Graduate Music Education Program

Master of Music in Music Education

NDSU’s Master of Music in Music Education is designed with flexibility and personal attention especially for professional educators working in the K-12 schools. All courses are offered online; the degree can be completed in five semesters or up to seven years. Coursework can be focused on elementary, choral/vocal or instrumental music education.

Credits may be transferred from other institutions pending approval. The typical capstone activity is a four-credit practicum; no thesis is required. Students are required to register for at least six credits per calendar year until all degree requirements, which include written and oral comprehensive exams, are completed.

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Questions? See the FAQs below or contact Dr. Nicki Bakko Toliver at nicki.toliver@ndsu.edu for more information.

FAQs

What is the timeline for degree completion?
Complete the degree in five semesters (two in the summer) or within seven years.

What is the tuition?
The tuition is low and affordable.

What courses are available online?
All of our courses are available online.

Are the online courses offered asynchronously or synchronously?
The online courses are designed for flexibility and offered asynchronously to accommodate teacher’s schedules. A few synchronous meetings are required for MUSC 701 and 703. MUSC 790 is the only online course which requires synchronous attendance.

What is MUSC 790 – The Seminar in Contemporary Issues in Music Education?
MUSC 790 is the only course which requires synchronous attendance, but we are actually encouraging students to campus if they are available. This Seminar (Music Education Symposium) is a fantastic ONE WEEK course which completes three credits. During that week, we have headliners such as Bridget Sweet, Birch Browning, Mary Goetze, Peter Boonshaft, Robert Duke, Carl Hancock, Kenneth Elpus, Andrea Strauss, Carlos Abril, Alice-Ann Darrow, Tim Sharp and Deborah Sheldon join us on campus to share their areas of expertise.

Will I connect with my colleagues and professors during online classes?
Even though the degree is online, through Discussion Boards in our elective course offerings and MUSC 790, teachers pursuing this degree are able to connect with other colleagues and faculty while gaining relevant knowledge.

MUSC 790 is the only online course which requires synchronous attendance, and we also invite our teachers that are pursuing the degree to our beautiful campus. Summers are gorgeous in Fargo, North Dakota.

What is MUSC 731?
MUSC 731 is Applied Lessons, these lessons are typically in the teacher’s area of expertise but sometimes in an area in which they hope to gain knowledge. Applied Lessons are flexible and scheduled between the student and instructor and can be offered online or in person, if living in close proximity to North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota.

What are the required registration details when completing the degree?
Teachers pursuing the MMME only need to complete six-credits per calendar year (January – December) to remain in the program.

What is the Practicum (MUSC 795)?
The practicum is a self-guided project, overseen by your advisor. The four-credit Practicum requirement is satisfied through two semesters of two-credit registrations in MUSC 795. The first semester is spent developing an idea for the practicum and initial review of literature, concluding with a brief report that serves as the proposal/prospectus. The second semester acts as the primary semester of focus, with the actual writing and editing of the practicum project for final evaluation.

Creating your practicum begins with critically thinking about your current teaching situation. Possible inquiries include: What are the areas in your teaching you wish to strengthen or further organize? What is a content area you wish you were incorporating into your teaching, but need an extra motivation to implement it? Example practicum topics include but are not limited to music standards, to assessments, seating arrangements, diversity, units to develop compound counting systems, adaptive music, and “guitar hero” structured for orchestra. We know the art of teaching is constantly evolving, so the practicum is viewed as a "work in progress."

What are the comprehensive exams?
Comprehensive exams demonstrate evidence that the student has gained knowledge that aligns with the goals of the MMME degree plan and the specific coursework pursued during their studies. The comprehensive exams consist of four hours of written examination and a two-hour oral exam administered near the end of the degree program. The exams will cover content from MMME courses in music theory, music history, foundations in music education, psychology of music, other completed elective courses, and general reflections on the practicum and overall degree. The comprehensive exams offer an additional opportunity to communicate the results of your practicum and implementations you have integrated into your teaching through the MMME coursework. Your three-member comprehensive exam committee will consist of your advisor as well as two other music faculty members.

Will I receive good advising?
At NDSU, we pride ourselves in our personal approach to assisting teachers in completing this degree. We thrive on building connections with currently practicing teachers.

How can I receive more information?
Email Dr. Nicki Bakko Toliver at nicki.toliver@ndsu.edu for more information.

What are the requirements to apply for the fully-online Master of Music in Music Education?
All Master of Music in Music Education candidates must have an undergraduate degree in music education, have a GPA of 3.0, an adequate writing sample and excellent references.

Where can I start the application process?
https://www.ndsu.edu/gradschool/apply