Music (MM) - Music Education Concentration - (Alternative Choral or Instrumental)

Degree Requirements

Degree Requirements and Courses

This program is designed to provide initial teacher preparation at the graduate level primarily for students interested in pursuing a career in teaching but whose undergraduate degree did not include a teacher education program. Students must complete a minimum of 46 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-and-a-half-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 ALT. Choral or ALT. Instrumental Degree Checklist

(14 Courses, 46 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).
MUL 501Graduate Research in Music2
Complete 2 credits in applied music: (Maximum of 6 hours will apply towards degree)2
MUA/B 5**
MUE 512Foundations of Music Education4
MUE 513Curr and Assess in Music Ed4
Complete 1 credit of ensemble: (Maximum of 6 hours will apply towards degree)1
MUO 5**
MUS 501Music Education Technology3
Select seven hours from the following:7
Choral Music Education
Adv Study in Tchg Choral Music
Instrumental Music Education
Adv Study in Tchg Instr Music
MUT 512Intro Analysis of Music Lit4
or MUT 513 Pedagogy of Theory
MUL 535American Music4
or MUL 590 Spec Topics in Music History
SPE 500Nat-Needs of Exc Chld and Yth3
RED 541Literacy in the Content Area3
EPY 525Assessment & Research in Educ3
Required Internship in Music Education (see academic advisor for details)6
Total Hours46

Internship in Music Education

The internship is a supervised learning experience in a work setting similar to that in which the educator will eventually be employed. The internship provides the student an opportunity to apply the theories and concepts learned during the graduate program of study. Students enroll in the internship during the final semester of study after all other degree coursework. 

Alabama State Department of Education Certification Requirements

A Student applying for initial teacher certification will be required to pass the appropriate Praxis II test (s) and have a successful score on his/her edTPA portfolio. ALSDE certification requirements are subject to change and students will be required to meet those which are in place the semester they are applying for certification. Prior to registering for any Praxis II exam, please verify current requirements by going directly to the ALABAMA portion of the Praxis II website at:

https://www.ets.org/praxis/al