Master of Music: Music Education – Alternative (Instrumental, Choral)

The Master of Music degree in Music Education – Alternative (Instrumental, Choral) is a 46-hour program that prepares individuals holding a Bachelor's degree to teach music in P-12 classrooms.  Upon completion of the program and accompanying tests, students are eligible for the Class A Professional Music Education Choral or Instrumental (P-12) certification. Listed below are the requirements for admission:

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 2.75 or a master's degree or higher with a GPA of at least 3.0. This GPA must be documented on the official transcript of the degree granting institution and must be the GPA that was used as the basis for granting the degree, not a GPA that includes post-degree courses.
  • GPA Exception for unconditional admission to Alternative Class A State Department of Education-approved programs: Individuals who have earned a bachelor 's degree from a regionally accredited institution at the time the degree was earned and do not meet the minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 2.75, but have at least a 2.0 overall undergraduate GPA, may seek provisional admission to an Alternative Class A program if the alternate score on the Alabama prescribed Praxis subject-area test is obtained. The alternate scores can be found on the Alternate Score Requirements document at www.alsde.edu (Department Offices: Educator Assessment: Educator Assessment Policies). The ONLY tests and scores accepted are those listed on the Alternate Score Requirements document. All other requirements for admission must also be met.
  • An undergraduate academic major in music, OR
  • At least 30 hours of undergraduate coursework in music with at least 18 of those hours in upper division study, OR
  • A passing score on the Praxis subject assessment in music.
  • Clear Alabama State Department of Education background check

REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS AND SCORES

  • Curriculum Vitae/Resume
  • Personal statement on applicant's career goals and purpose for graduate study 
  • Official Transcripts from all prior academic institutions attended
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation that address your academic/professional abilities

DIAGNOSTIC EXAMS

All graduate students will be given diagnostic exams in music theory and music history at the beginning of program study. If you have questions about the diagnostic exams, please contact the faculty member listed below:

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Thomas Rowell, Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music, at trowell@southalabama.edu