The purpose of this program is to provide continuing education for K-12 music educators. Additionally, this program is a research-based graduate degree for those wishing to pursue doctoral work. This graduate program will be a research-based degree to support the community of K-12 music educators throughout San Diego and throughout the state.
The MM degree is a 30-31-unit degree program. All entering students into the graduate program will complete 12 units of music education coursework: History and Sociology of Music Education (3 units), Current Trends in Music Education (3 units), Instructional Design in Music Education (3 units), and Research Seminar (MUSIC 690 , 3 units). Students will also need to complete Theory and History courses (6 units) and Capstone courses (4 units).
MM students will choose a specialty area (8-9 units), either elementary music education or secondary music education. Students will select the specialty area they would like to follow based upon their current teaching scenario and/or future career teaching goals. For the elementary music education speciality, students will complete the courses Advanced Elementary Methods and Human Behavior in Music Education. For students following the secondary music education speciality, they will complete six units of conducting coursework. Once a student selects the speciality they would like to attend, they will have the option to take courses in the other speciality through elective options.
The admission standards and requirements are as follows:
- One year full-time K-12 teaching experience
- Teaching credential/certification (from any state)
- Personal statement including your teaching philosophy, future teaching goals, and why you are pursuing a graduate degree (approximately 1-2 pages)
- Classroom Teaching/Conducting Video (approximately 10 minutes)
- Interview with the Music Education Faculty
Advancement to candidacy criteria: In addition to meeting the requirements for advancement to candidacy as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees , all students must have (1) completed a minimum of 27 units of program coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 [B]; and (2) been reviewed by a selected group of graduate faculty and received approval of an acceptable body of graduate work completed since classified standing fulfilling the requirements of the speciality area.
