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Description of Requirements and Procedures for the
MASTER'S DEGREE IN MUSIC EDUCATION
(MME)
With specializations in two tracks:
Teaching Emphasis
Research Emphasis
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Table of Contents
I. General Information
A. Prerequisites for Application ........................................................ 3
B. Application Procedure .................................................................. 3
C. Curricula in Master's Degree Tracks ............................................ 4
D. Degree Plans ................................................................................ 4
E. Academic Standing and Time Limitations ................................... 5
II. MME Teaching Emphasis (34 hours)
A. Minimum Degree Requirements ................................................. 6
B. Project Practicum ......................................................................... 7
C. Project Practicum Defense ........................................................... 7
D. Establishing the Committee .......................................................... 7
E. Recommended Timeline for Completion ..................................... 7
III. MME Research Emphasis (34 hours)
A. Minimum Degree Requirements .................................................. 10
B. Thesis ........................................................................................... 11
C. Thesis Defense ............................................................................. 11
D. Establishing the Committee .......................................................... 11
E. Recommended Timeline for Completion ..................................... 11
IV. Appendices
Appendix A: Application Checklist .................................................. 14
Appendix B: Defense Preparation Checklist ..................................... 15
Appendix C: MUED Course Rotations by Semester ........................ 16
Appendix D: Music Education Faculty ............................................. 17
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Revised, August 2014
Nature of the Degree Program
The Master's Degree Program in Music Education offered by the College of Music at the
University of North Texas seeks to reflect the variety of interests and specializations of graduate
students who enroll in advanced studies in music education. The program is designed to qualify
holders of the degree for leadership positions in the teaching of music in a variety of instructional
settings.
I. General Information
A. Prerequisites for Application
1. Students must have an earned bachelor's degree in music education prior to
entering the Music Education graduate program. Degrees from other areas or
students with a degree outside of music can take post-bachelor's degree
certification courses to obtain teacher certification. (In this case, contact the
certification office in Matthews Hall at 940-565-4947). Prior to applying to the
degree program, students should have had a minimum of one (1) year of
documented, successful school music teaching experience in an accredited
school or equivalent experience as determined and approved by the music
education graduate faculty.
2. Acceptable scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required.
The current sections of the exam to be taken:
a. Verbal
b. Writing
No quantitative or analytical scores are required.
B. Application Procedure
1. The application procedure begins with the Toulouse Graduate School at the
University of North Texas. Information may be found on the Toulouse
Graduate School website: www.tsgs.unt.edu.
2. Once a submitted application has been approved by the Toulouse School, a
formal application can then be submitted to the College of Music Graduate
Office, with all required accompanying materials:
a. A current resume or vitae.
b. A writing sample (e.g., an undergraduate paper, project).
c. A personal philosophy statement that addresses teaching, music, and
long-range professional goals.
d. Three (3) letters of recommendation from three (3) persons qualified to
evaluate the applicant's accomplishments and merits. These will be submitted
using the online form included on the College of Music application.
e. A teaching DVD or video tape that highlights classroom instructional
episodes, such as rehearsals, warm-ups, or other activities. These are especially
important for students who are applying for TA/TF positions.
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Detailed application information may be found on the Music Education website:
http://music.unt.eclu/musiced/mPrograms.php.
3. Upon completion of both applications, the application file is processed, and
transcripts and GRE scores are evaluated by the College of Music and
the Division of Music Education.
4. Upon acceptance to the College of Music:
a. Accepted applicants will receive a letter from the College of Music
Graduate Office with information about the program advisor,
deficiencies, and the schedule of diagnostic entrance exams: the
Graduate Placement Examinations (GPE).
b. The GPEs are given by the College of Music during graduate student
orientation at the beginning of each semester. These examinations
cover music theory and music history.
Specific subtests and passing scores are: History
before 1750: 49 out of 75 History after
1750: 49 out of 75 Theory: Analysis: 70
out of 100 Theory: Aural skills: 60 out of
100 Theory: Dictation: 60 out of 100
Theory: Keyboard: 60 out of 100
c. A Graduate Faculty member from the Division of Music Education will
advise each master's student each semester regarding his or her course
options and program requirements.
