Course profile: Master of Music, Boston University

Publish date	2008-08-01
Available Articles	Full articles without membership

Music education is a subject that seems strangely well suited to distance learning, given the often solitary nature of learning an instrument. One of the most prestigious online degrees in the field is offered by Boston University School of Music.

The School of Music, established in 1872, pioneered music education in the US. It has gained a reputation as a world-class music education institution. Each faculty member is a recognized authority in music education, music theory, or musicology

The two graduate music programmes, the Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education and the Master of Music in Music Education, began being taught online in 2005. Students who earn their Boston University degree online receive the same degree as students who complete the degree on campus.

Both degrees provide students with a highly immersive experience via a variety of instructional approaches.

What do I study?

Core subjects in the Master’s include Introduction to Music Education Research; the Curriculum Project; Foundations of Music Education: Philosophy and History and Foundations of Music Education II: Sociology and Psychology.

Additional courses explore American music, jazz, blues, African music and culture, analytical techniques and popular arranging.

How do I learn?

Upon acceptance onto either degree, students are assigned to a small group of students led by a course instructor and a music education facilitator. Pupils interact online through message boards, chat sessions, and e-mail.

Course lectures are available online. Homework, classwork, writing assignments and exams are completed and submitted online. To help students keep up with class studies, they are given a detailed course syllabus each week.

What support can I expect?

BU offers several levels of academic, technical, and administrative support –the Course Instructor, Facilitator, Programme Manager, fellow peers, e-learning Helpdesk support, and student services.

Each course is set up so students interact with a small group of peers and with the support and assistance of a professional facilitator. A University faculty member will deliver course instruction and oversee the course.

How long does it take?

Coursework in the Master’s in Music Education programme can be completed in 17 - 20 months. The final Curriculum Project in Music Education consists of seven weeks working with faculty to prepare for writing a curriculum project. Students have up to an additional seven weeks to complete this project with access to an advisor.

In addition to the required courses, students may need to take the Graduate Theory Review course, based on the results of a music theory proficiency exam.

Students who complete the Master of Music in Music Education degree online and wish to enroll into the Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education online programme will need to separately apply and be accepted into the doctoral program.

What can I do with this degree?

Graduates leave with expertise in musicology, music theory, and the foundations of music education (history, philosophy, psychology, and sociology). Career paths include teaching, academia, ethnomusicology, educational composition, and professional musicianship.

Is it accredited?

Yes, by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the National Association of Schools of Music.

How do I get in?

It’s not easy. Applications are accepted three times per year. Applicants are reviewed for admission on the strength of their ability for graduate studies, based upon the following criteria:

Students must show completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university. If the undergraduate degree is not in Music or Music Education, applicants must contact an enrolment advisor for additional requirements.

As well as completing the entrance form, applicants must also present a professional portfolio.

This includes three professional letters of recommendation, a CV, a personal statement indicating the applicant’s goals in pursuing a graduate degree, a professional paper in music or music education, and a videotape or DVD of the applicant teaching or an observation form completed by a supervisor.

International students applying to the Master’s programme must have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (paper) 213 (computer) or 80 (internet).

How much does it cost?

Tuition is $546 per credit hour. There’s an application fee of $70 and a registration fee of $40 per term.

Contact

Boston University School of Music
855 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215.

Tel: 617-353-3341
Email: cfamusic@bu.edu
Website: www.bu.edu/cfa/music/contact

Keywords: distance learning, music, arts, Boston University.

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