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Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education
Overview
How To Apply
Program of Study
Candidacy Requirements
Dissertation Requirement
Overview
The doctoral program in music education leads to the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. It is designed to prepare scholars, researchers, and leaders for positions in music teacher education, music education research, P-12 music teaching and leadership, and music education policy, among others. Successful candidates enter the program with a minimum of four years of successful P-12 music teaching experience, usually in choral, general music, wind, or string specialties, or some combination of these. They bring a rich background in teaching experience within their specialty area(s), a high level of musical competence, and a desire for scholarly pursuits. The doctoral program in music
education at The University of Michigan offers an extraordinary variety
of options. This flexibility is intended to meet the needs of students
with diverse interests and career goals.
The program is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing on the expertise of the full faculty of the School of Music (music education, performance, music theory, musicology, conducting) as well as cross-campus faculty in a wide array of specialties, and is designed to give students research expertise to conduct scholarly inquiry within the field of music education as well as a wide range of teaching competencies to make them competitive in the academic job market: music education methods (instrumental, vocal, or both) and student teaching supervision; survey courses in musicology or introductory courses in music theory; at least one wind or orchestral instrument, or voice, or one major ensemble (band, orchestra or chorus); and graduate research in music education.
Admission to the doctoral program in music education requires the completion of undergraduate and master's degree programs in music education (or equivalent) in an accredited college or university with an academic record that suggests probable success with advanced course work, including research and the writing of a doctoral dissertation. The applicant should possess a teaching certificate. Applicants for admission to the doctoral program must give evidence of a minimum of four years of full-time teaching experience in elementary or secondary schools.
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How To Apply
Complete the online application; also send the following required information directly to Associate Dean Steven M. Whiting, School of Music, Theatre & Dance:
1. Indicate clearly the names and addresses of each school where you have taught and the length of service at each school. Also indicate the subjects and grade levels taught.
2. Submit at least three recommendations from persons who can provide information concerning your probable suitability for the doctoral program in music education. At least one of these should be a person familiar with your ability as a teacher, because success in teaching is an important criterion of admission. The other persons writing recommendations may be selected because of their familiarity with your academic ability or your musicianship, though all should comment on your teaching ability when possible. Although only three recommendations are required, it is usually desirable to request recommendations from four or five persons so that consideration of your application will not be delayed if a recommendation is delayed. We encourage you to use the online recommendation form.
3. Submit a statement of purpose of 200–300 words. Indicate your career objectives and your reasons for seeking to enter the doctoral program in music education. Include a brief biographical sketch. Describe the type of position you would like to ultimately
hold if you were able to have whatever position you wanted. Add any information concerning your teaching experience not provided elsewhere. Indicate the nature and extent of any experience you have had working with children or young people in settings other than the schools cited (e.g., summer music camps, pre-school programs, boy or girl scouts, church youth choirs). Cite any evidence of unusual effectiveness in teaching (e.g., honors, awards, or other recognition accorded you or your students). Name the states in which you are or have been certified to teach. Your ability to organize ideas and write with clarity and precision will be evaluated. Use supplementary pages as necessary.
4. As evidence of your writing ability, submit either your master's thesis or term papers totaling at least twenty pages. They will be returned on request.
5. As evidence of your teaching ability, submit a videotape of yourself teaching a lesson. A lesson plan should accompany each tape. Evidence of teaching ability will have an important bearing on your admission.
6. Students who elect conducting or performance must audition for the appropriate faculty. The Music Education department will contact candidates to arrange an interview.
7. Each doctoral applicant in music education is required to interview with the faculty of the Department of Music Education.
8. Each doctoral applicant in music education is required to submit scores of the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). For information, contact The Psychological Corporation (800/622-3231) or their website.
Applications should be submitted as early as possible. All materials, including recommendations and transcripts, must be received no later than December 1 for admission in the following fall term. There is no admission to the doctoral program in Music Education for the Winter Term. If you have questions, contact the Graduate Secretary, Karen Frye (734-764-0590).
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Program of Study
Music Education
The doctoral program is based on a master's program in music education including the following: History and Philosophy of Music Education, Curriculum and Methodology, and Psychology of Music Teaching and Learning. Any courses not already completed at the master's level will be considered deficiencies that must be supplied as quickly as possible. Doctoral courses include:
- Research Design in Music Education
- Dissertation Proposal Writing
- Seminar in Music Education Methods
- Research Seminar
- various special topics offerings.