C. Curricula in the Master's Degree Tracks Offered by the Division of Music
Education
The Division of Music Education at UNT offers two degree tracks that lead toward a master's
degree. Requisite for both tracks is a bachelor's degree in music education and at least one (1)
year of successful classroom teaching experience. Both degree tracks are 34 semester credit hours
and include the Teaching Emphasis and the Research Emphasis. The required hours do not
include hours to fulfill deficiencies in coursework. Both tracks culminate in the passing of a
comprehensive examination, which takes the form of an oral defense of a student's Project
Practicum (in the Teaching Emphasis) or a Thesis (in the Research Emphasis). Defenses will be
scheduled during the proposal stage and during the final semester of study.
D. Degree Plans
The degree plan is a contract between the student and the University as to the courses that must be
successfully completed before the desired degree will be conferred. After completing 12 hours
of graduate coursework, the student is required to file a degree plan with the College of Music
Graduate Office. A faculty advisor will help the student determine these courses. After the
courses are agreed upon, the advisor submits the plan to the College of Music Graduate Office,
and an approved copy of the plan is put on file in the Toulouse Graduate School. (Note: Any
alterations made to the original degree plan must be filed no later than the semester prior to
expected graduation.) Upon the student's application for graduation, the Toulouse School will
compare the degree plan with the
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student's transcript. If there are discrepancies, the student will be notified so that the proper
action can be taken. Discrepancies should be rectified prior to scheduling the final project/thesis
defense.
E. Academic Standing and Time Limitations
Students must receive a grade of B or better for all courses counting toward the degree, including
deficiency courses. Students not meeting this standard will be placed on probation. Students not
fulfilling the conditions of probation may be dismissed from the program. All work to be credited
toward the master's degree must be completed within a period of 6 years from the date master's
credit is first earned.
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II. MME Teaching Emphasis (34 hours)
The Teaching Emphasis track is recommended for experienced teachers in school
music programs who seek to advance their knowledge in the practice and theory
of music instruction. This degree allows students choices in different areas of
specialization.
A. Minimum Degree Requirements
Minimum course requirements, beyond the fulfillment of deficiencies in
course work, are as follows:
MUED Required - 12 hours
MUED 5120: Applied Research in Music
Education (3) MUED 5280: Admission Seminar
(3)
MUED ____ * (selected from the list below) (3)
MUED ____ * (selected from the list below) (3)
Non-Music Education courses in Music - 10 hours
These courses must be non-music education, music courses (non-
MUED). Students may choose classes in music history, theory,
musicology, applied lessons, conducting, jazz, performing laboratories
and/or ensembles, or other areas of interest outside the Division of Music
Education.
Electives - 9 hours
Electives should be linked to professional development and should be
connected to the major. Students may choose classes in string methods,
band methods, choral methods, performing laboratories and/or
ensembles, or other areas of interest as approved by students' music
education faculty advisors.
Final Project - 3 hours (2&1)
MUED 5890: Project Practicum (2 credits during the proposal semester; 1
credit during the final defense semester)
*Music Education courses available for MUED Required and Electives
MUED 5100: Music Supervision (3) MUED 5880: Teaching Strategies in General
Music (3)
MUED 5500: History of Music Education (3) MUED 6434: Principles of Music Learning
(3)
MUED 5510: Philosophical Foundations (3) MUED 6470: Sociology of Music (3)
MUED 5520: Psychology of Music (3) MUED 6580: College Teaching of Music (3)
*A full list of course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Catalogue
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B. Project Practicum (comprehensive examination)
Because this degree track focuses on teaching, the final comprehensive exam will be in the form
of a practical project designed to be of use in the candidate's future teaching. The topic of this
project will be decided by the candidate with the guidance of a faculty member, who will serve
as the project advisor. The candidate will then submit in writing a project proposal to the music
education graduate faculty for approval. Upon approval, the candidate will work toward
completion of the project, which will include the following components:
1) an introduction to the content that will be covered in the project;
2) an extensive review of the research literature on the content that will be
covered in the project;
3) a handbook, curriculum guide, lesson plan scaffold, or some other "real world"
application of the knowledge gained through the review of the research literature.
