Online Master of Music in Music Education

Scale up your knowledge of music instruction and pedagogy to be a teacher leader in classrooms and beyond.

1/27/25 Next Application Due Date
2/10/25 Start Classes

Program Overview


Why consider the Master of Music in Music Education online program at EWU

$15,600* Total Tuition
As few as 12 months Duration
48 Credit Hours

The Master of Music in Music Education online degree program prepares you to teach and lead at an advanced level by enhancing your knowledge of music best practices, research and cutting-edge approaches. You will explore issues in social justice and critical philosophy, well-known teaching methods, technological advances, strategies for music theory and composition and much more.

This NASM-accredited music education online program offers rigorous coursework taught by the same internationally recognized faculty who teach on campus. The curriculum features project-based learning, including a graduate project related to scholarly exploration. A variety of topics enable you to explore your areas of interest or expertise as well as prepare you for the General Music endorsement test.

The music education program consists of 12 online courses, culminating with an independent project in lieu of a general oral examination or thesis defense. Your professor will advise you throughout the process, and the result will highlight your growth, knowledge and abilities. This professional degree does not lead directly to teaching certification.

AACSB logo

The Eastern Washington University School of Business is accredited by AACSB International (AACSB).

In this online music education program, you will:

  • apply a variety of approaches to teaching music in an educational setting;
  • understand the impact of diverse populations and culture in teaching music;
  • gain a broad-based educational experience in music education from a history, theory, performance, composition and educational foundations perspective;
  • demonstrate critical and creative thinking as it relates to topics in music education.
  • apply a variety of approaches to teaching music in an educational setting;
  • understand the impact of diverse populations and culture in teaching music;
  • gain a broad-based educational experience in music education from a history, theory, performance, composition and educational foundations perspective;
  • demonstrate critical and creative thinking as it relates to topics in music education.

Music career opportunities:

  • Elementary or Middle School Music Teacher
  • High School Band Director or Assistant Director
  • School Choral Director
  • School Orchestra Director
  • Junior College or Community College Music Instructor
  • Elementary or Middle School Music Teacher
  • High School Band Director or Assistant Director
  • School Choral Director
  • School Orchestra Director
  • Junior College or Community College Music Instructor

Also available online:

EWU offers a variety of graduate education degree programs in a convenient online format. Check out all our online M.Ed. programs.

$15,600* Total Tuition
As few as 12 months Duration
48 Credit Hours
NASM logo

Eastern Washington University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

Apply Now

Need More Information?

Call 800-826-3411

Call 800-826-3411

Tuition


See how affordable EWU can be

Tuition for this music education online master’s program features the same pay-by-the-course rate for both in-state and out-of-state students.

Tuition breakdown:

$325 Per Credit Hour
$15,600* Total Tuition

*Tuition and fees subject to change. Total program cost does not include foundation courses. If foundation courses are required, the cost will be added to the total program cost.

Tuition breakdown:

$325 Per Credit Hour
$15,600* Total Tuition

Calendar


Plan ahead to meet these upcoming deadlines

Designed for working professionals, the Master of Music in Music Education program is delivered in a convenient online format, offering six-week courses and seven start dates per year. View the full calendar with important deadlines for applications, registration, documents and tuition payments.

Now enrolling:

1/27/25 Next Application Deadline
2/10/25 Start Classes
TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition Deadline
Fall II11/4/2410/21/2410/30/2411/2/24
Winter I12/30/2412/16/2412/24/2412/28/24
Winter II2/10/251/27/252/5/252/8/25
Spring I3/31/253/17/253/26/253/29/25
Spring II5/12/254/28/255/7/255/10/25

Now enrolling:

1/27/25 Next Application Deadline
2/10/25 Start Classes

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Admissions


Review the details for admission into this master’s in music education online

Get started quickly and easily with our streamlined admission process for the online master’s in music education. This master's program is a research-based degree, accredited through NASM and guided by national standards that require a breadth of competence in musical studies. Applicants should demonstrate, through their transcripts or work experiences, evidence of being prepared for success in our music courses, with particular focus to the foundations in music theory and music history.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • Official transcripts from all previous colleges/universities attended

  • Bachelors in Music, Bachelor of Arts in Music, or a Minor in Music preferred. Transcripts should show accomplishments with core classes in Music Theory, Music History, Aural Skills, and Performance skills. Students with a degree in an area other than music may demonstrate evidence of a solid foundation in Music Theory and Music History through prior course work or work experience in K-12 music classrooms.
  • Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester-graded postsecondary credit hours**
  • Official transcript from the college/university where degree was earned
  • Professional resume

Have a question? Call us at 800-826-3411

**We encourage you to apply if your GPA is lower than a 3.0 and you have relevant work experience. Applicants with GPAs below 3.0 are considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Please contact an Enrollment Services representative at 800-826-3411 for more information.

