Best 15 Masters in Music Education Programs in 2024

Fredonia’s Master of Music in Music Education degree has provided emerging educators the opportunities to grow both as musicians and teachers. For generations, Fredonia has educated many of New York’s most successful music teachers.  Music has been part of Fredonia’s DNA since it earliest phases as an institution in the 19th century, and the depth and reputation of the program has grown steadily. As a student program, you will learn the necessary skills and ability to become an expert teacher.

At Fredonia, your courses will be divided between music education coursework, theory, history, literature, performance, and research. A National Association of Schools of Music-accredited university, Fredonia has been educating musicians for over a century. Our nurturing, inclusive environment supports individual passion and paths, allowing you to develop your vision and career path with the assistance of our successful music faculty.

For acceptance into the Master of Music in Music Education program at Boise State, candidates will need to have completed a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Additionally, the applicant should currently be teaching and supply the references of three professionals familiar with their teaching.

Completing the program requires 33 to 36 credit hours, dependent on the results of predictive exams and the chosen area of emphasis; elementary, choral, or instrumental.

A comprehensive exam is required before completion of the program. This exam can be taken anytime after earning 27 credits, including six core credits, three credits of music history, and three music theory credits.

The Master of Education in Music Education program at Kutztown University receives high marks from current students and alum for its scheduling flexibility. Kutztown not only allows students to enter the program in any semester but can also complete the music degree online, on-campus, or a combination of the two. This flexibility enables professional educators to continue teaching while working on an advanced degree.

Completing the program provides graduates with the knowledge required to attain teaching certification but not the certificate itself. Certain certifying classes must be taken on campus in person.

A Master of Arts in Music Education is attainable at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa by following two possible tracks. One track, designed for those that have a Bachelor’s in Education, is for those that are already teacher certified. The second is ideal for candidates with a music undergrad degree but do not have teaching certification or experience leading a classroom.

The university’s resources and facilities are exceptional, including a large performance auditorium, 23 practice rooms, a 110-seat choral room, an orchestra room, and a music library with 21,500 scores and 100 serials. In addition to traditional Western ensembles, they are among the few institutions that offer a wide array of ethnic ensembles.

The University of Missouri’s MM in Music Education is taught by an impressive list of music educators devoted to promoting music learning (instrumental and choral) at the pre-K through 12 levels. Candidates in the program can go full-time on-campus or part-time with flexible evening, summer, and online courses. Acceptance to the program does not require teaching certification or classroom experience. However, applicants without certification will need to complete an additional nine credit hours in education or music education.

MU offers a competitive 100% online MM in Music Education. The online format allows you to remain active in music education as you study advanced content relative to teaching and performing. This 32-credit-hour online program will help you develop your knowledge and skill in ways that empower you to inspire your students while exploring the latest research and pedagogy methods. Applications are currently being accepted for 2021 summer and fall enrollment—no GRE scores are required for admission.

Central Washington University delivers a Master’s in Music Education uniquely and practically for those currently teaching. Without breaking from their careers or balancing teaching and classes simultaneously, candidates can complete the summer sessions program.

Three-week intensive on-campus June sessions allow candidates to graduate within 25 months. Credit permitted for classes taught during the school year as part of an ongoing project.

As part of the application, candidates must submit a music education-related writing sample, proof of one year of teaching experience, and a live audition, video, or audio performance.

Attaining a Master of Music Education degree from Anderson University is an ideal opportunity for working teachers. With a minimum of one year of teaching under their belts, applicants will need to submit two professional recommendations and a writing sample.

Once accepted, candidates find that the combination of online video courses, live Skype classes, and on-campus courses allow the flexibility that they need as they proceed in their careers. Six-week intensive summer sessions help the candidates to move through the program more quickly.

