Graduate Bulletin

Music Education, M.M.

BOYER COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND DANCE

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: February 1

Spring: September 15

Applications are processed as they arrive up to the deadline date. Decisions regarding admission are rendered after the application is complete and all required admissions materials have been submitted.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:

Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from individuals who can speak toward the applicant's ability to undertake graduate-level work in music and/or comment on the applicant's character as a potential graduate student.

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 completed degree in Music Education is required.

Statement of Goals:

The Statement of Goals should include your special interests within the discipline and expectations for the program.

Standardized Test Scores:

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 577 paper-based, 233 computer-based, or 90 internet-based.

Master's Writing Entrance Examination:

All applicants are required to pass a Master's Writing Entrance Examination as a condition of admission. The exam is scored by faculty members of the applicant's department and results are considered in the admissions decision.  Additional coursework may be required to remediate inadequacies.

Interview:

After the admissions application has been received by Temple University, applicants should contact the Department at 215-204-8310 to arrange a campus visit and schedule an interview with the department chair and faculty.

Resume:

A resume is required.

Transfer Credit:

Students who wish to transfer credit should speak with their academic advisor and obtain a Request for Transfer of Graduate Credit form from the Graduate School website. 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, Boyer College of Music and Dance admits only a portion of its applicants. In addition to the general admissions credentials required of all Temple University graduate applicants, including a minimum GPA of 3.0, the College's specialized admissions criteria (i.e., auditions, portfolios, interviews, recommendations, departmental term papers, and standardized examinations) are weighted heavily in admissions decisions. Graduate applicants may be rejected for admission for failing to obtain the required level of proficiency in any one area of the specialized admissions criteria regardless of the level of success in meeting the Temple University general admissions 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 must be state certified to teach music. A copy of the teaching certificate must be provided for the applicant's file.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 32

Required Courses (17 credits):

MUSIC ED 8651: Foundations of Music Learning

MUSIC ED 8652: Measurement and Evaluation in Music

MUSIC ED 8653: Learning Theory in Music

MUSIC ED 8661: Research in Music Education

MUSIC ED 8662: Technology for Music Education

MUSIC ED 9996: Final Project

Electives (15 credits):

Music Education course or workshop (3 credits)

Music Education course or workshop in elementary or secondary music education (3 credits)

Theory or applied course in Music, Music Education, and/or Music Studies (9 credits)

All M.M. coursework stresses the acquisition of advanced knowledge of

the theory of teaching and learning, as well as principles of and practices in music education.

View all COURSE OFFERINGS in Music, Music Education, and Music Studies.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Additional Requirements:

Diagnostic Examinations:

All entering Master of Music students are required to take Diagnostic Examinations in Harmony, Counterpoint, Aural Skills, and Music History prior to the first semester of graduate study. The purpose of these examinations is to determine weaknesses in undergraduate preparation. Depending on the examination 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.

1. All entering M.M. students must take the Harmony, Counterpoint, and Aural Skills examination prior to the first semester of graduate study unless conditions for exemption have been met (see below). Students may take the test only once, and if they do not pass the test or any portion thereof, they must enroll in the remedial course(s) during their first semester of study. Depending on which section(s) of the examination are failed, the examiners will stipulate which sections of remedial coursework the student must take. The courses are MUSIC STUDIES 5001: Diatonic Harmony Review, MUSIC STUDIES 5002: Chromatic Harmony Review, MUSIC STUDIES 5003: Counterpoint Review, and MUSIC STUDIES 5004: Graduate Aural Theory Review.

2. All entering M.M. students are required to the Music History examination prior to registering for their first semester of graduate student, unless conditions for exemption have been met (see below). If the student is unsuccessful in passing any portion of the Music History examination, the student may select one of two options:

Option A: Register to take MUSIC STUDIES 5005: Remedial Studies in Music History 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 STUDIES 5005 in any semester; thus it is possible to extend the remediation over two semesters.

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, and if any section is failed a second time, they must take the assigned remedial sections in their second semester of study.

3. The requirement to take the Diagnostic Examinations in any of these areas is waived only for graduates of the Boyer College of Music and Dance who matriculate and enroll in the semester immediately following completion of all undergraduate degree requirements and who received grades of "B-" or better in every undergraduate course taken in each individual examination area to be waived.