This offering is available as an endorsement program for teachers who hold or who have held an initial, residency, continuing or professional teaching certificate in the state of Washington. If you do not hold a teaching certificate in Washington or do not hold a teaching certificate at all, you are still encouraged to apply.

Please note, however, that this will not lead to a teaching certificate in Washington. Additionally, this program may satisfy the requirements for states other than Washington. Please check with your applicable licensing board to determine whether this program satisfies requirements for licensure in the state in which you reside. For current contact information for applicable licensing boards, please refer to our State Authorization page or contact Christi Wavada at [email protected].

Document Submission Information

Order your official, electronic transcripts from the degree-granting institution where you earned your highest degree (bachelor’s or master’s) and have them sent to Eastern Washington University.

  • Most EWU graduate programs only require one transcript. Please submit a transcript from your degree-granting institution. This transcript should include the final two years of your degree completion. If it does not, please submit transcripts to cover your final two years of earned credits.
  • Please note that transcripts ordered by main may take 4-6 weeks to arrive.

If you are ordering a mailed paper transcript, please have it sent to:

Eastern Washington University
Showalter Hall 206
Cheney, WA 99004


Courses


Preview the degree plan for your online master’s in music education

To earn the Master of Music in Music Education online, you must complete 12 courses (48 credit hours), comprised of 24 credit hours of core courses and 24 credit hours of specialization courses. All courses are six weeks in length.

Please note you will be required to take EDUC 505 or EDUC 522.

Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Music History Perspectives is a flexible-topic course, which explores different topics in music history relevant to music educators.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Exploring a variety of topics in Music Theory through research and discovery of analytical methods.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
An interactive course that will approach, but not be limited to the following topics: What is my intention as a professional artist? What blocks my ability to perform at the highest levels? What does it mean to live an artistic life? How do I create abundance in my career, both in opportunity and financially? Purpose and Passion–how do I generate those vital aspects of my chosen career path? Artistic mastery–process versus progress. How do I teach successful performance skills?
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
This course consists of the exploration of teaching strategies for music theory and composition at the K–12 instructional level. Students will research ideas and test them in classroom environments. The course will be project-oriented. Students will learn to integrate and enhance music theory and composition at K–12 level.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Issues such as federal aid, teachers' tenure, teachers' salaries, the political control of education, indoctrination versus education, religious and public education, school-district reorganization, the community-centered school and academic freedom.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Required of all graduate students pursuing the master of education degree program unless an alternative research course is scheduled. It provides the background of research methods and techniques necessary for meeting the requirements of Education 600 or 601. The methods, tools, and strategies used in educational research, both quantitative and qualitative, will be explored. Continued level teacher certification research requirements may be met through this course.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
This course focuses on reforming and transforming the processes, perceptions and practices of learning and teaching by emphasizing diversity, social justice and equity. First, psychological principles underlying current educational culture will be analyzed. Second, reforming relationships, interactions and contexts for learning will be addressed through reflective practices, and third, rethinking and transforming connections, will be viewed through the lens of learners of diverse backgrounds.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Examining diverse philosophical, curricular and administrative components of community-based music education, spanning life-long learning in increasingly varied settings.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
A preparation for teaching in the modern university environment, examining the role of the professor, and focusing on the development of innovative teaching skills appropriate to the college setting.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Study of the interdependent relationship between society, music and music education.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Exploration of research and theory in the process of learning and teaching music, impacting effective functioning as music performers and teachers.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Exploration of philosophical thinking in the field of music education, with emphasis on philosophical foundations for music learning and teaching.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
The Graduate Project for the Master of Music degree in Music Education is a scholarly exploration in the field and may include a written document, portfolio, presentation, pedagogy manual or a combination of any of these approaches, based on a topic approved by the professor.

Ranked among the Top 50 in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Regional Universities West" (2024)

Request more information

Submit this form, and a representative will contact you to answer your questions.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

or call 800-826-3411

Begin application process

Start your application today!

Or call 800-826-3411 800-826-3411

for help with any questions you may have.