Admission
Admission to the degree program in music education requires the completion of a Bachelor of Music Education (BME) degree, or the equivalent of a BME, from an accredited institution, as well as the contact information for three people to provide letters of recommendation. Students holding bachelor’s degrees in music other than the Bachelor of Music Education must satisfy public school certification requirements to qualify for full admission. Applicants without such certification are admitted on a conditional basis pending their attainment of public school teaching credentials. Approval of the MME specialization must be acquired.
Program Requirements
Students must complete the coursework listed below.
Students entering all MME programs will take a music theory assessment and are recommended to one of two music theory entry courses. MME programs range from 32 to 36 credit hours, at least half of which must be in courses numbered 700 and above. Core requirements and terminal project options outlined below are the same for each emphasis area unless specifically noted.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements for All MME Programs | ||
| MUSE 853 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| MUSE 855 | Psychology of Music | 3 |
| MUSE 871 | History and Philosophy of Music Education | 3 |
| MUSC 829 | Practical Application of Tonal Analysis | 2 |
| or MUSC 831 | Music Theory Pedagogy | |
| Musicology/Theory Electives | ||
| Select 4-6 credit hours from the following courses | 4-6 | |
| Form and Analysis | ||
| Performance and Analysis | ||
| Topics in Analysis: Music in Media | ||
| Topics in Analysis: Popular Music Analysis | ||
| Topics in Musicology: Aesthetics | ||
| Topics in Musicology: Ethnography | ||
| Topics in Musicology: Gender | ||
| Topics in Musicology: Popular Musics | ||
| Music Theory Pedagogy 1 | ||
| Seminar in Music Theory | ||
| Seminar in Music History | ||
| Field Specialty | ||
| MUSE 790C | Choral Rehearsal Techniques | 2 |
| MUSP 691 | Advanced Choral Conducting 2 | 2 |
| Select one course from the following | 2 | |
| Instructional Methods in Middle Level/Secondary Music | ||
| Choral Literature of the Renaissance | ||
| Choral Literature of the Baroque | ||
| Choral Literature of the Classical and Romantic | ||
| Choral Literature After 1900 | ||
| Electives 3 | ||
| Select music or nonmusic courses 500 or above. May apply up to 5 credit hours of applied lessons, 2 credit hours of ensembles, 4 credit hours of workshops, or 10 credit hours of Kodály coursework. Courses must be approved by the faculty advisor. | 7-9 | |
| Terminal Project | ||
| Select one of the following options | 2-6 | |
| Graduate Recital | ||
| Terminal Conducting Project | ||
| Thesis Research and Thesis | ||
| Terminal Project in Music Education | ||
| Other Option — Extra Credit Hours | ||
To be selected in consultation with advisor and approved by the area director. This excludes applied, ensemble, workshops and special project credit hours. | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 32-36 | |
Examinations
All degree candidates in the School of Music who are not defending a thesis must pass a two-part comprehensive exam: one in musicology/music theory and one which is discipline specific.
- 1
MUSC 831 can only be used as a musicology/theory elective with MUSC 829 as a core course.
- 2
If a student has had this course previously at WSU, a 2-credit-hour 790 Special Topics in conducting may be substituted.
- 3
Theory/Musicology electives and other electives must add to 13 credit hours in total.
Applied Learning
Students in the Master of Music Education are required to complete an applied learning or research experience to graduate from the program. The requirement can be met by completing either Research Design and Methods (MUSE 853), a conducting recital ( MUSE 844), terminal project ( MUSE 854), thesis ( MUSE 876) or performance recital ( MUSP 873).