Musicology
At least three graduate courses (500-level or above) of at least two hours each. One of the three courses may have been elected as a master's student at the University of Michigan or elsewhere, but at least two courses must be elected while in residence as a doctoral student at the University of Michigan. At least one course must be in Western music and one must be at the 600-level. Independent studies will not satisfy the requirement. Students choosing musicology as a cognate should refer to pages 19-20 of the "Handbook for Rackham Students in Music, Dance, or Theatre" for additional information.
Music Theory
Two graduate courses (500-level) of at least two hours each. The courses may have been elected as a master's student at the University of Michigan or elsewhere. Independent studies will not satisfy the requirement. Students choosing music theory as a cognate should refer to pages 19-20 of the "Handbook for Rackham Students in Music, Dance, or Theatre" for additional information.
School of Education
At least one graduate research course of at least three hours in the School of Education, determined by the student's research interest area. Independent studies will not satisfy this requirement.
Electives
Doctoral students in Music Education may elect courses in any department of the School of Music, Theatre & Dance or in any other school or college of the University to satisfy their special interests and career goals. Conducting and/or music performance may be elected if the student passed the specific department's audition during the admission process.
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Cognates
Doctoral students must select two cognates from the following list:
- Music Theory
- Musicology
- Ethnomusicology
- Music Composition
- Performance
- Conducting
- Programs at the School of Education (Education Studies, the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, and the Combined Program in Education and Psychology)
- Or a closely-related program in another unit of the University.
Some cognates may be fulfilled by examination (Music Theory, Music History), others by 4-6 hours of coursework (Ethnomusicology, Music Composition, School of Education), others by coursework in combination with performance (Performance, Conducting), as spelled out in the "Handbook for Doctoral Students in Music Education."
Annual Review
At the end of the first, second, and third years, students will receive formal letters evaluating their work in the areas of scholarship, teaching, and leadership based on discussion of the music education faculty as well as evaluations solicited from outside the department. The letter of evaluation will document the student's strengths and weaknesses. If necessary, the letter will include any expectations or conditions that the student needs to meet to remain in the program, along with deadlines for meeting them.
Teaching Demonstration
During the fourth term of residency, the student is to present a teaching demonstration on campus for the music education faculty and graduate students. The teaching demonstration should be one hour long and show evidence of outstanding ability to teach peer academics in a professional setting, such as one would find at a national or international academic conference. Consult the "Handbook for Doctoral Study in Music Education" for more details regarding the teaching demonstration.
Music Education Qualifying Examination
The music education qualifying examination is taken when all core music education course work has been completed (usually in the fourth or fifth semester of study). The examination comprises nine questions developed with faculty and the student's advisor in the areas of philosophy, psychology, curriculum, teacher education, research methodologies, research issues and literature, and musical materials and concepts. Consult the "Handbook for Doctoral Study in Music Education" for more details regarding the exam.
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Candidacy Requirements
Candidacy status indicates that the student has satisfied all of the requirements for the degree except the dissertation. When a doctoral student has accumulated the necessary fee hours, passed the required qualifying examinations and teaching demonstration, and met all of the other requirements, including the residency and pedagogy requirements, he or she should apply to the Associate Dean for admission to candidacy. The Associate Dean will recommend candidacy to the Dean of the Rackham Graduate School, who will normally approve the application. It is desirable to become a candidate as soon as possible, as the tuition rate is much lower than for pre-candidates.
Dissertation Requirement
A Ph.D. dissertation is required and includes: a dissertation proposal, a dissertation proposal defense meeting, the dissertation itself, and a public oral defense of the dissertation. The work of every doctoral candidate is supervised by a dissertation committee. The dissertation committee must be appointed prior to achieving candidacy. It should be organized early enough to monitor the dissertation from the earliest stages, including the dissertation proposal. See the "Handbook for Doctoral Study in Music Education" for details regarding the formation of the dissertation committee.
The dissertation proposal should provide the reader with the context for the author's research interest as well as convince the reader that the author's intentions are fully achievable. The proposal should include the following sections:
- Introduction
- Review of Literature
- Method
- Analysis
- References.
A copy of the dissertation proposal must be submitted to each member of the dissertation committee and the music education faculty at least three weeks before the date of the proposal defense meeting. The student should consult with each member of the Music Education faculty to determine a mutually agreeable date and time for the defense, and should report the date and time to Karen Frye, who will send an official notification to each member.
Each candidate should obtain a copy of the Dissertation Handbook at the Dissertation Office, 0120 Rackham Building. The Handbook provides complete information
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