Master of Music in Music Education

Overview

The UT Arlington Master of Music in music education curriculum is designed to facilitate successful teaching careers in music and encourage personal development. Through further education, music teachers will become more articulate, reflective practitioners so that they are able to select, adapt, adjust, and assess teaching and learning expectations.

About The Program

Specific goals of the degree include:

• Improving teaching skills through advanced coursework and research
• Offering graduate courses to improve general musicianship, including performance, theory, and music history
• Preparing students to enter graduate programs leading to the doctoral degree
• Offering opportunities for advanced research in specialized areas
• Providing professional enrichment for members of the community

Degree Requirements

The program is designed for the student who has a Bachelor’s degree in music. A minimum of 30 semester hours is required if the student chooses to write a thesis. If the student chooses not to write a thesis, a minimum of 36 semester hours is required. Advisory examinations in music history and written theory may be administered to all students prior to enrollment or during their first semester as degree-seeking students.

Non-Thesis option

Required Courses

• Musi 5301 --- Form And Style Analysis --- 3
• Musi 5308 --- Music History Selected Topics --- 3
• Musi 5351 --- Philosophy, History, And Curricular Trends In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5352 --- Psychological Foundations Of Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5363 --- Research In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5353 --- Project In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5364 --- Assessment In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 53xx --- Current Trends In Music Education --- 3

Three (3) hours of Music Education electives should be chosen from the following: --- 3

• Electives
• Electives
• Electives

Nine (9) hours of free-choice electives may be selected from ensembles, private instruction, music history, music theory, jazz studies, and repeated special topics courses. Up to six (6) hours of graduate credit from other disciplines may be considered if relevant to the degree, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee. No more than two (2) semester hours of music ensembles may be counted toward the degree. --- 9

Total Hours --- 36

Thesis option

Required Courses

• Musi 5301 --- Form And Style Analysis --- 3
• Musi 5308 --- Music History Selected Topics --- 3
• Musi 5351 --- Philosophy, History, And Curricular Trends In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5352 --- Psychological Foundations Of Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5363 --- Research In Music Education --- 3
• Musi 5698 --- Thesis --- 6

Three (3) hours of Music Education electives should choose from the following: --- 3

• Electives
• Electives
• Electives

Six (6) hours of free-choice electives may be selected from ensembles, private instruction, music history, music theory, jazz studies, and repeated special topics courses. Up to six (6) hours of graduate credit from other disciplines may be considered if relevant to the degree, subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee. No more than two (2) semester hours of music ensembles may be counted toward the degree. --- 6

Total Hours --- 30

*Students who write a thesis will work closely with one or more members of the graduate faculty from the Department of Music on a research project in a specialized area of interest within the music education field. The student must register for MUSI 5398 when in consultation over the thesis with the advisor or supervisory committee. Students will receive a grade of R (Research in Progress), F (Fail), or W (Withdrawn). These hours do not count towards the degree hours.

Taylor Foss / unsplash

Career Opportunities

• Music education specialist/consultant
• Band, choral, or orchestra educator in public or private schools, or higher-rank position in K-12 settings
• Fine arts administrator
• College-level eligible adjunct instructor
• Private lesson instructor
• Freelance musician

Why Choose Us?

• Every class, lesson, and the ensemble is taught by experts in the field. Without a Ph.D. offering, our Master of Music students are the most elite in the department. You will receive individualized and tailored education.
• Music at UTA gives each student a small-program experience within a large research university. You will be known by name as you get an excellent education.
• Our diverse student population hails from five continents including across the United States. Every student has a home at UTA.
• With over 70 award-winning and world-renowned faculty, you are guaranteed to receive excellent training.
• Performance opportunities include everything from large and small ensembles, solo recitals, opera, musical theater, studio recitals, student enrichment ensembles, and marching band.
• UTA is an R-1 teaching institution, and our Master of Music students have access to excellent research opportunities.

Admission Requirements

The Department of Music has the following requirements for entry into the Master of Music in Music Education Degree.

Unconditional Admission

Requirements for unconditional admission into the program are:

1. Three letters of recommendation speaking to the student’s potential for success from references familiar with the student’s academic background.
2. Philosophy of Music Education (no more than 2 pages typed).
3. A minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work as calculated by Graduate Admissions.
4. Bachelor’s degree in music or its demonstrated equivalent.
5. Submitted application to the Department of Music (see the departmental website for more information).

Probationary Status

A student showing a deficiency in any of the above criteria and showing promise for successful graduate study may still be admitted on a probationary basis upon the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee. The conditions of the probation will be outlined in the letter of admission. (The Music Department does not have the authority to lower University TOEFL score requirements for any student.)

Provisional Admission

An applicant unable to supply all required documentation prior to the admission deadline but who otherwise appears to meet admission requirements may be granted provisional admission.

Denied Admission

An applicant can be denied admission based on the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee. Applicants may reapply for admission if the deficiencies in credentials that led to denial are remedied.

Deferred Admission

A deferred decision may be granted when a file is incomplete or when a denied decision is not appropriate.

TOEFL Requirement

Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in English by earning a score of at least 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a score of at least 213 on the computer-based test, or a minimum score of 40 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). The Internet-based TOEFL examination (TOEFL iBT) will be accepted as an alternative to the paper and computer-based TOEFL for admission purposes. Students taking TOEFL iBT must attain a minimum total test score of 79.

Those who do not meet the English proficiency requirement must satisfactorily complete courses in the ESOL area, as approved by the program and the Graduate Admissions.