About This Program

Embark on a transformative journey in music education with our Ph.D. degree. Dive deep into innovative research, refine your teaching methodologies and become a trailblazer in the field. Join us at Kent State University and shape the future of music educators.

Contact Information

• Ben Lorenzo | blorenz1@kent.edu |
  330-672-2172

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor: U.S. Student | International Student

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Music; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Bachelor's or master's degree in music education
• Minimum 3.000 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Current and valid state teaching license earned from an accredited U.S. university program
• Minimum three years of successful teaching experience at elementary and/or secondary levels
• Video/DVD sample of school music teaching
• Résumé or curriculum vitae of professional musical and teaching work
• Goal statement
• Scholarly writing sample of related discipline
• Three letters of reference (professional and pedagogical)
• Interview with music education faculty (via voice, video or personal campus visit)
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Major Requirements
CI 77001	FUNDAMENTALS OF CURRICULUM	3
CI 87000	THEORY AND RESEARCH IN TEACHING	3
MUS 73261	ADVANCED STUDIES IN SECONDARY CHORAL AND GENERAL MUSIC	3
or MUS 73262	ADVANCED STUDIES IN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
or MUS 73263	ADVANCED STUDIES IN GENERAL MUSIC FOR CHILDREN
MUS 73283	RESEARCH IN MUSIC EDUCATION	3
MUS 86001	SEMINAR IN MUSIC EDUCATION I	3
MUS 86002	SEMINAR IN MUSIC EDUCATION II	3
RMS 75510	STATISTICS I FOR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES	3
RMS 85515	QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS	3
or RMS 85516	QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN
Musical Literacy Electives 1		6
Music Education Electives, choose from the following:		9
MUS 73272	LEARNING THEORIES IN MUSIC
MUS 73273	PSYCHOLOGY OF MUSIC
MUS 73274	FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 73284	HISTORY OF MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 73285	PHILOSOPHY OF MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 73286	SOCIOLOGY OF MUSIC EDUCATION
MUS 73295	SPECIAL TOPICS IN MUSIC EDUCATION
Curriculum and Instruction Electives, choose from the following:		6
CI 71130	MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION: STRATEGIES
CI 77002	CURRICULUM LEADERSHIP
CI 77003	TEACHER EDUCATION
CI 77004	PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN TEACHING
CI 77010	CURRICULUM EVALUATION
CI 87001	THEORY AND RESEARCH IN CURRICULUM
CI 87002	FORMS OF INQUIRY IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Culminating Requirement
MUS 88199	DISSERTATION I 2	30
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		75

¹

Students may be required to take courses in music theory, which will be applied toward the Musical Literacy requirement of the degree. Requirements will be determined based on the results of a diagnostic exam as stated in the Music Graduate Handbook. Remaining Musical Literacy credit hours are fulfilled by taking courses in music theory, music history, ethnomusicology, composition, conducting, music performance or other related topics of student interest as approved by the academic advisor.

²

Upon successful completion of the candidacy examination, students take a dissertation topic from the proposal stage through approval, writing, submission and an oral defense process with a faculty committee comprised of the music education advisor, one additional music education faculty member, one representative from music education or education, a member from another music discipline area or education and an appointed graduate faculty representative. Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for MUS 88199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I, and thereafter MUS 88299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Summary

Minimum Major GPA	Minimum Overall GPA
-	3.000

Residency Requirements

Student must complete a residency requirement of minimum 9 credit hours each year until qualifying exams.

Candidacy Requirements

For the Ph.D. a comprehensive, qualifying, candidacy examination is taken when the student has substantially completed his/her coursework and has received the consent of the advisor committee to attempt the examination. The examination includes an extensive written section consisting of proctored and non-proctored questions, and an oral section taken before a faculty committee. Material for both written and oral sections is drawn from the coursework taken during the degree program, current professional research literature, and current topics in music education. Students who fail the candidacy examination two times will be dismissed from the doctoral program.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of music education research and practice relative to primary, secondary, undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels through writing and oral communication.
2. Engage in research activities appropriate to doctoral and professional level practice in music education.
3. Demonstrate active involvement at local, national and global levels through diverse professional activities, including but not limited to scholarly publications and presentations, collaborative research and engagement with other scholars in order to share knowledge in music and related fields.
4. Communicate a comprehensive and sophisticated knowledge of music education through the lens of history, philosophy, psychology, sociology, research methodologies, advanced pedagogy, learning theories and methods of curricular structure.
5. Demonstrate reading, research, writing and critical-thinking skills related to contemporary music education contexts.

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Music Education integrates teaching, theory and research in inquiry about music teaching and learning. Through a collaboration with Kent State's College of Education, Health and Human Services, the degree program allows for emerging scholars to engage in coursework and research in areas connecting musical and educational pedagogies. Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree are interested in preparing music teacher educators at institutions of higher learning; engaging in arts education activities; and exploring emerging practices in curriculum, artistic instruction and educational thought.