Program Admission

Admission to the Master of Music in Music Education program is granted to students who meet the requirements of both the Graduate School and the School of Music & Dance. Application for admission to the Graduate School should be made to the Office of Admissions, where undergraduate transcripts are evaluated. Transcripts should be forwarded to the Office of Admissions at the time of application.

Admission requirements are as follows

• Undergraduate degree in music education, or its equivalent;
• Interview with appropriate music education faculty;
• A personal statement summarizing plans for graduate study and teaching philosophy;
• Two letters of recommendation from sources familiar with applicant’s teaching;
• Audition for applied music placement (if applicable);
• Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam (see below for additional details).

Conditional Admission | Students deficient in a requirement for degree admission may be granted conditional admission, subject to removal of the deficiency while beginning graduate study. Hours earned in making up deficiencies are in addition to those normally required for the degree.

Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam

Students must achieve an acceptable score (70% or higher) on the Music Theory Placement Exam prior to enrolling in MUSC 511 , MUSC 512 , MUSC 513 , MUSC 516 , or MUSC 517 . The Music Theory Graduate Placement Exam may be taken only one time. 

Students who fail to achieve an acceptable score must complete MUSC 509 - Graduate Theory Review  (2 hrs) with a  B or better, prior to enrolling in MUSC 511, MUSC 512, MUSC 513, MUSC 516, or MUSC 517. Students placed into MUSC 509 are allowed to take the course only one time. Any student who does not earn a B or better in the course, will not be allowed to continue in the graduate program. MUSC 509 does not count towards degree requirements.

School Information

Music & Dance, College of Arts & Sciences

W. Doug Baker, Ph.D. | Director (Interim) | N101 Alexander | 734.487.4380 | wbakerii@emich.edu

Advisor Information

David Pierce, D.M.A. | N101 Alexander | 734.487.4380 | dpierce@emich.edu

Upon admission to the School of Music & Dance, each student will meet with the graduate advisor for assistance in planning a curriculum.

Exit Requirements

In addition to Graduate School requirements, degree-specific exit requirements are as follows:

The Culminating Experience will include either a thesis defense or a final project presentation to occur when the student’s prescribed coursework is substantially completed, in the anticipated semester of graduation. This defense or presentation will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the student’s faculty advisor, an additional faculty member from the major field, and a faculty member outside the major field. The specific makeup of the faculty committee will be determined by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor and must be approved by the school director. If a student is unable to form a faculty committee, it will be formed by the school director in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor.

Degree Requirements: 30 hours

The M.M. in Music Education requires the completion of 30 hours of coursework to be distributed among Major Field, Supportive Studies, and Culminating Experience & Electives as follows:

Students must earn a grade of a B or higher in all Major Field and Supportive Studies courses. If a grade lower than a B is earned in any course, the student must retake the course and receive a B or higher, before the credits for that course can be counted toward their degree.