Music Graduate Programs

The Master of Music Education (distance learning) degree at William Carey University will seek to enhance the field of music education by preparing program participants to meet the following objectives:

• Improve the quality of elementary and secondary music instruction in the public and private schools throughout the Unites States and around the world.
• Improve music education in community and junior colleges worldwide.
• Improve aural and cognitive skills in performance assessment in both instrumental and choral music.
• Improve appropriate selection of music and related activities to achieve mastery of curricular objectives as well as state and national standards.
• Improve selection of literature, both solo and ensemble, that represents the highest quality in composition and educational benefit, as well as the cultural diversity indicative of a global society.
• Improve individual artistry in terms of conducting, rehearsal strategies, and performance.
• Improve personal awareness and application of best practices through identification and consideration of relevant research.

In addition to the general admission requirements stated in the graduate catalog, entrance into the MMEd program is based on the following requirements:

• All students accepted must have completed a bachelor’s degree in music and must provide official transcripts as documentation.
• Entering students must have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 over their last 64 credit hours of coursework.
• Students accepted into the program must either have a teaching license or have successfully passed Praxis I and Praxis II (music content, only) examinations.
• The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL exam) is required of all applicants, international or U.S. citizen, whose native language is not English. A minimum score of 550 (or 213 computer-based) is required for admission.

The Master of Music Education requires 30 semester hours

Major Area (required) [Referred to as Other Studies in Music for NASM purposes]

• MUE 650 Research in Music Education - 3 hours
• MUE 652 Foundations and Principles of Music Education - 3 hours
• MUE 654 Curriculum Development in Music - 3 hours
• MUE 612 Choral Literature 3 hours or MUE 615 Band Literature - 3 hours
• MUE 621 Instrumental Conducting 3 hours or MUE 622 Choral Conducting - 3 hours (chosen from list of electives)

Other Studies In Music (required)

• MUT 610 Graduate Survey of Music Theory - 3 hours
• MHL 610 Graduate Survey of Music History - 3 hours
• MUE 780 Research Project - 3 hours (with chosen faculty member)

Electives (student will choose 2 courses)

• MUE 616 Showchoir - 3 hours
• MUE 618 Special Project - 3 hours
• MUE 620 Vocal Pedagogy - 3 hours
• MUE 624 Choral Music in the Middle School - 3 hours
• MUE 627 Instrumental Music in the Middle School - 3 hours
• MUE 629 Instrumental Rehearsal Techniques - 3 hours
• MUE 630 Advanced Marching Band Techniques - 3 hours
• MUE 633 Advanced Woodwind Techniques - 3 hours
• MUE 721 Instrumental conducting - 3 hours
• MUE 722 Choral conducting - 3 hours

The Master of Music in Worship Studies (distance learning) degree at William Carey University will seek to enhance the field of church music by preparing program participants to meet the following objectives:

• Demonstrate a biblically-informed approach to church music work and planning.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the influence of church music history on modern practices and choices related to literature selection.

• Improve musical excellence in the church music environment.

• Improve personal awareness and application of best practices through identification and consideration of relevant research.

• Improve aural and cognitive skills in performance assessment as it relates to the student’s emphasis area.

• Improve individual artistry as it relates to the student’s emphasis area.

In addition to the general admission requirements stated in the graduate catalog, entrance
into the M.M. program in worship studies is based on the following requirements:

• Students must have completed a bachelor’s degree in music and must provide official transcripts as documentation.
• Entering students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 over their last 64 credit hours attempted.
• Students must submit an essay of no less than 500 words describing learning and professional goals.
• Two letters of recommendation

The Master of Music Worship Studies requires 32 semester hours

Core Curriculum (11 hours) [Referred to as Other Studies in Music for NASM purposes]

• MUT 610 Graduate Survey of Music Theory - 3 hours
• MHL 610 Graduate Survey of Music History - 3 hours
• MUC 600 Research and Writing in Church Music - 3 hours
• Students will also choose ONE of the following:
• MCC 507 Applied Conducting - 2 hours
• MHL 649 Directed Study in Music History - 2 hours
• MUT 649 Directed Study in Music Theory - 2 hours

 Major Area (11 hours)

• MUC 601 Music and Worship Studies - 3 hours
• MUC 603 Authenticity in Worship - 3 hours
• MUC 604 History of Congregational Worship Literature and Performance Techniques - 3 hours
• MUC 606 Advanced Reading and Research in Church Philosophy and Administration - 2 hours

Emphasis Areas (10 hours)

• Students my choose an emphasis in Worship Ministry, Conducting, Performance, or Technology. Courses are selected with approval of the graduate advisor and based on the student’s area of interest.

Electives

• Students may choose electives as desired within their chosen emphasis area.

The D.A. at William Carey University will seek to enhance the fields of music education or worship ministry by preparing students to meet the following objectives:

• Demonstrate advanced musicianship from theoretical, historical, and performance perspectives.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and progression of practices in a chosen emphasis area.

• Demonstrate the ability to identify and locate relevant topics for research and inquiry and utilize these resources to enhance professional practice.

