Why Earn a Master of Music Education at Etown SGPS?
A Master of Music Education (M.M.E.) at Elizabethtown College prepares students for success with its unique focus on peacebuilding and social-emotional learning in music education. This program is specifically designed for certified, in-service teachers. It stands out by blending traditional music education with transformative approaches like trauma-informed pedagogy and world music drumming. The low-residency, online format with hands-on summer workshops makes it highly accessible, providing a comprehensive approach to developing inclusive, empowering, and community-focused music pedagogies.
Elizabethtown College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.
Program Outcomes:
- Implement world music drumming curricula with eclectic and inclusive approaches to music education (including Dalcroze, Orff, and Kodály)
- Develop, articulate, and practice philosophies and applied pedagogies rooted in peacebuilding
- Construct curricular materials and pedagogies that engage student learning in diverse musical traditions, critical issues in ethnomusicology, and the study of self and other
- Develop classroom environment plans and skill sets that build social-emotional capacity, possibilities for conflict transformation, and the practice of peacebuilding
- Explore, practice and develop plans and pedagogy that integrate key principles of curriculum and assessment
Online Format
Including One
In-Person Week Each Summer
Excel As a Music Teacher
The M.M.E. program at Elizabethtown College is designed to significantly enhance your capabilities as an educator. It focuses on practical classroom application at every level, ensuring that what you learn can be directly integrated into your teaching. The coursework encourages the development of projects and research tailored to your own classroom, fostering a hands-on approach to learning. This emphasis on applying theoretical knowledge to real-world teaching scenarios equips you with the tools and insights needed to excel in innovative and inclusive music education with a focus on peacebuilding and social-emotional learning.
This is a unique program unlike any other Master of Music Education program currently available. It incorporates ideas and subjects that I was passionate about bringing into my classroom, including peacebuilding, ethnomusicology, and social emotional learning. The classes that were being offered were also unique and different from what I learned in my undergraduate music education degree.
Understand Tuition Costs and Explore Scholarship Opportunities
The Master of Music Education (M.M.E.) is priced at $525 per credit. Scholarships and financial aid are available to make your Etown SGPS education even more affordable. Below are just a few of the scholarships and programs available to students:
- Alumni Scholarship: 15% tuition discount, available to Elizabethtown College alumni.
- Affinity Partner Scholarship: 15% discount, offered to employees of organizations partnered with Etown SGPS.
- Jay Fellowship Referral Program: This is a referral program that benefits both current students/alumni and prospective students. When a student or alum refers a new student, both the referrer and the referred student receive a complimentary credit for their program of interest.
Tuition and fees are reviewed and subject to change annually.
Tuition & AidMaster of Music Education Degree Requirements
The M.M.E., with an emphasis on Peacebuilding and World Music Drumming from Elizabethtown College, requires 35 credit hours of academic work including one week per-summer of face-to-face instruction.
Application Requirements & Process
To be eligible to enter our Master of Music Education program you will need to:
- Possess a current, valid Teaching Certification.
- Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- GRE or GMAT scores are optional.
- Contact or meet with our admissions staff for guidance and to find out more information.
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Complete the graduate application via the online portal which includes the submission of a $50 nonrefundable application fee, waived for Elizabethtown College graduates.
- Prepare a brief personal statement (1 page) describing your purpose in pursuing graduate work in peacebuilding, your career objectives, and your particular interest in the Master of Music Education program.
- Submit a current, valid teaching certificate.
- Request official transcripts demonstrating musical study and completion of a baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. If below the minimum GPA, you may submit a narrative demonstrating excellence and persistence in your course of study.
- Submit two recommendations from immediate supervisors, music teachers, mentors, and/or undergraduate faculty addressing your leadership abilities in music education and potential. Instructions for these are available in the admissions portal.
- Prepare a diversity and inclusion statement that demonstrates how you seek to build belonging and cross-cultural awareness in your teaching. This can be a reflection on current practices as well as aspirations for graduate study.
- As an optional step, you can upload GRE/MAT scores.
- Once you have submitted all of the admissions materials, please contact Dr. Kevin Shorner-Johnson to schedule a time to take the Master of Music Education Theory Entrance Exam.
- After submitting your application, the SGPS Team will review it and make an admissions decision.
- If accepted, you will receive an initial offer letter via the applicant portal, which you must accept to proceed with matriculation.
- If there are any questions or concerns, the admissions team will contact you for further discussion.
