Master of Music in Music Education

The Master of Music in Music Education (MMME) is designed for currently licensed, practicing music teachers. This degree program can be completed 100% online, allowing music teachers to earn an advanced music degree on their own time, while continuing their teaching careers. The MMME curriculum emphasizes practical applications of music and music education content in K-12 music classrooms. Through the MMME, teachers will enhance skills, improve students' achievement, and increase earning potential.

Candidates applying for admission to the MMME program must have completed a bachelor's degree in music education from a regionally accredited college or university, or completed a program leading to Teacher Certification in Music. The GRE is not required.

The 30 credit Master of Music in Music Education includes required coursework in music, music education, and education, as well as a variety of elective options, all geared toward their contemporary application in the K-12 music classroom. Any undergraduate electives must be at the 4xx level. The Music Education program coordinator will serve as the academic advisor for all students in the Master of Music in Music Education (MMME) program. The advisor will guide the student's course selection and progress toward degree completion including the submission of the student's Graduate Program of Study form. No graduate committee will be listed on students’ Program of Study.

At the conclusion of the degree, all students complete a major paper or project, guided by personal interest, expertise, and relevance. As MMME students approach the end of their coursework (approximately 21 credits completed), they will contact their advisor to discuss the content, format, and time frame for their Master’s Capstone (MUSE 575). The Master’s Capstone will be composed of two elements:

1. The Written Capstone Paper entails the successful completion of 6 credits of MUSE 575 Professional Paper and Project. The content and design of the Professional Paper and Project will be determined by consultation between the advisor and the student. The Professional Paper/Project will be designed to most appropriately meet the professional growth and learning needs of the individual student. Students are required to use APA format. The completed Professional Paper/Project will be evaluated for written competency (quality, thoroughness, depth, and professionalism) as well as the student’s mastery of pertinent literature, academic and theoretical underpinnings, development of professional skills, and the ability to conduct effective educational research.

2. The Oral Presentation entails the formal presentation of the findings from the Professional Paper/Project (MUSE 575). The student will give a one (1) hour oral presentation of the Professional Paper/Project. Students’ academic advisor will be their instructor of record for MUSE 575. Presentations will be open and any faculty member may attend and take part in the discourse. Students can be queried about their scholarship as well as all areas of program content during the oral presentation. The presentation will be evaluated for oral competency and mastery of knowledge of pertinent literature, academic and theoretical grounding, development of professional skills, and the ability to conduct effective educational research. The instructor of record assigns grades for MUSE 575. (MUSE 575 Professional Paper/Project is treated as any other course in the program and no official committee structure is in place)

Overview of the Program:

The proposed curriculum for the Master of Music in Music Education (MMME) will emphasize music education research, along with the practical application of knowledge. Students will have opportunities to conduct original research; investigate the philosophy, history, sociology, and psychology of music education; discover innovative teaching methodologies; and focus on music from a variety of cultural and historical approaches, including the Montana Native American perspective, meeting the IEFA (Indian Education for All) initiative. Music courses in research, theory, history, technology, and education pedagogy will be geared toward their contemporary application in the K-12 music classroom.

Curriculum Overview:

Students who enroll in the MMME will take a set of required online music courses (see: MMME Required Online Music Courses below), a set of required online music education courses (see: MMME Required Online Music Education Courses below), a required Education course (see: MMME Required Online Education Course below), as well as electives within the School of Music and Department of Education (see: MMME Music and Music Education Electives and Other Online Electives below). Depending on the electives a student chooses, the MMME program can be earned 100% online. A majority of courses will be taught by current tenure track music faculty. Additionally, MMME students will be encouraged to choose electives from other departments. Suggested online graduate-level courses outside the School of Music include, but are not limited to, the list below (see: Other Online Electives below). Any undergraduate electives must be at the 4xx level. Possible course sequences for completing the MMME degree are included in the attached document “Possible MMME Course Sequences for Completion” at the very end of this proposal. 30 credits are required for the degree. All students who enroll in the MMME will be required to take matriculation exams in music theory and music history. The results of the examination will determine if remedial course work is required for the student’s program of study. The GRE will not be required.