C. Project Practicum Defenses (oral examinations)
There will be two separate defenses: one for the project proposal, and one for the final defense.
During the hearings, the student is expected to evidence a thorough knowledge of all related
literature, materials, methodological steps, and findings documented in the proposal or completed
project. No more than three defense attempts will be allowed. Failure to successfully defend a
project after the third try will automatically remove the student from further consideration for
master's degree candidacy.
D. Establishing the Committee
Make-up of the Committee
The Committee is made up of three (3) music education faculty members. The student will select
a major professor (the project advisor), who will be the first point of contact in establishing the
project topic and sources. The two remaining committee members, also selected by the student,
will serve as resource persons and will help as the student needs.
Role of the Committee
The role of the Committee is to provide professional guidance in the creative process. The
members will provide insight into the choice of the project topic, sources of material and other
resources, and guidance in the actual writing, analysis, interpretation, and development of the
project.
E. Recommended Timeline for Completion
The following timeline serves as a guide for this process:
1. Throughout the degree program, the student should consider possible topics based
on his or her interests.
2. Next-to-last semester before graduation
a. Course registration - Register for 2 of the 3 project practicum hours of credit (MUED
5890; the section number will be based on the project advisor). Two hours will go toward
the completion of the project proposal, and the remaining 1
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credit will be applied during the final semester of study, when the project defense is
scheduled.
b. No later than Week 3 - At the beginning of the next-to-last semester, and no
later than the third week of that semester, the student should contact his or her
faculty advisor and discuss (in consultation with the Master's Coordinator) which
faculty member might be best suited to be the project advisor. With input from the
project advisor, the student should finalize the project topic and begin writing the
proposal.
The proposal will typically be 5-10 pages in length and should include the following
sections:
1) Statement of the problem (the topic) to be studied, including a basic
review of literature
2) Purpose of the project
3) Scope of the project
4) Methodology
5) Expected outcome
c. No later than Week 5 - The candidate will turn in a draft of the proposal to the
faculty advisor for editing and suggestions. The faculty advisor will return the
draft to the student within 1 week with suggested revisions. The student and
faculty advisor may need several more editing cycles to ensure a sound proposal.
d. No later than Week 7- The candidate will turn in the final proposal, with all
revisions made. The faculty advisor will distribute the proposal to the graduate
faculty members.
e. Week 9 - The candidate will hold a proposal defense with the Committee, and
the Committee will notify the candidate as to the status of the proposal:
"proceed as is;"
"proceed with minor revisions;"
"proceed with revisions to be re-submitted to the committee;" or
"not recommended to proceed, submit again in a full hearing." The student will be
informed of this decision immediately following the deliberation. If recommended to
proceed, it is the student's responsibility to assure that all suggested changes are carefully
considered and implemented in the project to the fullest degree possible.
f. The remainder of the semester - The student will meet weekly with the
faculty advisor and turn in sections of the written project according to the timeline
agreed upon by both.
3. Semester of expected graduation
a. Course registration - Register for the remaining project practicum hour of credit
(MUED 5890; as before, the section number will be based on the project
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advisor). Check on the deadline for comprehensive exam results to be reported to the Toulouse
Graduate School.
b. No later than Week 5 - Turn the final project in to the faculty advisor for
editing. The faculty advisor will return the project to the student within 1 week
with final suggestions for revision.
c. No later than Week 6 - The candidate will make all revisions and turn the
completed project in to the Committee by placing a printed hard copy in each
member's mailbox or by hand-delivering it.
d. Week 6 - The candidate will reserve an appropriate room (e.g., Graham Green
Room, Dean's Conference Room) for the defense of the project. The defense date
must be at least 2 weeks after the project was submitted to the Committee.
e. Week 8 - The candidate holds the project defense with the Committee.
