Music Education
Degrees Offered: Ph.D. and Ed.D. (in Elementary Education with concentration in Music Education), Professional Ed.M., Initial Certification (Certificate of Advanced Study)
Since the move of music education to the Graduate School of Education, the music education programs have flourished as evidenced by increased enrollment, high national visibility and cutting edge research. Our students benefit from collaboration with colleagues in other disciplines and form connections that will be useful to them and their school music programs.
About doctoral study
At UB’s Graduate School of Education, students can study beyond the master’s degree through the PhD and EdD programs in elementary education, with a concentration in music education. This study prepares students for a career as a researcher and scholar in music education at the college level, or for a national, regional, state, or district administrative position in music education. Further, some music educators pursue doctoral study to advance their knowledge of cutting edge research and its practical applications for enhancement of school music programs.
Since students entering doctoral programs have a variety of backgrounds and needs, the requirements are flexible and cannot be stated in terms of credit hours; the degree is awarded on the basis of proficiency in research, musicianship, pedagogy and pedagogical content knowledge.
About master’s study
Master's degrees in music education (all grades) are designed for those who hold Initial Certification to teach school music and need professional New York State certification (EdM Professional), as well as for those who wish to combine master's degree study with preparation for an initial certificate to teach music in elementary or secondary schools (EdM Initial/Professional), or those preparing for doctoral study. The music education faculty have extensive involvement with the New York State Education Department and have helped shape both the state learning standards for the arts and assessment in the arts.
At UB's Graduate School of Education, we've created...
...a Master of Education degree designed for working professionals applying and creating outstanding music teaching practice from early childhood through high school.
- Coursework grounded in Music Learning Theory
- Strategies to help you teach more music in the valuable time you have with your students
- Curriculum development patterns that keep you in charge of your program and arm you with information to assist you with advocacy in your district
- Current ideas in assessment of students that are setting the directions for our profession
- Opportunity to study in summer with distinguished music education scholars, such as Edwin E. Gordon and master teachers such as Wendy Valerio, Beth Bolton, Richard Grunow, Kathy Liperote and Jennifer McDonel.
Program Features
- Efficient, condensed degree timeline
- Two intensive summers, realistic semesters
- Built-in interdisciplinary contacts
- Trend-setting courses
- Solid master's degree content
- Job-related capstone project integrated throughout the degree
- An early childhood music education emphasis is possible by association with the Fisher-Price Endowed Early Childhood Research Center (ECRC).
- Ongoing MusicPlay classes for infants and toddlers offer ample opportunity for practicum experience in early childhood music teaching utilizing Gordon's Learning Theory
- Full-time study also possible
For those who hold provisional certification, we offer...
...a Master of Education degree in general education with a concentration in music. This program also is designed for working professionals and coursework is similar to that included in the Professional EdM Music Education program.
For those who hold a master's degree in music performance, music history or music theory, we offer...
... a Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) that prepares you for New York State Initial Certification Music P-12. Also, students who hold a BA or BM in Music may find this program suitable to their career goals. Students interested in initial certification should apply to the advanced certificate program in music education (36 credit hours sequenced over two years of part-time study).
Join Us!
We'll make you part of the process, put you in touch with music education's future, and be on your side after you graduate.
Contact a professor in music education:
Maria Runfola, PhD, Program Coordinator
502 Baldy Hall
(716) 645-4033
Patricia Chiodo, PhD
, Teacher Education Associate for Music
501 Baldy Hall
(716) 645-4031
Elisabeth Etopio, PhD, Clinical Assistant Professor
501 Baldy Hall
(716) 645-4034
Music Education Links
MusicPlay: ongoing classes for Infants and toddlers at UB's Fisher-Price Endowed Early Childhood Research Center and the Community based program in collaboration with Villa Maria College.
Gordon Institute of Music Learning (GIML)
MENC: The National Association for Music Education
