Degree: Master of Arts (MA)
Field of Study: Music Education

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Music Education program is for individuals with an undergraduate degree in music education, a teaching certificate/license, and at least one year of music classroom teaching experience, who wish to pursue further academic study as a means to develop professionally. Coursework combines the study of philosophical, research-based, and theoretical approaches to teaching and learning music with pragmatic approaches to improving music learning. Students meet with their academic advisor each semester to select the most appropriate trajectory for advancing through the program. Full-time students can expect to complete the MA degree in two years (9 credit hours per semester). Part-time students can expect to take one class (3 credit hours) per semester, completing the degree over the course of five years.

The MA for Licensure (MAL) concentration is for students with an undergraduate degree in music who wish to obtain licensure to teach music in the public schools while simultaneously pursuing graduate study in music education.   

Admission

Applicants with good academic records from fully accredited universities and colleges will be considered for admission to graduate study at Case Western Reserve University. Admission must be recommended by the department or professional school of the university in which the applicant proposes to study and must be approved by the dean of graduate studies. 

Applicants for the MA in music education must have at least a 3.0 GPA from a completed undergraduate degree program in music education, a minimum of one year of successful school music teaching experience in group settings, and evidence of strong written and spoken English skills. After initial review, applicants may be invited to campus for an interview. The MA does not require a vocal or an instrumental audition.

Applicants for the MAL in music education should have an undergraduate degree in music (BA or BM) with a GPA of 3.0 or better and some prior experience in working with children. The MAL requires a vocal or an instrumental audition.

Music Handbook and Advising

Current graduate and professional students in music should review departmental policies and procedures in the Graduate Music Handbook. The handbook provides additional information regarding graduate assistantships, general expectations and responsibilities, program outcomes, decision points, performances, scholarly activity, outside work, prizes/awards, deadlines, petitions, examinations, advancement to candidacy, and student record-keeping.

Graduate Policies

For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.

Program Requirements

The MA in Music Education has two options for final project:

Plan A, Thesis

Students write a thesis based on original research and defend the thesis in an oral examination. Students in Plan A receive 6 credit units for thesis research.

Plan B, Comprehensive Exams

Students complete a comprehensive examination in music education at the conclusion of coursework.

Applicants for Plans A or B should have an undergraduate degree in music education with a GPA of 3.0 or better and at least one year of successful music teaching experience, usually in the public schools.

A minimum of 30 credit units is required for Plan A and Plan B. MA students may take 300-level classes provided that 18 credit units of 400-level courses have been completed (faculty approval required).

Requirements for Plan A, Thesis

Requirements for Plan B, Comprehensive Exams

MA for Licensure (MAL)

The MAL option is for students with an undergraduate degree in music who wish to obtain a licensure to teach music in the public schools while simultaneously pursuing graduate study in music education. Applicants for the MAL should have an undergraduate degree in music (BA or BM) with a GPA of 3.0 or better and some prior experience in working with children.

Course requirements span six semesters and combine core graduate music and music education courses (30 credit units), licensure courses (31 credit units), with student teaching (12 credit units). The regulations for students in the BS program regarding advanced standing, grade point averages, and the Ohio Assessments for Educators exam apply to graduate students in Plan C as well. Completion of the Plan C degree does not ensure that the State of Ohio music teacher license will be awarded.

Plan C requires a minimum of 73 credit units. Classes at the 200-level, while required for teacher licensure, do not count toward the graduate degree and therefore are not included in GPA calculations. However, they do appear on the transcript with a grade and serve to satisfy the academic requirements for licensure. MAL students may take 300-level classes provided that 18 credit units of 400-level courses have been completed (faculty approval required).

To remain in the MAL program, students must meet GPA and professional standards each year. Please review the Graduate Music Handbook for more information. 

Requirements for MA for Licensure Concentration 

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See the required methods for choral, instrumental, and general focus (Music Education, BS)