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Music Education - Ph.D.

Embark on a transformative journey in music education with our Ph.D. degree. Dive deep into innovative research, refine your teaching methodologies and become a trailblazer in the field. Join us at Kent State University and shape the future of music educators.

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Program Information for Music Education - Ph.D.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Music Education integrates teaching, theory and research in inquiry about music teaching and learning. Through a collaboration with Kent State's College of Education, Health and Human Services, the degree program allows for emerging scholars to engage in coursework and research in areas connecting musical and educational pedagogies. Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree are interested in preparing music teacher educators at institutions of higher learning; engaging in arts education activities; and exploring emerging practices in curriculum, artistic instruction and educational thought.

Admissions for Music Education - Ph.D.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Bachelor's or master's degree in music education
  • Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Current and valid state teaching license earned from an accredited U.S. university program
  • Minimum three years of successful teaching experience at elementary and/or secondary levels
  • Video/DVD sample of school music teaching
  • Résumé or curriculum vitae of professional musical and teaching work
  • Goal statement
  • Scholarly writing sample of related discipline
  • Three letters of reference (professional and pedagogical)
  • Interview with music education faculty (via voice, video or personal campus visit)
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 50 PTE score
    • Minimum 100 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of music education research and practice relative to primary, secondary, undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels through writing and oral communication.
  2. Engage in research activities appropriate to doctoral and professional level practice in music education.
  3. Demonstrate active involvement at local, national and global levels through diverse professional activities, including but not limited to scholarly publications and presentations, collaborative research and engagement with other scholars in order to share knowledge in music and related fields.
  4. Communicate a comprehensive and sophisticated knowledge of music education through the lens of history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, research methodologies, advanced pedagogy, learning theories and methods of curricular structure.
  5. Demonstrate reading, research, writing and critical-thinking skills related to contemporary music education contexts.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
CI 77001FUNDAMENTALS OF CURRICULUM 3
CI 87000THEORY AND RESEARCH IN TEACHING 3
MUS 73261ADVANCED STUDIES IN SECONDARY CHORAL AND GENERAL MUSIC 3
or MUS 73262 ADVANCED STUDIES IN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
or MUS 73263 ADVANCED STUDIES IN GENERAL MUSIC FOR CHILDREN
MUS 73283RESEARCH IN MUSIC EDUCATION 3
MUS 86001SEMINAR IN MUSIC EDUCATION I 3
MUS 86002SEMINAR IN MUSIC EDUCATION II 3
RMS 75510STATISTICS I FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 3
RMS 85515QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS 3
or RMS 85516 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
Musical Literacy Electives 16
Music Education Electives, choose from the following:9
MUS 73272
LEARNING THEORIES IN MUSIC
MUS 73273
PSYCHOLOGY OF MUSIC
MUS 73274
FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 73284
HISTORY OF MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 73285
PHILOSOPHY OF MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 73286
SOCIOLOGY OF MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 73295
SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSIC EDUCATION
Curriculum and Instruction Electives, choose from the following:6
CI 71130
MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION: STRATEGIES
CI 77002
CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP
CI 77003
TEACHER EDUCATION
CI 77004
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN TEACHING
CI 77010
CURRICULUM EVALUATION
CI 87001
THEORY AND RESEARCH IN CURRICULUM
CI 87002
FORMS OF INQUIRY IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Culminating Requirement
MUS 88199DISSERTATION I 230
Minimum Total Credit Hours:75
1

Students may be required to take courses in music theory, which will be applied toward the Musical Literacy requirement of the degree. Requirements will be determined based on the results of a diagnostic exam as stated in the Music Graduate Handbook. Remaining Musical Literacy credit hours are fulfilled by taking courses in music theory, music history, ethnomusicology, composition, conducting, music performance or other related topics of student interest as approved by the academic advisor.

2

Upon successful completion of the candidacy examination, students take a dissertation topic from the proposal stage through approval, writing, submission and an oral defense process with a faculty committee comprised of the music education advisor, one additional music education faculty member, one representative from music education or education, a member from another music discipline area or education and an appointed graduate faculty representative. Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for MUS 88199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter MUS 88299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000

Residency Requirements

Student must complete a residency requirement of minimum 9 credit hours each year until qualifying exams.

Candidacy Requirements

For the Ph.D. a comprehensive, qualifying, candidacy examination is taken when the student has substantially completed his/her coursework and has received the consent of the advisor committee to attempt the examination. The examination includes an extensive written section consisting of proctored and non-proctored questions, and an oral section taken before a faculty committee. Material for both written and oral sections is drawn from the coursework taken during the degree program, current professional research literature, and current topics in music education. Students who fail the candidacy examination two times will be dismissed from the doctoral program.

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for Music Education - Ph.D.

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Music; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Music Education - Ph.D.