Suggestions and revisions for improvement will be provided.
f. Week 9 - The candidate will make all suggested revisions and turn the final
project in to the project advisor, who will take care of submitting the necessary
documents required by the Toulouse Graduate School. An additional copy of the
completed project must be filed in the graduate archives of the Music Education
Resource Room (MU307) in the Music Building.
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III. MME Research Emphasis (34 hours)
The Research Emphasis track is recommended for experienced music educators who
seek to advance their knowledge in the theory of music instruction and who may be
contemplating college-level teaching at a later point in their careers. Because this
track requires the writing of a thesis, which includes original research, enrollment is
highly recommended for individuals preparing for possible doctoral work in music
or music education. This particular track is commensurate with other Master's of
Music degrees offered by the UNT College of Music that require a thesis.
A. Minimum Degree Requirements
Minimum course requirements, beyond the fulfillment of deficiencies in course work,
are as follows:
MUED Required - 12 hours
MUED 5280: Admission Seminar (3)
MUED ____ * (selected from the list below) (3)
MUED ____ * (selected from the list below) (3)
MUED ____ * (selected from the list below) (3)
Research Required - 6 hours
MUED 5120: Applied Research in Music Education (3)
EPSY 5210: Educational Statistics (3), or an alternate 3-hour research course
chosen in consultation with the Master's Coordinator
Electives -10 hours
Electives must be non-music education, music courses (non-MUED)
that are connected to the major and are linked to professional and/or
research development. Students may choose classes in music history,
theory, musicology, conducting, jazz, performing laboratories and/or
ensembles, or other areas of interest as approved by students' music
education faculty advisors.
Thesis - 6 hours (3&3)
MUGC 5950: Thesis (3 credits during the proposal semester; 3 credits
during the final defense semester)
*Music Education courses available for MUED Required
MUED 5100: Music Supervision (3) MUED 5880: Teaching Strategies in General
Music (3)
MUED 5500: History of Music Education (3) MUED 6434: Principles of Music Learning
(3)
MUED 5510: Philosophical Foundations (3) MUED 6470: Sociology of Music (3)
MUED 5520: Psychology of Music (3) MUED 6580: College Teaching of Music (3)
*A full list of course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Catalogue
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B. Thesis (comprehensive examination)
Because this degree track focuses on research, the final product is a scholarly thesis. The thesis
should be related to both the student's area of professional expertise and interest, and to the field
of music education. It should reflect the student's ability to carry out a research project that,
although limited in scope and size, may be considered a valid approach toward the research
question at hand as well as serving as a contribution to the music education research community.
C. Thesis Defenses (oral examinations)
There will be two separate defenses: one for the thesis proposal (the student and the Committee),
and one for the final defense (the student, the Committee, and others). During the hearings, the
student is expected to evidence a thorough knowledge of all related literature, research materials,
methodological steps, and findings documented in the pilot study or completed thesis. The first
segment of the final thesis defense (a presentation of the findings) will be an open defense that
may include family, friends, and peers within the UNT graduate student community. The second
segment of the final thesis defense will be a private exchange between the student and the
Committee. No more than three defense attempts will be allowed. Failure to successfully defend
a thesis after the third try will automatically remove the student from further consideration for
master's degree candidacy.
D. Establishing the Committee
Make-up of the Committee
The Committee is made up of three (3) music education faculty members. The student will select
a major professor (the thesis advisor), who will be the first point of contact in establishing the
thesis topic and sources. The two remaining committee members, also selected by the student,
will serve as resource persons and will help as the student needs.
Role of the Committee
The role of the Committee is to provide professional guidance in the research process. The
members will provide insight into the choice of the research topic, sources of material and other
resources, and guidance in the actual writing, data gathering, analysis, and interpretation of the
data for the research project.
