Master of Music in Music Education

The Master of Music in Music Education program provides opportunities for advanced study through specialization in either music education practice or music education research. It is purposefully designed for flexibility to meet the needs of today's practitioners.

General Program Requirements

(see also Graduate Music Admissions)

Admissions

Decisions are made after the application is complete and all required credentials have been received.

• GPA: Minimum 3.0 in undergraduate work

• Letters of Reference (2): Two letters of recommendation should be written by evaluators who are qualified to provide insight into the applicant's abilities, talents and character, as well as comment on aptitude for graduate study in Music Education (Applicants holding a bachelor's degree from the Boyer College of Music within the previous twelve months are exempt from this requirement).

• Transcripts: Applicants must show transcript evidence of a completed baccalaureate degree in Music Education with minimum GPA of 3.0.

• Required Coursework: Previously completed coursework must be the equivalent of a Bachelor of Music degree at Temple University (124-135 hrs). Applicants must hold a completed degree in Music Education.

• Certification: Applicants must be certified to teach by at least one state in the US. A copy of the teaching certificate must be submitted.

• Standardized Test Scores: The TOEFL® is required of all applicants who are not native speakers of English, regardless of the previous language of instruction. Applicants with an undergraduate degree conferred by an American university are exempt from the TOEFL requirements. In addition, international applicants who are not native English speakers must take either the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the speaking section of the new TOEFL® test (or the TOEFL® Internet Based Test) offered by the Educational Testing Service. Please have the scores sent to Temple University electronically by ETS. Minimum TOEFL® scores for the MM MEd are: 575 (paper), 233 (computer), or 90 (internet). Any student admitted with a TOEFL® score below 600 on the paper-based or 250 on the computer-based examination must pass an English skills course or successfully pass the Test of Spoken English during the first semester of enrollment at Temple University.

• Additional Materials: Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to submit any additional information that will help the faculty in the admission 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.

Download the MMME Application Checklist

Graduate school application materials should be mailed to:

Boyer College of Music and Dance
Presser Hall (021-00)
2001 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122

Diagnostic Examinations

• Examination Requirements: All entering MM MEd students are required to take Diagnostic Examinations in Harmony, Counterpoint, Aural Skills, and Music History prior to the first semester of study. The purpose of these examinations is to determine weaknesses in undergraduate preparation. Depending on the results, students may be required to take one or more remedial courses. In these instances, the remedial courses will be graded on a "Credit / No Credit" basis and the official university transcript will indicate "CR" (for "Credit", meaning that the deficiency has been satisfied) or "NC" (for "No Credit", meaning that the deficiency has not been satisfied). Students must have a "B-" or better average in any remedial course or section thereof to earn the grade of "Credit" and to satisfy the requirement. Students who earn a grade of "NC" (that is, having a class average below "B-") must retake that course or section until an average of "B-" or higher is achieved and a grade of "CR" is recorded on the official university transcript. Remedial courses are offered for undergraduate credit only, and may not count toward graduate degree requirements.

• Music History: This test must be taken prior to the first semester of graduate study. If any portion of this test is not passed, the student may select one of two options:

  • Option A: Register to take Music History Review (Music Studies 5005 for 1 to 5 undergraduate credits, with 1 credit assigned to each of the following five periods: Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic, and Twentieth Century). Students may register for a maximum of 3 credits of Music History Review in any semester; thus, it is possible to extend the remediation over two semesters. No further testing outside of course requirements is necessary.
  • Option B: Students may study independently and retake the failed sections of the examination at the end of the first semester of study. Students may retake the examination only once. If any section is failed a second time, they must take the assigned remedial sections in their second semester of study.

• Remedial Courses:

Curriculum

The MM MEd requires 32 semester hours (sh) beyond the baccalaureate. Coursework stresses advanced work in teaching and learning, principles of and practices in music education, musicianship, creativity, and scholarship. This occurs through a combination of required courses and electives. It is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of the practitioner. Students should work closely with their academic advisor to craft the best-fitting curriculum path.

The program is organized into two components:

Required Courses:

Electives:

Transfer Credit: Students who wish to transfer credit should speak with their academic advisor and obtain a transfer of credit form, available at: www.temple.edu/grad/forms/documents/Transfer_Grad_Credit_05.pdf 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.

Exit Requirements

All MM MEd students must take a Comprehensive Oral Review and complete one of the following additional requirements: Final Written Project and Oral Defense, Thesis and Oral Defense, Additional Coursework (9 sh). This additional requirement must be discussed with the academic advisor and declared no later than the second semester of study.

Comprehensive Oral Review: All MM MEd must take this review. If a thesis or written project is chosen, the review is part of the Oral Defense. The student will be asked to make application of coursework materials to concepts covered in the final project. The defense examining committee presides and evaluates. Students choosing additional coursework must schedule this test with the Music Education faculty in the last semester of study. In this case, at least two faculty members administer and evaluate. Students are expected to answer questions concerning issues and ideas covered in coursework.

Final Project: The student, in concert with a faculty advisor will complete a final written project that:

Thesis: The student, in concert with a faculty advisor will complete a thesis. Students who are likely to pursue the terminal degree are urged to complete this option.

Oral Defense: Following the completion of both the written project and the thesis, the student will engage in an oral defense of the paper and all processes concerned with the development of the paper. An examining committee presides and evaluates.

Additional Coursework (9 sh): This option enables students to choose more coursework in an effort to broaden the educational experience. Cognate areas may be identified but are not required.

Non-Matriculating Students

Temple University allows potential graduate students to take a maximum of 9 hours as non-matriculated students.  Students should take courses within the prescribed program and should consult the Department Chair before registering for courses. 

There is no guarantee that the hours will be taken into the graduate program once the student matriculates, but if the courses are taken within the degree program and the student earns high grades, past practice has been to allow the courses in the degree program if all coursework is completed within a 5-year period.

Registration information may be obtained at from the Main Campus Office of Continuing Education: Services and Information for Graduate Students.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: February 1
• Spring: September 15

Contact Information

Tomeka Car, Administrative Assistant

tcarr@temple.edu

215-204-8310 (phone)
215-204-1982 (fax)

Dr. Deborah Sheldon, Department Chair deborah.sheldon@temple.edu