• Exercise critical judgement and the ability to engage in scholarly writing when synthesizing methodological and theoretical perspectives for research purposes.

• Demonstrate the ability to plan, implement, and evaluate college-level teaching.

• Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary issues in a chosen emphasis area, and the ability to apply that knowledge when making professional decisions.

In addition to meeting the university’s general requirements for graduate admission, all students applying for admission into the D.A. program must hold a master’s degree in music and must demonstrate through submitted transcripts a 3.0 GPA on all master’s level coursework. All applicants will be required to submit two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s professional and/or educational work, as well as a resume or curriculum vita, to the D.A. program coordinator. Each applicant must also demonstrate the ability to write on a graduate level through submission of a 1000-1500 word writing sample. At least 500 words will be devoted to explaining why the candidate is interested in pursuing a terminal degree. The remaining 500-1000 words will address some issue related to the candidate’s intended emphasis area. Finally, each applicant must complete a qualifying exam in music theory and music history, respectively. In addition to meeting the university’s general requirements for graduate admission, all students applying for admission into the D.A. program must hold a master’s degree in music and must demonstrate through submitted transcripts a 3.0 GPA on all master’s level coursework. All applicants will be required to submit two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant’s professional and/or educational work, as well as a resume or curriculum vita, to the D.A. program coordinator. Each applicant must also demonstrate the ability to write on a graduate level through submission of a 1000-1500 word writing sample. At least 500 words will be devoted to explaining why the candidate is interested in pursuing a terminal degree. The remaining 500-1000 words will address some issue related to the candidate’s intended emphasis area. Finally, each applicant must complete a qualifying exam in music theory and music history, respectively. 

Note: Survey of Music Theory and/or Survey of Music History taken during the Master’s degree may count toward the DA in Music if the doctoral qualifying exams are passed.

The D.A. in Music degree will require 51 semester hours of coursework, with at least 42 of these hours occurring beyond the master’s degree. 9 hours from the master’s degree may be counted depending on results from the doctoral qualifying exams.

 Major Area (27 hours)

• DMT 610 Survey of Music Theory⁺ - 3 hours
• DML 610 Survey of Music History⁺ - 3 hours
• DMT 710 Analytical Techniques - 3 hours
• DME/W 710 History of Music Education OR Church Music History - 3 hours
• DME 625 Evaluating Music Performance - 3 hours
• DMR 650 Writing About Music - 3 hours
• DMR 825 Doctoral Thesis OR Two Research Articles Proposal - 4 hours
• DMR 850 Doctoral Thesis OR Two Research Articles (minimum) - 5 hours
  (student must enroll in 1 credit hour of Thesis/Research Articles until completion)^*
• DMR 875 Doctoral Thesis / Research Articles Defense - 0 hours

Emphasis Areas (15 hours)

Music Education

• DME 725 Contemporary Issues in Music Education - 3 hours
• DME 715 Philosophy of Music Education - 3 hours
• DME 735 Psychology of Music - 3 hours
• DME 810 Seminar in Music Education - 3 hours
• DMW 610 Philosophy and Worldview for the Christian Musician - 3 hours

Music Education

• DMW 715 Foundations of Christian Worship  - 3 hours
• DMW 725 The Worship Leader - 3 hours
• DMW 750 Relationships Within the Church and the Community - 3 hours
• DMW 738 Contemporary Worship Practices - 3 hours
• DMW 610 Philosophy and Worldview for the Christian Musician - 3 hours

Electives (9 hours)

Students may choose three electives for a total of 9 hours.

• DME 621/622 Instrumental/Choral Conducting or DM_  Applied Lessons - 3 hours
• DME 721/722 Adv. Inst/Choral Conducting or DM_ Applied lessons - 3 hours
• DME/W 727 Administration of a Musical Unit - 3 hours
• EDL 601 Organizational Leadership - 3 hours
• DME 630 Advanced Marching Band Techniques - 3 hours
• DME 730 Contemporary Marching Arts Pedagogy - 3 hours
• DME/W 705 Special Topics - 3 hours
• DMW 601 Music and Worship Studies - 3 hours
• DMW 607 The Theology of Music - 3 hours

+ NOTE: Survey of Music Theory and/or Survey of Music History taken in the master’s degree + NOTE: Survey of Music Theory and/or Survey of Music History taken in the master’s degree may count toward the DA in Music if the doctoral qualifying exams are passed. Together these courses could count for up to 6 hours of credit. In addition, students would be allowed to transfer 3 more hours. Thus, a total of 9 hours may be transferred into the D.A. program.

* NOTE: The two research articles would represent practical research efforts that result in work that is ready for submission for journal publication, and would promote the type of scholarly endeavors desired of those who successfully complete research-oriented degrees.

Transfer Credit

Students will be allowed to transfer up to 9 hours of credit from another institution. However, 6 of those hours must be Survey of Music Theory and Survey of Music History, or their respective equivalencies. In addition to these two courses, students may transfer in 3 additional hours. No graduate work carrying a grade of less than “B” will be accepted for credit. Independent study credit earned at another institution will not be accepted.