Performance Examination:

Music Education majors must also pass a performance examination as part of the Diagnostic Examinations:

1. Students must pass a performance examination on their major instrument of undergraduate concentration:

a.  Piano major: a Bach prelude and fugue and the first movement of a Beethoven sonata or works of similar style and difficulty.

b. Orchestral instrument major: a short instrumental program from the standard repertoire for the instrument. The candidate must provide his/her own accompanist.

c.  Vocal major: A short vocal program, including an Italian song in the original language; an excerpt from an opera or oratorio; and an art song in English, German, or French. The candidate must provide his/her own accompanist and be prepared to sight-read single voice parts from a score.

2. In addition, all Music Education candidates must demonstrate the following:

a.  Ability to sing at sight single voice parts from a score.

b.   Ability to play a keyboard accompaniment appropriate for the students taught by the candidate (must be prepared in advance).

c.  Ability to sight-read a piano accompaniment, on keyboard or guitar, of moderate difficulty, from standard song books.

d.  Ability to improvise accompaniments to simple melodies on keyboard or guitar.

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 student's major advisor, department chair, and the Associate Dean. Approval will be granted only after the student has presented a detailed description of the intended independent study project. Approval of independent study projects will be granted only for students whose academic and musical records provide 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.

Professional Development Policy:

All students in Boyer College, in addition to completing the required subjects toward their degrees, are obliged to serve in a number of capacities in order to enrich their academic and musical expertise. The Boyer College 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 University-owned musical instruments and instructional materials; participating in ensembles; providing accompaniment; performing at admissions and open house events; supervising performance classes; and other academically related activities.

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:

Graduate degree students in non-performing curricula may take up to six 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.

Graduate students, regardless of major, with a demonstrable performing proficiency that may not meet the more rigorous requirements of a graduate performance-level audition, may, by audition, qualify to take two credits of applied study per semester for graduate credit. These courses carry a fee of $400 plus tuition and may be applied to the non-performing curriculum for degree credit of up to 6 s.h. with the approval of the major advisor.

Other:

Graduate assistantships and other forms of university-sponsored financial aid do not cover private lesson and recital extension fees.

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

Except as noted, all degree credits are to be earned at Temple University.

Culminating Events:

Final Project and Comprehensive Exam:

All Master of Music and Master of Education 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, or 9 semester hours of additional coursework. The choice of the additional requirement must be discussed with the academic advisor and declared no later than the second semester of study.

All Master of Music and Master of Education students must complete the Comprehensive Oral Review. If a thesis or written project is chosen, then 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 the Comprehensive Oral Review 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.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/boyer/

Department Information:

Dept. of Music Education and Therapy

Boyer College of Music and Dance

2001 North 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122

beth.bolton@temple.edu

215-204-8310

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

James Short
jshort@temple.edu
215-204-8598

Program Coordinator:

Professor Deborah Sheldon
dsheldon@temple.edu

215-204-8310

Graduate Chairperson:

Professor Deborah Sheldon
dsheldon@temple.edu

215-204-8310

Chairperson:

Professor Deborah Sheldon
dsheldon@temple.edu

215-204-8310

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 provides an introduction to research methodology.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 6 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are required to complete the degree program through classes offered before and after 4:30 p.m. Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Dept. of Music Education and Therapy

Boyer College of Music and Dance

2001 North 13th Street

Philadelphia, PA 19122

dsheldon@temple.edu

215-204-8310

Interdisciplinary Study:

Not applicable.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

The Boyer College of Music and Dance has been ranked among the top 30 music schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

Accreditation:

The music education programs at the Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) , the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Areas of Specialization:

The Master of Music degree program 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 Placement:

Students typically find employment in educational systems and also within the music industry. The program also is recommended for those who plan to pursue a doctoral degree in Music Education.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Degree Student Policy:

With permission from the Dean's Office, students 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

A number of assistantships and academic internships are offered to matriculated graduate students. Full awards carry a cash stipend plus full tuition remission for the Fall and Spring semesters. Partial awards also are available in values of 1/4 or 1/2 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. Applicants must submit an assistantship/internship application by March 1 to obtain priority consideration for an award. Applications are available online at the Graduate Financial Aid page of Boyer's website. Typically these awards are made only in the Fall semester for the Fall and Spring semesters. Awards may be renewed on an annual basis (typically up to one additional year for master's students and up to three years for doctoral students) based on departmental needs as well as satisfactory academic and musical progress by the recipient.

Updated 12.10.08