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Music Education, M.M.

Enhance your career in music through advanced study that prepares you as an effective music educator.

The Master of Music Education degree is designed for individuals who seek to deepen their understanding of contemporary music education theories and practices, engage in professional research and advocacy, expand their knowledge of music and music education and refine their teaching skills. Each course is tailored to the needs of contemporary music educators, emphasizing the application of theoretical concepts to real-world classroom settings. This degree is open to those with an academic background in the discipline of music.

Pursue a certification in music education or add to your credentials through an endorsement in social, emotional, and behavioral wellness from the Pennsylvania Department of Education as you earn your master’s degree.

Summer Music Education

Begin to deepen your understanding of contemporary music education theories and practices, engage in professional research and advocacy, expand your knowledge of music and music education and refine your teaching skills this summer 2025 through music education courses offered at IU. These courses are eligible for those seeking Act 48 credit or interested in starting a master’s degree in music education with PDE Endorsement in Social, Emotional and Behavioral Wellness!

At A Glance

Program: Master of Music in Music Education
Audience: Graduate students
Format: Hybrid
Next Start Date: May 19, 2025
Cost: $500/credit
Time to Completion Two years

"This program is unique in that it is designed specifically for music educators, both current and future. All of the classes are designed with music teaching in mind and meant to support educational practice while encouraging teachers to grow and expand their teaching knowledge. It’s unlike any other graduate program I have ever seen."

Rachael Sanguinetti
Program Director

Music education is a growing field, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 3% increase in employment opportunities between now and 2032. Graduates of the MM in Music Education will be prepared to work as music educators in private and public schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

  • Designed for working professionals who aspire to enter or advance in the field of music education, the Master of Music Education degree offers flexibility to accommodate busy schedules through online and on-campus experiences.
  • Complete this 32-credit program in as little as six semesters. Courses meet online throughout the school year with face-to-face meetings during the summers to help accommodate the busy lives of working adults.
  • Collaborative cohort model and small class sizes provide a personalized experience while building your professional network.
  • Earn your endorsement in social, emotional, and behavioral wellness or pursue music education certification (PK-12) through the Pennsylvania Department of Education as you pursue your Master’s degree.

Internship, Practicum, Field Experience, Research, Capstone Project

  • Capstone: Students will develop a program portfolio throughout their studies as an opportunity to showcase their work, which serves as the master’s capstone project.
  • Field Experience: Through the social, emotional, and behavioral wellness endorsement, engage in field work to support integrated application of wellness in a school setting, or apply what you’ve learned through student teaching as you pursue your instructional certification.

Faculty Specialties/expertise

Students will learn from professors who have a range of industry and research experience in musicology, conducting, performing, popular music education, and culturally responsive teaching.

Delivery Format

This hybrid program blends online courses in the fall and spring semesters with face to face experiences in the summer to provide advanced music education preparation while balancing the life demands of working adults.

Immaculata is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the Music Education program is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

Number of credits – 32
Additional credits required upon department review if pursuing music education certification.

Required courses:

  • Musical Form and Analysis for Music Educators (3 credits)
  • Introduction to Musicology (2 credits)
  • Advanced Conducting and Musicianship Techniques (3 credits)
  • Curriculum, Assessment, and Methodology of Music Education (3 credits)
  • Music Technology in the Classroom (3 credits)
  • Building Community Through Popular Music Ensembles (2 credits)
  • Psychology of Learning and Behavior in Music Education (3 credits)
  • Prevention and Intervention for at-risk Youth PK-12 (3 credits)
  • Mental Health Literacy to Promote Positive Behavior PK-12 (3 credits)
  • Integrated Application of Wellness Application (4 credits)
  • Methods of Research (3 credits)
  • Comprehensive Portfolio Review (0 credits)

Upon completing this program, students will be able to:

  • Build an environment that fosters musical arts within the community and social and emotional learning in the music classroom.
  • Identify and propose solutions to historical, cultural, aesthetic and psychological issues in music and music education practice.
  • Demonstrate understanding of aesthetic, technical and pedagogical knowledge integral to music performance.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of music technology specific to educational practices and its applications to music teaching.
  • Develop scholarship and global perspective through formal research into music educational practices.
  • Identify the influence of music in and on larger social, cultural, educational and technological contexts.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong growth and development as a musician, educator and scholar.

Qualified applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree in the discipline of music from a regionally accredited institution.

Please submit the application materials required for admission to Immaculata’s master’s programs.

Contact

Rachael Sanguinetti, M.M.

Director of Graduate Music Education, Associate Faculty

FC 2
(610) 647-4400 3953

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