Music to offer new master's as summer program

Beginning July 2009, two music education courses will be offered each summer, allowing students the option of pursuing either the course-based or thesis format for the degree across four summers. Students in the summer option pay fees only during the summer terms.

“For years, we've had requests for a graduate degree program in music education that would work around the teaching year," says Victoria Meredith, acting chair of the department of music education. “We do try to offer a part-time option, usually after school and on weekends, but it's pretty hard for music teachers who work before and after regular school hours already to take courses at the same time as teaching."

Program requirements for the degree are the same for full-time, part-time or summer students. "The goal is to offer a balance of academic and applied courses," says Meredith. “The summer program will involve the same courses taught by the same people as the regular full-time program, but it will be spread across four summers. Each summer, two courses will be offered: the first of which will be one of the three required seminars for the degree; the second will be one of a variety of other courses, such as advanced conducting, advanced instrumental techniques, multi-cultural music in the classroom or special topics."

Anticipated enrolment will be 10-20 students. “Each summer, the students will be with a number of the same people," says Meredith. “They'll be able to reconnect across the years in the program, adding an interesting social aspect to it."

Courses will include approximately 40 hours of instruction each during the six-week program, which is the equivalent to the number of hours per course during the academic year.

 

Applications for admission to the program are due January 10.