taking up to 9 graduate credits (excluding private lessons) before applying for admission to a program.

Financing Opportunities: Boyer College of Music and Dance offers a number of assistantships and academic internships to full-time matriculated graduate students. Full awards carry a stipend plus full tuition remission for the Fall and Spring terms. Partial awards also are available in values of a quarter, half, or three quarters of a full award. Duties for assistantships and internships vary, but typically include teaching, tutoring, classroom assistance, research, artistic performance and/or direct service related to academic programs. All incoming graduate students are automatically considered for an award by the department and Dean of Admissions.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dr. Alison Reynolds, department chair of Music Education, to discuss the application process prior to submitting. 

Fall: February 1
Spring: November 15

Decisions regarding admission are rendered after all required credentials have been submitted and the admissions application is complete.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2

From Whom: Two letters should be provided by people who can give insights into the applicant's abilities, talents and aptitude for graduate study. 

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: All applicants must present credentials that are the equivalent of the appropriate Bachelor of Music degree at Temple University, which is based on a curriculum of 124 to 135 hours.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A degree in Music Education is required.

Statement of Goals: Applicants’ goal statement should include an explanation of special interests within the discipline and expectations for the program and a reasoning for how those are aligned with the program at Temple.

See here for more instructions: https://boyer.temple.edu/admissions/audition-requirements.

Standardized Test Scores:
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

• TOEFL iBT: 90
• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• PTE Academic: 61

Resume: Please submit your current resume. 

Academic and Musical Profile (AMP): The Academic and Musical Profile (AMP) consists of two parts: 

1. Musicianship in Teaching: Applicants submit a digital video of representative segments with learners that adequately demonstrates applicants’ and students’ engagement in learning objectives and applicants’ musicianship. The video should be no more than 15 minutes in duration. The video may include a single clip or a montage of clips to feature applicants’ use of musicianship (e.g., through voice, instruments, conducting, movement) while teaching. Applicants include a brief written narrative explaining the learning objectives and musicianship featured in the video. 
2. Written Portion: If applicants are invited to interview, the music education program schedules the applicant’s written portion of the AMP when scheduling the interview. The applicant has 90 minutes during this proctored session to demonstrate writing skills and general knowledge about music education. Because applicants rely on their experiences to complete this application step, they need not study for the written portion of the AMP.  

Music Education faculty review applicants’ AMP digital video submission and written responses, which are considered in the admissions decision. Additional coursework may be required.  

Teaching Certification: Applicants from the United States applying to only the MM in Music Education must be certified to teach in at least one state in the United States. A copy of the teaching certificate must be submitted. Applicants from countries other than the United States who are certified to teach music in that country upload a copy of that country’s music-teaching credential.

Transfer Credit: A student who wishes to transfer credit should speak with their academic advisor and obtain a "Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit" form, found in TUportal under the Tools tab within "University Forms." Transfer credits must be approved by the advisor, the department chair, and the Associate Dean. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Other: Due to the large number of applications for admission and the competitive nature of its music programs, the College admits only a portion of its applicants. In addition to the general admissions credentials required of all Temple University graduate applicants, specialized admission criteria (i.e., auditions, portfolios, interviews, recommendations, departmental term papers, and standardized examinations) are very heavily weighted in admission decisions of the Boyer College of Music and Dance. Graduate applicants may be rejected for admission for failing to obtain the required level of proficiency in any one area of the specialized admission criteria regardless of the level of success in meeting the Temple University general admission criteria. In addition to the level of success demonstrated in the above-mentioned criteria, a final admission factor is the College's Optimum Enrollment Policy. This policy may preclude the admission of any student who meets the minimum requirements.

Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit any additional information that will help the faculty making an admissions decision. Additional items may include, but are not limited to, digital recordings of compositions or arrangements, recordings of performance groups, lesson or rehearsal plans, curriculum development material, and recital performance recordings. 

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:¹

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses
MUED 8651	Psych Music Lrn & Behav	3
MUED 8652	Measurement and Evaluation in Music	3
MUED 8653	Learning Theory in Music	3
MUED 8661	Research in Music Education	3
Electives
Additional Music Education Courses		6
Coursework in Supporting Areas 2		9
Capstone Course
MUED 9995	Master's Final Project	3
or MUED 9996	Master's Thesis Music Education
Total Credit Hours		30

¹

All MM coursework stresses the acquisition of advanced knowledge of the theory of teaching and learning, as well as principles of and practices in Music Education.

²

"Supporting areas" include, for example, ethnomusicology, music history and music theory.

Additional Requirements:
Diagnostic Examinations:
Diagnostic examinations in Aural Theory, Written Theory, and Music History are optional for entering master's students in Music Education who (1) are pursuing the in-person option for their MM and (2) seek access to all music history and music theory graduate courses. MM Music Education students confer with the Chair of Music Education and Therapy at time of admissions to confirm their decision to pursue this option.

A. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Aural Theory

The examination lasts approximately 40 minutes and asks students to:

1. Dictate a chord progression that modulates and contains chromatic harmony by writing out the bass line and identifying chords by Roman numerals and inversions.
2. Complete a two-part melodic dictation that modulates and contains chromatic pitches.

B. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Written Theory

The examination lasts one and one-half hours and is in three parts: 

1. Harmonic analysis of a diatonic chorale, and basic part-writing exercises using diatonic harmony.
2. Harmonic analysis of a chromatic chorale, and part-writing exercises using chromatic harmony.
3. Analysis of the form, motives and phrase structures of the first movement of a Classical-era piano sonata. 

C. Graduate Diagnostic Examination in Music History

The examination consists of objective questions (multiple choice, matching, and/or true/false) covering musical works, composers, forms, styles, terms, and instruments. It is divided into five sections: Medieval/Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century. 

Credits earned in remedial courses in theory or history do not apply toward the master’s degree. 

Professional Development Policy:
In addition to taking the required subjects for their degrees, all students in the Boyer College of Music and Dance are obligated to serve in a number of capacities in order to enrich their academic and musical expertise. Boyer College of Music and Dance believes that such experiences give impetus to successful professional careers. Among the duties that may be required are conducting laboratory classes; tutoring; teaching private lessons; coaching; participating in the distribution and inventory control of Temple University-owned musical instruments and instructional materials; participating in ensembles; accompanying; performing at admissions and open house events; supervising performance classes; and engaging in other academic activities.

Independent Study Courses:Independent study courses provide a special opportunity for graduate students to work in a highly individualized setting with one or more faculty members. All such study must receive the approval of the faculty member providing the instruction, the students' major advisor, the corresponding faculty member’s Department Chair, and the Associate Dean. Consideration for approval requires that the student has presented a detailed description of the intended independent study project and is granted only for students whose academic and musical record provides substantial support for the benefits of this type of study. In no case may more than 20% of a graduate student's curriculum be taken as independent study. Private lessons beyond those required in the curriculum are not an appropriate form of independent study.

Acceptable English:All students, including those for whom English is not the native language, are expected to present all written work in acceptable English. No double standard exists to differentiate students on the basis of proficiency in the use of the English language. Students are also responsible for becoming familiar with the College's statement on plagiarism and academic honesty.

Applied Study:

1. Graduate students in non-performing curricula may take up to 6 credits of applied study toward the degree with the permission of the major advisor, department chair, and the chair of vocal or instrumental studies. Such non-required lessons may be taken only if the student can pass the normal graduate-level performing audition expected of performance majors. In this event, a fee of $200, not covered by tuition remission, is charged. 
2. Regardless of major, graduate students with a demonstrable performing proficiency that may not meet the more rigorous requirements of a graduate-level audition may, by audition, qualify to take 2 credits of applied study per term for graduate credit. These courses carry a fee of $400 plus tuition and may be applied to the non-performing curriculum for degree credit. Up to 6 credits may be taken with the approval of the major advisor.
3. Graduate assistantships and other forms of University-sponsored financial aid do not cover private lesson or Recital Extension fees.

Incompletes:
All incomplete grades and keyboard proficiencies must be fulfilled by the first day of the month in which the student expects to graduate.

Culminating Event:
Comprehensive Oral Examination:
MM Music Education students complete three culminating requirements:

1. Submission of Final Project or Thesis documents, confirmed in consultation with and requiring final approval from the Defense Examining Committee. 
2. Final project or thesis oral defense with student with Defense Examining Committee presiding and evaluating the defense.  
3. Comprehensive Oral Examination completed at the time of the oral defense. The Defense Examining Committee asks the student to apply coursework materials to concepts covered in the final written project or thesis, and presides and evaluates oral comprehensive exam responses.  

No later than the second term of study, in discussion with the academic advisor, students choose their capstone course option, and confirm the faculty member who will be their capstone advisor. In consultation with their capstone advisor, students identify the requisite number of additional faculty for their Defense Examining Committee. Following are the two capstone options:  

• MUED 9995 Master's Final Project: Master's Final Project: In consultation with and approval from the project advisor, the student identifies a project synthesizing new learning on a topic of their choice. This Defense Examining Committee requires one faculty member in addition to the project advisor.
• MUED 9996 Master's Thesis Music Education: Master's Thesis Music Education: In consultation with and approval from the project advisor, the student choosing the thesis option typically identifies a topic requiring a research study with human subjects. The thesis option carries the requirement of uploading the final thesis document, approved by the Examining Committee members, to the Graduate School for their approval by the deadline published corresponding to approval to graduate that same semester. The Defense Examining Committee for the thesis options requires two faculty members in addition to the thesis advisor.

Contacts

Department Contacts: