Program Description
The Program in Music and Music Education embraces humanistic values as they relate to contemporary musical and educational life while respecting the musical traditions of the past. The faculty in Music and Music Education recognize the importance and uniqueness of the arts in our society and strive to offer flexible and individualized programs for the preparation of musician-educators. Faculty members are seasoned practitioners, who reflect a wide range of expertise in comprehensive musicianship, early childhood music, instrumental and jazz pedagogy, vocal and choral performance, assessment, improvisation, jazz, technology, and the full spectrum of public and private school music through graduate school and research practices.The degree programs in Music and Music Education are each built around a core of courses considered central to exemplary music education. Beyond the core, students have flexibility to plan with their advisor individual programs designed to meet particular needs and goals.
In addition to courses in music and music education, students are expected to select courses from other offerings of Teachers College and Columbia University in order to fulfill degree requirements.
Students in the degree programs can prepare for the following positions:
- teacher of music in early childhood settings, elementary and secondary schools;
- teacher and administrator of music in colleges and universities;
- teacher of music in private school and studios;
- researcher and teacher-educator of music in institutions of higher learning; and
- teacher, curriculum specialist, and teacher-educator in interdisciplinary areas of arts and humanities, music, and special education, new technology in music education, and adult education.
1) M.A.
a) M.A. (general)
b) M.A. with PreK-12 Initial New York State Certification
c) M.A. with NYS Professional Certification
d) M.A. with NYS Professional Certification Summer (INSTEP)
2) Ed.M.
a) Ed.M. (general)
b) Ed.M. with Initial New York State Certification
3) Ed.D.
4) Ed.D.C.T.
a) Ed.D.C.T. (general)
b) Ed.D.C.T. Cohort
1) M.A.
a) The traditional M.A. program is a post-bachelor’s degree program that provides
graduate studies with a balance of work in performance, comprehensive musician-
ship, pedagogy, and research. The degree program is designed to allow flexibility in
course selection, so that each student may prepare for his or her professional career
in music education.
b) M.A. with PreK-12 Initial Certification
The M.A. degree with Teacher Certification is a program designed for students with
an undergraduate degree in music who wish to prepare for teaching music in the public
schools. The 40-point degree program leads to both the M.A. degree and New York State
Teacher of Music, PreK-12 Certification. All requirements for certification can be
completed in this M.A. program if the candidate is identified at the first registration.
Students in this M.A. program take coursework followed by two semesters of carefully
guided student teaching in schools that reflect the Music Program’s philosophy of authen-
tic and relevant musical pedagogy.
c) M.A. with Professional Certification
The M.A. Professional Certification Program is designed for music educators, (a)
certified to teach in other states, or (b) who hold New York State Initial certification to
meet the New York State requirements for the Professional Certification in Music
Education. For professionals teaching in other states, the program provides advanced
professional experiences built upon previous professional work. The Program requires
graduate studies with work in pedagogy, research, comprehensive musicianship and
performance. The degree program is designed to allow some flexibility in course
selection, so that each student may build upon his or her previous academic work and
teaching experience, as well as prepare for his or her professional career in music
education.
d) M.A. Summer INSTEP
The INSTEP program is a summer program that focuses on the needs of begin-
ning teachers by offering them the opportunity to acquire their Master’s degree by
enrolling primarily in the summer. The program is guided by pedagogical and
philosophical underpinnings that reflect current trends in rethinking and recon-
ceiving the teaching of Music. This M.A. program meets the recently conceived
state and national teacher preparation standards.
2) Ed.M.
a) The Master of Education degree (Ed.M.) in Music and Music Education is an
advanced professional degree for practitioners in music education that is designed
to prepare graduates for a career in elementary schools, secondary schools, and
colleges. It is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 60 points of graduate study.
Major emphasis is placed on the improvement of instruction and curriculum.
b) Ed.M. with Initial New York State Certification
The Ed.M. degree with Initial Teacher Certification is a program designed for
students with a master’s degree in music who wish to prepare for teaching music in the
public schools. The 60-point degree program leads to both the Ed.M. degree and
New York State Teacher of Music, PreK-12 Initial Certification. All requirements
for certification can be completed in the Ed.M. program if the candidate is identi-
fied at the first registration. Students in this Ed.M. program take coursework fol-
lowed by two semesters of carefully guided student teaching in schools that reflect
the Music Program’s philosophy of authentic and relevant musical pedagogy.
3) Ed.D.
The Doctor of Education offers preparation for professional careers in a variety of
settings. The Ed.D prepares students for positions in the teaching and supervision
of music in elementary and secondary schools, the teaching and administration
of music in early childhood settings, the teaching of music in private schools and
private studios, the teaching and administration of music in colleges and univer-
sities, and careers in music and interdisciplinary areas, such as the arts and hum-
anities, and special and adult education.
4) Ed.D.C.T.
a) Ed.D. in College Teaching offers preparation for professional careers in a variety of
settings. The Ed.D.C.T. is designed primarily for students with a high level of per-
formance skills whose goal or present position is focused on the teaching of perform-
ance in higher education.
b) Ed.D.C.T. Cohort
The Doctoral Cohort Program is a unique offering designed for music faculty mem-
bers holding full-time academic appointments who are interested in completing a
doctoral program.