Candidates for the Master of Music Education program at Old Dominion’s Diehn School of Music will choose a concentration in applied studies, conducting, research, or pedagogy. The Applied Studies concentration is offered in Composition, Conducting, Instrumental, or Vocal studies. It requires either a performance audition, conducting video or live audition, or the composition portfolio, and requires the completion of a recital or conducting performances. The Research Concentration requires the completion of the thesis. The Pedagogy Concentration requires the completion of the ePortfolio.

Alumni of the University’s music programs are most complimentary of the school’s flexibility in scheduling and courses’ availability. Although all of the courses are on-campus classes, the schedule provides ample choice for working professionals.

Graduate admission information and the application link are at https://www.odu.edu/music/admission/graduate. See https://www.odu.edu/music/programs/graduate for more information. Additional degree requirements are listed in the MME section of the ODU Catalog: http://catalog.odu.edu/graduate/collegeofartsletters/music/#masterofmusiceducationm.m.e.

Before applying to the Penn State Master of Music Education program, potential applicants must have teaching experience in a K-12 classroom beyond their student teaching experience.

Acceptance to the program requires one full-term year on the main campus in State College plus two summer sessions. Completing the degree depends on a final research project with an article-length academic paper and a department committee presentation. This presentation and follow-up questions by faculty members replace a final comprehensive exam.

Bard College’s Longy School of Music offers a unique Master of Music in Music Education degree for performers looking to make a difference in children’s lives.

Upon graduation, candidates have the knowledge needed to certify for teaching in Massachusetts public schools. Musicians and artists from all musical backgrounds are encouraged to apply and receive valuable experience teaching in the underserved communities in the greater Boston area. To be considered for admission, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree, conservatory diploma, or equivalent credential.

They recently launched a fully online Master of Music in Music Education degree program (MM/ME) that will be starting this summer. This program can be completed in one or two years and builds on Longy’s near-decade of expertise in preparing musicians to be teachers through its campus-based degree programs, including the one-year MM/ME degree offered in Cambridge, MA. It’s also one of the most affordable programs out there.

University of Northern Colorado’s Master of Music program equally emphasizes the most current music education trends and music history and traditions. The faculty consists of an impressive list of nationally recognized experts that work closely with individual students to expand musicianship and teaching skills. Additionally, candidates are encouraged to work with faculty on research projects. Upon completing the required credit hours, students may take a comprehensive exam or present a thesis or project to faculty.

There are two possible concentration areas of study in the Master of Music Education at ULM, Choral General Music and Instrumental. Degrees in each of these concentrations are available through participation in on-campus, summer-only sessions—the only program of its kind in Louisiana.

These summer sessions allow candidates to complete the program in three years without taking a break from their teaching careers.

Comparative to the other programs on this list, three years may seem like a long time. However, alumni give the program high marks for convenience, quality of faculty, and affordability. It is one of the most affordable graduate programs in Louisiana.

Boston University is a world-renowned institution for both its undergraduate and graduate programs in music. BU’s Master of Music in Music Education program empowers students to customize their education through in-depth research opportunities, various elective courses, and a track that allows graduate students to simultaneously qualify for Level 1 Technology Institute for Music Educators certification.

To expedite the program’s completion, students can participate in intensive one and two-week summer sessions electives.

Designed with the working educator in mind, Southern Utah University’s Master of Music Education program centers around three-week summer sessions and online classes during the school year. Also, candidates are required to use their classrooms to complete assignments and practice learned techniques.

Applicants should have achieved a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate studies, possess a current teaching certification, and provide three letters of recommendation, including proof of active employment in a music ensemble classroom.

The coursework can be completed in 13 months and the second year is solely a Capstone project that students complete at their current school.

*For more information on the tuition cost, click here.

Another program that facilitates continuing education without taking a break from a teaching career, Vandercook College of Music, offers convenient scheduling and flexible requirements with its Master of Music Education.

Candidates choose to specialize in the fields of band, choral, string, or general music education. Customizable course selection and various electives allow for creating a track that fits individual academic and professional goals.

Applicants should have a bachelor’s in music education, a minimum Undergrad GPA of 3.0, and at least two years of teaching experience.