Master of Music in Music Education

Program Director

Dr. Joseph Carucci

Bliss Hall 3010

jwcarucci@ysu.edu 

(330) 941-1439 

Program Description

The Online Master of Music in Music Education enables music educators from across the country to continue teaching while they further their knowledge of current pedagogical strategies and curriculum and assessment development with diverse populations and settings. In addition, music educators may accumulate credits and credentials to maintain state teaching licensures and increase in pay rank (if applicable in their state). The degree has ample room for advancing practical goals and culminates in a written capstone project that supports students’ professional goals and demonstrates their development throughout the degree (e.g., research, pedagogy, understanding diverse musics).


Intended for music educators at the beginning and middle stages of their careers, the skills honed throughout the degree may be readily applied either to the immediate improvement of practical skills or further graduate work. The degree may be completed within 3 semesters, including summers, or as the student’s schedule allows. Our graduates hold positions in public and private education at all-levels, including leadership roles throughout academia, and the design of the Online Master of Music in Music Education is flexible enough to help students reach their career goals.

Admission Requirements

  • Applicants for admission to graduate study in the Master of Music degree must present a baccalaureate degree in music from an accredited college or university. Admission requires a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale). 
  • A representative writing sample is required. 
  • Successful completion of 30 semester hours and all requirements specific to each degree.
  • Students in Performance, Music Composition, and Music Education will take core courses in Music and Society (MUHL 6980), Graduate Analysis (MUTC 6922), and Research in Music (6960). 
  • In performance degrees, students will also take applied lessons, ensembles, and two seminar electives. Performance degrees will culminate in a 50-minute recital. Candidates in Voice Performance are expected to be proficient in two foreign languages or else take two semesters each of two different languages (Italian, French, or German). 
  • In Jazz Studies, students will also take applied lessons on an instrument and in composition as well as small and large ensembles. The degree requires two 50-minute recitals.
  • In Music Composition degrees, students will take seminar electives. 
  • Students must maintain a minimum grade-point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) to remain in “good standing.” Any course grade of D or F must be repeated and passed with a grade of A or B and no more than 6 semester hours of coursework with a grade of C may count toward the minimum graduation hour requirements.
COURSE TITLE S.H.
Core Requirements9
Graduate Analysis
Research in Music
Music and Society
Seminars in area12
Seminars outside of area9
Total Semester Hours30
COURSE TITLE S.H.
Seminars in area (select a total of 12 S.H. from the following)
Selected Topics in Music Education
Music Workshop
Foundations of Music Education
Seminar in Music Education
Research Methods and Materials in Music Education
Contemporary Curriculum Development
Contemporary Trends in Music Education
Workshop in Music Education
Seminars outside of area (select a total of 9 S.H. from the following)
*Seminars outside of area may include music applied classes, ensembles or thesis.
Pedagogy of Theory
Vocal Pedagogy
Piano Pedagogy
Conducting Pedagogy
Theory Seminar
Jazz Theory
Jazz Composition
Seminar in Musicology
Selected Topics in Jazz History
Independent Projects in Music

Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and work critically with historical information (MUHL). Assessment: MUHL course-based project.
  2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of specialized knowledge of at least one aspect of Music Theory (MUTC). Assessment: Final exam in 6922 Graduate Analysis II.
  3. Students will demonstrate the ability to write in a scholarly manner about their area of specialization within music. Assessment: FINAL PROJECT IN MUED 6973