The Music Education program coordinator (Kristin Harney, tenured faculty) will serve as the academic advisor for all students in the Master of Music with an option in Music Education (MMME) program. The advisor will guide the student's course selection and progress toward degree completion including the submission of the student's Graduate Program of Study form. No graduate committee will be listed on students’ Program of Study. As MMME students approach the end of their coursework (approximately 21 credits completed), they will contact their advisor to discuss the content, format, and time frame for their Master’s Capstone (MUSE 575). The Master’s Capstone will be composed of two elements:

The Written Capstone Paper entails the successful completion of 6 credits of MUSE 575 Professional Paper and Project. The content and design of the Professional Paper and Project will be determined by consultation between the advisor and the student. The Professional Paper/Project will be designed to most appropriately meet the professional growth and learning needs of the individual student. Students are required to use APA format. The completed Professional Paper/Project will be evaluated for written competency (quality, thoroughness, depth, and professionalism) as well as the student’s mastery of pertinent literature, academic and theoretical underpinnings, development of professional skills, and the ability to conduct effective educational research.
The Oral Presentation entails the formal presentation of the findings from the Professional Paper/Project (MUSE 575). The student will give a one (1) hour oral presentation of the Professional Paper/Project. Students’ academic advisor will be their instructor of record for MUSE 575. Presentations will be open and any faculty member may attend and take part in the discourse. Students can be queried about their scholarship as well as all areas of program content during the oral presentation. The presentation will be evaluated for oral competency and mastery of knowledge of pertinent literature, academic and theoretical grounding, development of professional skills, and the ability to conduct effective educational research. The instructor of record assigns grades for MUSE 575. (MUSE 575 Professional Paper/Project is treated as any other course in the program and no official committee structure is in place).

MMME Required Online Music Courses (6 credits)

(3 cr.) new course MUSI 5XX: Current Issues in Musicology
(3 cr.) new course MUSI 5XX: Analytical Techniques
(These two courses replace MUSI 504 for a net gain of one new course)

MMME Required Online Music Education and Music Education Research Courses (15 credits)

(3 cr.) MUSE 530: Music, Society, and Education
(3 cr.) MUSE 532: Music Education: Research and Practice
(3 cr.) new course MUSE 5XX: Contemporary Issues in Music Education (net gain one new course)
(6 cr.) MUSE 575: Professional Paper and Project

MMME Required Online Education Course (3 credits)

(3 cr.) EDCI 514: Mentoring New Teachers

MMME Music and Music Education Electives (3-6 credits)

(2 cr.) MUSI 519: World Music (Online)
(3 cr.) MUSI 542: Graduate Vocal Pedagogy (Online)
(3 cr.) MUST 544: Music Technology (Blended)
(3 cr.) MUSE 545: General Music Practicum (Online)
(1 cr.) MUSI 550: Graduate Recital (On-campus)
(up to 6 cr.) MUSI 485: Acoustic Composition (On-campus or Online)
(up to 6 cr.) MUSI 540: Advanced Conducting (Online)
(up to 6 cr.) Applied music or ensemble (On-campus)
(up to 6 cr.) Independent study (Online)

Other Online Electives (0-3 credits)

(3 cr.) EDCI 504: Assessment & Evaluation in Education
(3 cr.) EDCI 506: Applied Educational Research
(3 cr.) EDCI 536: Construction of Curriculum
(3 cr.) EDCI 540: American Indian Studies for Ed
(3 cr.) EDCI 541: History & Philosophy of Education
(3 cr.) EDCI 557: Brain Science, Educational Research, and Teaching
(3 cr.) EDLD 520: Schools & Diverse Communities
(3 cr.) NASX 524: Contemporary Issues in American Indian Studies
(3 cr.) NASX 525: Indigenous Philosophies/Sacred Ecologies
(3 cr.) NASX 550: Native America: Dispelling the Myths
(3 cr.) NASX 551: American Indian Art Survey
(3 cr.) NASX 554: Indian Education for All

The School of Music currently offers a combined music history and music theory course, MUSI 504. Going into this course, many students are apprehensive (“I haven't had music theory since my undergraduate years”) or frustrated (“this is going to be a waste of my time... theory and history are not applicable to my teaching”). To alleviate these concerns and focus on the relevance of musicology and theory in K-12 classrooms, we are proposing two new courses to replace MUSI 504 (net gain of one new course): Current Issues in Musicology and Analytical Techniques.

MUSI 5XX: Current Issues in Musicology. Examining trends, cultural traditions, attitudes, and practices; re-thinking and re-grounding aesthetic and stylistic positions.
MUSI 5XX: Analytical Techniques. An in-depth analysis of repertoire through multiple theoretical techniques. Exploring the relationship between analysis and performance decisions drawing on performance practice and contemporaneous sources. A major analysis of an approved work is required.

These new courses will allow practicing teachers to explore the ways that musicology and music theory can inform their repertoire choices, enhance their rehearsals, improve student understandings and performances, and aid teachers in meeting the National Core Arts Standards for Music Education.

We are also proposing one new required music education course, Contemporary Issues in Music Education:

MUSE 5XX: Contemporary Issues in Music Education. An exploration of curriculum developments, teaching methodology, innovations, and multidisciplinary concepts within K-12 music education. Practical application of course content to one’s own teaching situation through online readings, discussions, video presentations, and reflection.