Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
General Master's Degree Admission Requirements
View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements.
Interim Director: Melissa Malde, D.M.A.
Interim Associate Director: Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.
Location: Frasier Hall 108
Telephone: 970.351.2993
Website: arts.unco.edu/music/
Graduate Coordinator: Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.
Each new student entering a graduate program in music at the University of Northern Colorado is required to take graduate advisory examinations in Music History and writing skills, and placement examinations in Music Theory and Aural Skills, and the student’s major area. For students entering the Music Education degree, the major area will be Music Education. Graduate students who do not pass the theory placement exam must enroll in MUS 401. Graduate students who do not pass the aural skills placement exam must enroll in MUS 402. All students must either pass the theory and aural skills exam OR pass MUS 401 and/or MUS 402 with a grade of C or better before they can enroll in graduate-level theory classes or graduate from their programs.
The degree program seeks to assist graduate candidates in developing advanced professional competencies in performance, scholarly abilities, research, and pedagogical techniques for use in the profession or for instruction in higher education.
Residency, when stated in the music section of this Catalog, is interpreted to mean 9 credit hours or more per semester.
The Master of Music (Music Education Concentration) degree program is designed to develop and enrich professional understandings, skills, and musical/pedagogical competencies in the field of music education.
Incoming students must meet admission requirements of the Graduate School. Candidates must have completed an undergraduate degree in music or music education. Other candidates may be accepted upon petition to the Music Education Program.
Prospective music education graduate students, in addition to following current Graduate School and School of Music application procedures, should submit the following directly to the School of Music director in order to be considered for admission to the UNC Music Education Graduate Program:
- One 30-45 minute video or DVD that is representative of the applicant's teaching abilities. Applicants should include a 10-15 minute performance segment that is representative of their performing ability on their primary instrument or voice. Applicants should select two pieces of contrasting style for the performance segment.
- Three letters of recommendation addressing teaching abilities, potential for success in graduate studies, musicianship, and collegiality.
Degree Requirements — 30-36 Credits
Required Concentration Credits — 12 hours
Studies in the Major Area (9 Credit Hours)
| MUS 519 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| MUS 533 | Curriculum Trends in Music Education | 3 |
| MUS 610 | Research in Music Education | 3 |
Studies in Professional Education (3 Credit Hours)
Selected from the following content areas such as: Psychology of Music Teaching and Learning, Multicultural Education, Educational Psychology, Educational Foundations or Special Education.
Credits in Music Studies — 10-16 Credit Hours
To be selected in consultation with program advisor.
Elective Credits in Music and other areas — 8 Credit Hours
Courses should be based upon the candidate's specialized teaching area and professional goals.
Thesis option:
MUS 699: Take 6 credits.
Program Notes
Candidates will be asked to take an advisory examination on topics related to music education.
The School of Music will consider examinations, scholarly papers and musical performance in all areas of study to assess student progress throughout the program.
Each master's degree student must pass a written comprehensive examination or otherwise show competency in the discipline by successfully completing a specified equivalent that has been approved by the Graduate Council (thesis or project in lieu of comprehensive examinations). Defense of a project or thesis in lieu of comprehensive examinations is equivalent to administering the comprehensive examination.