Music Education

Graduate Students

Welcome to the community of graduate students in Music Education at ASU. The Music Education area offers two graduate degrees:  the Master of Music in Music Education, and the Ph.D. in Music with a Music Education concentration. 

Master of Music in Music Education

The master’s degree program in music education provides professional education for music educators and community musicians.  Flexible study options are available for individuals who are teaching full-time or part-time, and for those who wish to enroll as full-time graduate study.  Many classes are scheduled in the late afternoons and evenings to accommodate K-12 and community educators. Summer study is also available. Your peers in the program will include full-time and part-time K-12 music educators, community musicians and music educators, and full-time master’s degree students. 

The master's degree includes core courses in music education (curriculum, foundations, psychology, research, social and cultural studies), music studies courses (history, ethnomusicology, theory, composition, improvisation), and courses designed around each student’s musical and teaching specialization and interests. Degree candidates have choices in all categories and consult with a faculty advisor to design an individualized program of study. 

Band/Instrumental Music: Jill Sullivan
Choral Music: Gregory Gentry, Sandra Stauffer
Digital and Participatory Culture: Evan Tobias
General Music: Sandra Stauffer, Evan Tobias
Jazz Studies Emphasis: Michael Kocour
Orchestra/Strings: Margaret Schmidt

Coursework leading to a teaching certificate in conjunction with master’s degree studies can be planned through individual consultation.  See Post-Degree Certification for more information.

You must remain continuously enrolled (one credit per semester, fall and spring) once you have started the degree program.  Summers only students should consult with their advisor for continuous enrollment options.  One leave of absence during the degree is allowed; leaves require notification via petition to the Graduate College.

PhD in Music, Music Education Concentration

The Doctor of Philosophy in Music degree with a concentration in music education is comprised of a highly select community of national and international students engaged in an intensive program of study that includes research opportunities, teaching internships, and publication and presentation experiences.  The Ph.D. in music education qualifies graduates for faculty positions at colleges or universities in the United States or abroad, and for leadership and administrative positions in the arts and arts education.

The doctoral program is a research degree that includes a dissertation.  At least one year of residency is required; the music education faculty recommends at least two years of residency.  Coursework options include both highly specialized and cross-disciplinary study with scholars and artists in the School of Music, the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, and other College and Institutes on the ASU campuses. Cognates allow program flexibility and individual interests, such as early childhood education, conducting, psychology, research methods, critical theory, and public policy.   Members of each doctoral class are also members of the Music, Learning, and Society Research Group. Doctoral students work with the doctoral faculty in music education to design individualized programs of study and research that meet their interests and needs.

You must remain continuously enrolled (one credit per semester, fall and spring) once you have started the degree program.  One leave of absence during the degree is allowed; leaves require notification via petition to the Graduate College.