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Program Overview
Music Education - Ph.D.
About This Program
Embark on a transformative journey in music education with our Ph.D. degree. Dive deep into innovative research, refine your teaching methodologies and become a trailblazer in the field. Join us at Kent State University and shape the future of music educators.
Program Delivery
- Delivery: In person
- Location: Kent Campus
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries
- Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary
- 5.6% faster than the average
- 116,300 number of jobs
- $69,690 potential earnings
- Education teachers, postsecondary
- 4.8% about as fast as the average
- 77,300 number of jobs
- $65,440 potential earnings
- Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- 3.6% about as fast as the average
- 627,100 number of jobs
- $60,810 potential earnings
- Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- 3.8% about as fast as the average
- 1,050,800 number of jobs
- $62,870 potential earnings
Accreditation
National Association of Schools of Music; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
Admission Requirements
- Master's degree from an accredited college or university
- Bachelor's or master's degree in music education
- Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
- Official transcript(s)
- Current and valid state teaching license earned from an accredited U.S. university program
- Minimum three years of successful teaching experience at elementary and/or secondary levels
- Video/DVD sample of school music teaching
- Résumé or curriculum vitae of professional musical and teaching work
- Goal statement
- Scholarly writing sample of related discipline
- Three letters of reference (professional and pedagogical)
- Interview with music education faculty (via voice, video or personal campus visit)
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:
- Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
- Minimum 50 PTE score
- Minimum 100 DET score
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: Rolling admissions
- Spring Semester: Rolling admissions
- Summer Term: Rolling admissions
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
- CI 77001: Fundamentals of Curriculum (3)
- CI 87000: Theory and Research in Teaching (3)
- MUS 73261: Advanced Studies in Secondary Choral and General Music (3)
- or MUS 73262: Advanced Studies in Instrumental Music
- or MUS 73263: Advanced Studies in General Music for Children
- MUS 73283: Research in Music Education (3)
- MUS 86001: Seminar in Music Education I (3)
- MUS 86002: Seminar in Music Education II (3)
- RMS 75510: Statistics I for Educational Services (3)
- RMS 85515: Quantitative Research Design and Analysis (3)
- or RMS 85516: Qualitative Research Design
- Musical Literacy Electives (6)
- Music Education Electives (9)
- MUS 73272: Learning Theories in Music
- MUS 73273: Psychology of Music
- MUS 73274: Foundations of Music Education
- MUS 73284: History of Music Education
- MUS 73285: Philosophy of Music Education
- MUS 73286: Sociology of Music Education
- MUS 73295: Special Topics in Music Education
- Curriculum and Instruction Electives (6)
- CI 71130: Multicultural Education: Strategies
- CI 77002: Curriculum Leadership
- CI 77003: Teacher Education
- CI 77004: Professional Development in Teaching
- CI 77010: Curriculum Evaluation
- CI 87001: Theory and Research in Curriculum
- CI 87002: Forms of Inquiry in Curriculum and Instruction
- Culminating Requirement
- MUS 88199: Dissertation I (30)
Graduation Requirements
- Minimum Major GPA: 3.000
- Minimum Overall GPA: 3.000
Residency Requirements
Student must complete a residency requirement of minimum 9 credit hours each year until qualifying exams.
Candidacy Requirements
For the Ph.D. a comprehensive, qualifying, candidacy examination is taken when the student has substantially completed his/her coursework and has received the consent of the advisor committee to attempt the examination. The examination includes an extensive written section consisting of proctored and non-proctored questions, and an oral section taken before a faculty committee. Material for both written and oral sections is drawn from the coursework taken during the degree program, current professional research literature, and current topics in music education. Students who fail the candidacy examination two times will be dismissed from the doctoral program.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of music education research and practice relative to primary, secondary, undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels through writing and oral communication.
- Engage in research activities appropriate to doctoral and professional level practice in music education.
- Demonstrate active involvement at local, national and global levels through diverse professional activities, including but not limited to scholarly publications and presentations, collaborative research and engagement with other scholars in order to share knowledge in music and related fields.
- Communicate a comprehensive and sophisticated knowledge of music education through the lens of history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, research methodologies, advanced pedagogy, learning theories and methods of curricular structure.
- Demonstrate reading, research, writing and critical-thinking skills related to contemporary music education contexts.
School of Music Graduate Study
Program Requirements
Each student will be accepted as a major in a specific curricular area. It may be necessary for the student to complete Kent State University requirements for the appropriate undergraduate degree. Students' academic requirements are based on the catalog in effect during their first semester at Kent State University. Students may elect to complete their degrees under the most recent catalog, but must comply with all the new requirements relevant to their program under the new catalog.
Master's Thesis, Essay, Recital and Final Oral Examination
All Master of Music degree candidates in Performance must perform two recitals or one recital and write an essay depending on their specific degree requirements. Final oral examinations are required for all masters programs. The final oral examination may be attempted two times.
Research Tool Requirement
Candidates for the Master of Arts degree in Ethnomusicology must demonstrate a reading and understanding knowledge of one foreign language. Credit hours earned in meeting this requirement are not applied toward the credit hour requirement for the program.
For Ph.D. degree candidates in Music Theory - Composition, this requirement may be either a reading translating knowledge of one foreign language or demonstrated competence in an area of research specified by the doctoral advisory committee and approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. Credit hours earned in meeting this requirement are not applied toward the credit hour requirement for the program. For Ph.D. degree candidates in Music Education, this requirement is MUS 73283 and related research methods courses in the College of Education, Health and Human Services. These courses are applied toward the credit hour requirement for the program.
Ph.D. Candidacy Exams, Dissertation and Dissertation Defense
Doctoral candidates will take a comprehensive examination upon completion of their coursework and research tool requirement. This candidacy exam normally takes place within four years of beginning coursework. All doctoral candidates write and defend a dissertation via a final oral examination. The dissertation phase normally is completed within five years of passing the candidacy exams.
Time Limits
Master of Arts and Master of Music degree candidates must complete their degree within six calendar years after their first graduate registration at Kent State University. Any credit transferred for meeting degree requirements must also have been earned within the six-year period.
Ph.D. degree candidates must complete their degree within nine calendar years after their first doctoral registration at Kent State University. Any credit transferred for meeting degree requirements must also have been earned within the nine-year period.
Workshop Credit
A maximum 4 credit hours of workshop credit may be applied toward certain graduate degrees. The credit hours must pertain to the degree emphasis. Only workshop credits earned with a B grade or higher may be transferred into a program.
Full Description
The Ph.D. degree in Music Education integrates teaching, theory and research in inquiry about music teaching and learning. Through a collaboration with Kent State's College of Education, Health and Human Services, the degree program allows for emerging scholars to engage in coursework and research in areas connecting musical and educational pedagogies. Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree are interested in preparing music teacher educators at institutions of higher learning; engaging in arts education activities; and exploring emerging practices in curriculum, artistic instruction and educational thought.