E. Recommended Timeline for Completion
The following suggested timeline serves as a guide for the thesis process:
1. Throughout the degree program, the student should consider possible topics based
on his or her interests. The student should contact his or her faculty advisor to discuss (in
consultation with the Master's Coordinator) which faculty member might be best suited
to be the thesis advisor. With input from the thesis advisor, the student should finalize the
thesis topic and begin writing the proposal.
2. Three semesters before graduation
a. Course registration - Register for 3 (half) of the 6 thesis hours of credit
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(MUGC 5950; the section number will be based on the thesis advisor). Three hours will go
toward the completion of the thesis proposal, and the remaining 3 credits will be applied during
the final semester of study, when the thesis defense is scheduled.
b. No later than Week 2 - At the beginning of the third-to-last semester, and no
later than the second week of that semester, the student should contact the
thesis advisor to finalize the thesis topic and begin writing the proposal.
The proposal typically consists of the following sections:
1) Chapter One: an introduction to the content that will be covered in the
study;
2) Chapter Two: an extensive review of the research literature; and
3) Chapter Three: the methodology that will be used to conduct the study,
including validity and reliability results.
c. 1KB - Application must be made to the Institutional Review Board for
permission to work with human subjects. This process may take up to 4 weeks
for approval.
d. Pilot study - Upon guidance from the faculty advisor, it may be necessary to
conduct a pilot study, depending on the candidate's chosen methodology.
e. No later than midterm - The candidate will turn in a draft of the proposal to
the faculty advisor for editing and suggestions. The faculty advisor will return the
draft to the student within 2 weeks with suggested revisions. The student and
faculty advisor may need several more editing cycles to ensure a sound proposal.
f. No later than Week 14 - The candidate will make all revisions and turn the
completed proposal in to the Committee by placing a printed hard copy in each
member's mailbox or by hand-delivering it.
g. By the end of the semester - The candidate will hold a closed proposal
defense with the Committee. Along with the proposal, and if applicable, the
student must submit the completed human subject consent form that is required
before any data are gathered either for the pilot study or the main study.
Following the proposal hearing, the Committee will notify the student as to the
status of the proposal:
"proceed as is;"
"proceed with minor revisions;"
"proceed with revisions to be re-submitted to the committee;" or
"not recommended to proceed, submit again in a full hearing." The student will be
informed of this decision immediately following the deliberation. If recommended to proceed, it
is the student's responsibility to assure that all suggested changes are carefully considered and
implemented in the study to the fullest degree possible.
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3. Two semesters before graduation
a. Throughout the semester - The student will spend time refining and
conducting the study.
b. Consultation with the advisor - The student will meet with the thesis
advisor periodically for assistance with drafts and edits.
4. The semester of expected graduation
a. Course registration - Register for the remaining 3 thesis hours of credit
(MUGC 5950; as before, the section number will be based on the thesis
advisor).
b. Check on the deadline for comprehensive exam results (the thesis defense) to
be reported to the Toulouse Graduate School.
c. Conduct all data analysis and complete the thesis, guided by the faculty
advisor in regular meetings.
d. No later than Week 5 - Turn the final thesis in to the faculty advisor for
editing. The faculty advisor will return the thesis to the student within 1 week
with final suggestions for revision.
e. No later than Week 6 - The candidate will make all revisions and turn the
completed thesis in to the Committee by placing a printed hard copy in each
member's mailbox or hand-delivering it.
f. Week 6 - The candidate will reserve an appropriate room (e.g., Graham Green
Room, Dean's Conference Room) for the defense of the thesis. The defense date
must be at least 2 weeks after the project was submitted to the committee
members.
g. Week 8 - The candidate holds an open final defense with the Committee.
Suggestions and revisions for improvement will be provided.
h. Week 9 - The candidate will make all suggested revisions and submit the final thesis
to the Toulouse Graduate School. The thesis advisor will submit all other necessary
documents required by Toulouse. An additional copy of the completed thesis must be
filed in the graduate archives of the Music Education Resource Room (MU307) in the
Music Building.