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

5.6%

faster than the average

116,300

number of jobs

$69,690

potential earnings

Education teachers, postsecondary

4.8%

about as fast as the average

77,300

number of jobs

$65,440

potential earnings

Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.6%

about as fast as the average

627,100

number of jobs

$60,810

potential earnings

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.8%

about as fast as the average

1,050,800

number of jobs

$62,870

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Music Education - M.M.

The Master of Music degree in Music Education is designed to offer teachers of choral, instrumental and general music the opportunity to develop and refine their professional skills. The degree program allows for enhancement and specialization relative to music teaching and learning in contemporary school contexts. The program is not intended to provide licensure and is constructed for those who have a music education background with the desire to improve the student and teacher experience in music classroom settings.

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Program Information for Music Education - M.M.

Admissions for Music Education - M.M.

Admissions

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in music education from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Current and valid state teaching license earned from an accredited U.S. university program
  • One year of full-time teaching completed before beginning coursework
  • Résumé
  • Goal Statement
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 50 PTE score
    • Minimum 100 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Develop and apply knowledge of foundational principles of music education (history, philosophy, sociology, psychology); research methods and practices; music technology; methods of music education in instrumental, choral and general music contexts; western music theory and history; and world music.
  2. Exhibit scholarly writing skills focusing on comprehensive knowledge of research methodology.
  3. Demonstrate reading, research, writing and critical-thinking skills related to contemporary music education contexts.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
MUS 52131MUSIC OF THE UNITED STATES 3
MUS 61170MUSIC ANALYSIS 3
MUS 62171MUSIC FROM WORLD CULTURES 3
MUS 63241INQUIRY IN MUSIC TEACHING I 3
MUS 63242INQUIRY IN MUSIC TEACHING AND LEARNING II 3
MUS 67243TECHNOLOGY FOR MUSIC TEACHING 3
MUS 63274FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC EDUCATION 3
Pedagogy Specialization Electives, choose from the following:6
MUS 63261
ADVANCED STUDIES IN TEACHING CHORAL MUSIC
MUS 63262
ADVANCED STUDIES IN TEACHING INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
MUS 63263
ADVANCED STUDIES IN TEACHING GENERAL MUSIC
Culminating Requirement
MUS 63099CAPSTONE PROJECT 14
Minimum Total Credit Hours:31
1

With the capstone project, students complete a 12-week, individual research investigation comparable to a master's thesis. Under the supervision of a capstone advisor, students synthesize knowledge through the development of a curricular project applicable to the student's specific area of teaching. A prescribed description outlines requirements, goals, objectives, procedures and assessment. Activities include student reading-research-writing, preparation of a project outline and drafts, regular interaction with a research mentor and evaluation of conclusions for the final submission. The project's goal is to support students to critically analyze and improve their own music teaching and learning skills in classroom settings. The project is reviewed and evaluated by a graduate committee of music education faculty.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • No more than one-half of a graduate student’s coursework may be taken in 50000-level courses.
  • Grades below C are not counted toward completion of requirements for the degree.
Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online

Accreditation for Music Education - M.M.

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Music; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Music Education - M.M.

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

5.6%

faster than the average

116,300

number of jobs

$69,690

potential earnings

Education teachers, postsecondary

4.8%

about as fast as the average

77,300

number of jobs

$65,440

potential earnings

Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.6%

about as fast as the average

627,100

number of jobs

$60,810

potential earnings

Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

3.8%

about as fast as the average

1,050,800

number of jobs

$62,870

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Is there a difference between the M.Ed. and M.A.?

Yes, the M.Ed. is a professional, applied degree and the M.A. is a research degree. 

The M.Ed. in Educational Psychology prepares students to apply cutting-edge research findings to various settings, including K-12 education, museums, after-school programs, and business and industry. 

The M.A. in Learning Science trains students in research methods, analysis, and statistics and prepares them for advanced graduate training or careers in research, analysis, data science, and evaluation. 

What are the differences in the degree programs?

Educational Psychology

The Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Psychology is a professional degree designed for educators and anyone interested in how to apply the science of learning, development, and cognition to real-world situations. This degree is 100% online and can be completed in as little as 18 months. 

Gifted Education Endorsement Preparation - Non-Degree

The concentration in Gifted Education can be combined with the M.Ed. or earned as a separate certificate.  

Trunk or Treat Night

Graphic of Trunk or Treat at Kent State

Join us for an outdoor movie, free food, games and prizes as the Student Services and Student Government at Kent State University at Tuscarawas collaborate to present Trunk or Treat on Tues., Oct. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center parking lot. The event is free and includes hot dogs, hot chocolate, Halloween games, treats and prizes for the best costume and trunk. The movie Monster House will begin playing around 6:30 p.m. To register your car, please visit: Kent State Tuscarawas: Trunk or Treat Vehicle Registration (google.com) ...

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