Graduate Studies

Admission Requirements Program Requirements Final Project In-Service Additional Resources
SUNY Fredonia's School of Music has a strong tradition of musical and teaching excellence.

Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, our school is a nationally recognized undergraduate and graduate program in a comprehensive, liberal arts and sciences college of the State University of New York.

This degree prepares students for higher levels of education and provides the academic qualifications required for professional teaching certification in New York State.

Students may choose from two options in this degree. The Final Project Program leads to one of three Final Project options (Thesis, Composition/Arrangement, or Performance Recital). The In-Service Program provides the graduate student who is a teacher a greater range of courses than the often more specialized concentration of the Final Project program. In recognition of the individual differences among teachers, their teaching positions, and thus of their particular needs, this program allows maximum flexibility with a broad, yet balanced selection of choices. This program leads to the academic qualifications required for Professional Certification in New York State.

Admission Requirements

• Baccalaureate degree in Music at an accredited four-year institution. Applicants in music education must have had undergraduate studies equivalent to the Bachelor of Music or Music Education degree offered at SUNY Fredonia.
• A performance audition is not necessary for admission to the Master of Music in Music Education degree program. However, students in the Music Education degree program who desire to do a performance project must audition for and be accepted by the appropriate applied music faculty at the time of application and not later than 6 to 12 hours into the program.
• Initial teaching certification.
• A minimum of 3.0 GPA is preferred. Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be admitted conditionally by permission of the Director of the School of Music and with the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies.
• A completed graduate application.

The School of Music offers two tracks, the Final Project Program and the In-Service Program, for the Master of Music in Music Education degree. Each track consists of core curriculum required for all Master of Music degrees and additional requirements as accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Final Project Program

The program leads to one of three Final Project options: Thesis, Composition/Arrangement, or Performance Recital (Recital track). Prior approval must be obtained from the performance faculty or Music Education committee for students wishing to exercise this option. (For the Performance Recital option, the applicant must audition for and be accepted by the appropriate applied music faculty at the time of application and not later than 6 to 12 credit hours into the program.) The program is designed to prepare a student for further graduate study and/or to refine a specific area of interest or competence. The program leads to the academic qualifications required for Professional Certification in New York State.

General Requirements

1. At least 12 credit hours for the overall program should be in music education and music education-related course work.

2. At least 9 credit hours for the overall program should be in course work dealing with music theory, history, literature, analysis, or performance.

3. At least 15 credit hours of the overall program should be in course work at the 600 level.

4. For more detailed information about program requirements, the candidate is referred to the Policies and Practices for Master of Music Degree Candidates available from the School of Music office.

Program Outline

In-Service Program

The program provides the graduate student who is a teacher a greater range of courses than the often more specialized concentration of the Final Project program. In recognition of the individual differences among teachers, their teaching positions, and thus of their particular needs, this program allows maximum flexibility with a broad, yet balanced selection of choices. The program leads to the academic qualifications required for Professional Certification in New York State.

General Requirements

1. At least 15 credit hours of the overall program should be in music education and music education related course work.

2. At least 12 credit hours of the overall program should be in course work dealing with music theory, history, literature, analysis, or performance.

3. At least 18 credit hours of the overall program should be in course work at the 600 level.

4. For more detailed information about program requirements, the candidate is referred to the Policies and Practices for Master of Music Degree Candidates available from the School of Music office.

Program Outline

Additional Resources

Dr. Katherine Levy, Program Coordinator
School of Music website
College of Education website