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APPENDIX A
Application Checklist
Prerequisites
____ Earned Bachelor's degree in Music Education
____ Record of at least 1 year of full-time teaching experience
Applying
_____ Take the ORE
_____ Apply to the University and the Toulouse Graduate School
____ Apply to the College of Music and the Division of Music Education
Supporting application materials for the College of Music
____ Current resume or vitae
____ Writing sample (e.g., an undergraduate paper, project)
_____ Personal philosophy statement
_____ Three letters of recommendation
_____ Teaching DVD or video tape
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APPENDIX B Defense Preparation
Checklist
No later than the semester before you plan to graduate
____ Confirm degree plan status with the College of Music Graduate Office
____ File the Committee Designation form
____ Register for and prepare the proposal
8 weeks before the defense
_____ Contact the Committee and schedule a tentative date and time for the defense
_____ Obtain the Application for Comprehensive Examinations from the College of
Music Graduate Office
_____ Reserve the Graham Green Room or the Dean's Conference Room for the defense
(a 1-hour time slot)
7-8 weeks before the defense
_____ File the application for the defense with the College of Music Graduate Office
2 weeks before the defense
_____Confirm the room reservation
_____Confirm defense date and time with the Committee
After receipt of the results of the defense
_____ Make revisions to the document
_____ Submit materials to the Toulouse Graduate School by the designated date
_____ Submit an additional copy of the document to the music education graduate
archives in MU307
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APPENDIX C
MUED Course Rotations by Semester
(Offerings, instructors, and rotation of courses subject to change)
Fall courses
MUED 5150: Pedagogy in Practice (Rohwer)
MUED 5280: Current Issues in Music Education (Ramsey)
MUED 5510: Philosophical Foundations (Emmanuel)
MUED 5500: History of Music Education (Ramsey)
Spring courses
MUED 5100: Music Supervision (even years only) (Henry)
MUED 5120: Applied Research in Music Education (Rohwer)
MUED 5520: Psychology of Music (odd years only) (Ramsey)
MUED 6434: Principles of Music Learning (even years only) (Ramsey)
MUED 6580: College Teaching in Music (odd years only) (Henry)
Maymester courses
MUED 5880: Teaching Strategies in General Music (Taylor)
Summer courses
MUGC 4890/5890: Cultural Competence through Music (Emmanuel)
MUGC 4890/5890: Piano Skills for Educators (Taylor)
MUGC 4890/5890: Teaching Strategies in the Choir Classroom (McClung)
MUED 5120: Applied Research in Music Education (Taylor)
MUED 6450: Qualitative Research in Music (odd years only) (Taylor)
MUED 6470: Sociology of Music (even years only) (Roesler)
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APPENDIX D
Music Education Faculty
Dr. Donna Emmanuel, Associate Professor of Music (Elementary) BA, University of West
Florida MME, University of Michigan Ph.D., Michigan State University
Dr. Warren Henry, Professor of Music (Elementary) BM and MM, Crane
School of Music Ph.D., Michigan State University
Dr. Elizabeth Chappell, Lecture Professor of Music (Strings)
BM, University of Kansas, MM and Ph.D, University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Alan McClung, Associate Professor of Music (Choral) BME, West Virginia
University MM, University of Illinois, Urbana Ph.D., Florida State University
Dr. Sean Powell, Assistant Professor of Music (Instrumental - Band)
BM, Tennessee Tech University, MM, Illinois State University
Ed.D., University of Illinois, Urbana
Dr. Darhyl S. Ramsey, Professor of Music (Instrumental - Band) BM, Carson-Newman
College MA and Ph.D., University of Iowa
Dr. Debbie Rohwer, Professor of Music and Chair (Instrumental - Band) BM, Northwestern
University MM, Eastman School Music Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Dr. Donald Taylor, Assistant Professor of Music (Elementary) BM, University of
Texas, San Antonio MM, Indiana University DMA, University of Cincinnati Ph.D.,
University of Texas, Austin
