Sample PhD Curriculum in Music Education
Year 1
Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
Music Education Core | MUSIC_ED 523 Paradigms and Processes of Research in Music Education | MUSIC_ED 458 Philosophical Bases of Music Education | MUSIC_ED 522 Curriculum Development in Education |
MUSIC_ED 524 Qualitative Research in Music Education | |||
Music Education Electives | MUSIC_ED 435 Selected Topics in Music Education | MUSIC_ED 426 World Music Pedagogy | MUSIC_ED 437 Psychology of Music Teaching & Learning |
Electives In and Outside of Music | Music Theory/Cog or Music History |
| Psych 450 Fundamentals of Statistics |
Research Center | MUSIC_ED 520 Research Center Seminar | MUSIC_ED 520 Research Center Seminar | MUSIC_ED 520 Research Center Seminar |
Year 2
Fall | Winter | Spring | |
|---|---|---|---|
Music Education Core |
| MUSIC_ED 524 Quantitative Research in Music Education |
|
Music Education Electives | MUSIC_ED 435 Selected Topics Community Music |
| MUSIC_ED 401 Music in Higher Education |
Cognate Area Communication Sciences | CSD 306 Psychoacoustics | CSD 410 Biological Foundations of Speech and Music | CSD 382 Autism Spectrum Disorders |
GNDR ST 401 Graduate Colloquium | GNDR ST 405 Advanced Feminist Theory | GNDR ST 372 Gender Sexuality & Performance | |
Electives In and Outside of Music |
| CONDUCT 340 Advanced Conducting Choral | HDSP 435 Qualitative Methods |
Research Center | MUSIC_ED 520 Research Center Seminar | MUSIC_ED 520 Research Center Seminar | MUSIC_ED 520 Research Center Seminar |
All courses for the PhD must appear on the authorized list of courses as published by The Graduate School.
Additional Requirements
Center for the Study of Education and the Musical Experience
During the years of residence, regular participation in the weekly seminar of the Center for the Study of Education and the Musical Experience is required. Continuing participation beyond the residence years is strongly encouraged.
Teaching Competency
As a part of their graduate school fellowship, all PhD students are expected to work as both research and teaching assistants. Students must have at least one written observation of their teaching by a music education faculty member along with any student course evaluations as appropriate.
Presentation Outside the Bienen School of Music
This requirement is designed to stimulate early involvement in the presentation of original research at a regional, national, or international level meeting. This requirement is meant to help the student develop professional experiences consistent with those of a professor of music education.
Waiver of Courses
Any course waived because the student has taken it previously, has had the same course elsewhere, or through proficiency determination, will normally be replaced by an elective course in that area of the program. The major advisor may, upon the student’s petition, exercise discretion in this matter, substituting a course outside the area of the waiver for a good cause.
Qualifying Examination and Candidacy
There are four significant steps to candidacy for the PhD in music with a concentration in music education:
- successful completion of coursework,
- demonstration of successful teaching at the college level,
- peer-reviewed presentation at a professional meeting outside of NU, and
- successful completion of the qualifying examination.
At that point, the student is advanced to candidacy officially and can pursue their dissertation research. Candidacy should be achieved no later than 6 months following completion of course work.
At an appropriate time toward the end of coursework, each student will take a qualifying examination. The examination includes a written portion and an oral defense. Questions for the examination are written by the student with the approval of the examination committee. The answers are presented to the committee in written form and then defended in an oral examination.