Music (MM) - Music Education Concentration
Degree Requirements
Degree Requirements and Courses
Students must complete a minimum of 35 semester hours of credit in approved 500-level courses. A minimum of 20 semester hours must be completed at the University of South Alabama. Up to 12 hours of USA courses taken while in another program (or non-degree status) may be applied. Only courses not applied to another degree may count. Maximum of 12 hours with grades of "A", "B", or "S" of approved transfer credit is allowed. If the university is non-accredited, the individual USA graduate program will determine if the quality and content of the courses meet the standards of the program.
Grade Requirements
- A minimum of a 3.0 GPA on all work attempted is required for graduation.
- Courses in which a student receives a "D" or below will not be counted toward the degree program.
- A maximum of two courses with a grade of "C" will be counted toward the degree program.
- Students receiving four grades of "C" or below, regardless of the overall GPA will be dismissed from the program.
- A student who receives a failing grade in a course for graduate credit may be dismissed from the program.
Time Limitations
- All degree requirements must be completed within seven calendar years.
- Most students who take nine hours per semester complete the degree within a two-year period.
- The time required for degree completion depends on how many courses a student can take each semester and the ability of that student to complete the recital(s) or final project(s).
Course Load
Six to ten credit hours per semester constitute a full-time course load.
Music Education Degree Checklist
(13-20 Courses, 35 hours)
- All master's degree students will be advised by the Graduate Music Program Coordinator to ensure timely completion of the curriculum.
- The time required for degree completion depends on how many courses a student can take each semester and the ability of that student to complete the recital(s) or final project(s).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUL 501 | Graduate Research in Music | 2 |
| MUA/B 5** - Applied Music (Maximum of 6 hours will apply towards degree) | 2 | |
| MUE 512 | Foundations of Music Education | 4 |
| MUE 513 | Curr and Assess in Music Ed | 4 |
| MUT 513 | Pedagogy of Theory | 4 |
| MUO 5** - Ensemble (Maximum of 6 hours will apply towards degree) | 1 | |
| MUE 585 | Practicum in Music Education (1 hour each course) | 2 |
| MUE 589 | Reading and Conference | 1 |
| MUL 535 | American Music | 4 |
| or MUL 590 | Spec Topics in Music History | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Multicultural Education | ||
| Multicultural Exp in Schools | ||
| Nat-Needs of Exc Chld and Yth | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Adv Stdy in EC/Elem/Gen Music | ||
| Adv Study in Tchg Choral Music | ||
| Adv Study in Tchg Instr Music | ||
| Select four hours of the following: | 4 | |
| Intro Analysis of Music Lit | ||
| Adv Stdy in EC/Elem/Gen Music | ||
| Adv Study in Tchg Choral Music | ||
| Adv Study in Tchg Instr Music | ||
| American Music | ||
| Spec Topics in Music History | ||
| Total Hours | 35 | |
Reading and Conference (MUE 589)
Students submit one Portfolio/Final Project to the faculty committee three weeks prior to an oral examination during finals week of the semester of graduation with two of the following:
- A video recording (min. 35 minutes) of the candidate’s teaching or conducting, illustrating the students learning/rehearsing process with notable progress, accompanied by a written self-critique;
- A project representing pedagogical work in music education (e.g. choral arrangement; folk song collection and analysis; curriculum project; marching band unit; a composition or arrangement or set of compositions or arrangements with notes for rehearsal and/or performance)
- A paper demonstrating knowledge of music or teaching specialization (e.g. a history, theory or research paper; an article published in a music teaching periodical)
Comprehensive Exams
Each student will be evaluated to ensure achievement of program outcomes. This evaluation may be in the form of a comprehensive exam or other measurement tools, such as a recital. If unsatisfactory, after corrective action, the evaluation may be repeated up to two (2) times. Eligibility for graduation is contingent upon successful completion of the degree requirements specified by both the University and the Department of Music, including
- Completion of all coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0) and
- Successful completion of comprehensive examinations after all course work is completed.
Approval of committee must be secured no less than two weeks prior to the scheduled date of the recital. The Graduate Coordinator will complete the “USA Graduate School Comprehensive Examination Committee Appointment Request and Evaluation Report” Form prior to recital. The Student will sign the form upon notification of recital results. A recital program will be attached and the form with program will be sent to the Graduate College.