Music Education

This program prepares graduates to become creative and highly qualified music educators in PreK–12 schools. Throughout their course of study, students grow and develop their pedagogical skills through cutting-edge curricula, opportunities for guided field experience, and engagement with diverse populations of students—all while interacting with a collaborative community of peers, faculty, and in-service teachers. Coursework includes music education methods, instrumental and vocal techniques, conducting, music theory, private instrument/vocal study, and student teaching at both the elementary and secondary levels.

Graduates receive a Bachelor of Music (BM) degree with a music education concentration with qualification for initial teacher licensure in Massachusetts.  All Educator Licensure programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to meet licensure requirements in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ONLY. 

Many states are signatories to the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which facilitates the mobility of educators among the states that are members of NASDTEC. This agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program and/or who holds a certificate or license in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction, with possible additional requirements.

If you are seeking licensure in another state, here is a Teacher Licensure Agency Directory for you to contact other states' departments of education.

Note: The BM Music Education is not currently available to students auditioning as Jazz majors. However, it may be possible to pursue the Music Education and Jazz concentrations separately.

Post-Baccalaureate Music Teacher Licensure Program

This program is administered jointly by the College of Education and University Without Walls.

Qualification: All applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree in music (any area).

Description: This program provides coursework leading to qualification for a Massachusetts Initial Educator License in Music: All Levels (PreK–12).

Admission Deadlines:

• Spring admission: October 1

• Fall admission: March 1

Application Process:

As part of the application process, candidates must submit transcripts for review. Each transcript is carefully compared to the standard sequence of music content courses required of licensure candidates at this university. When courses are identified as missing, candidates must complete the designated undergraduate courses to satisfy requirements and fulfill the Content and Professional Standards for Teachers, as outlined in the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Regulations for Educator Licensure.

Application Materials:

• Personal Statement

• Two letters of recommendation

• One official transcript from each college attended (including the University of Massachusetts)

Applicants should also be aware that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education now requires candidates for educational licensure in music to pass the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) two-part examination in Communication and Literacy Skills and in the Music content area of the license. The Communication and Literacy Skills test must be passed before the end of the first semester of enrollment in the program, and the MTEL Music test must be passed before the beginning of student teaching.

All Educator Licensure programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to meet licensure requirements in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ONLY. 

Many states are signatories to the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, which facilitates the mobility of educators among the states that are members of NASDTEC. This agreement makes it possible for an educator who completed an approved program and/or who holds a certificate or license in one jurisdiction to earn a certificate or license in another state or jurisdiction, with possible additional requirements.

If you are seeking licensure in another state, here is a Teacher Licensure Agency Directory for you to contact other states' departments of education.

This newly revised degree offers a fresh and contemporary curriculum to graduate students who want to explore innovative practices and current topics in music education among a community of scholars and practitioners, while further developing their creative, analytical, and teaching skills and/or preparing for doctoral studies in music education. This coursework addresses music education topics related to innovation and contemporary issues, community engagement, music education in global contexts, music and lifelong learning, and musician health and wellness. Students choose one of four focus areas: Applied, Conducting, Pedagogy, and Research.

This terminal degree has been newly revised to provide theoretical foundations for the examination and exploration of innovative research and pedagogical practices. A limited number of 20-hour teaching associateships are available for highly qualified applicants who have earned a master's degree and seek professional advancement and/or employment in higher education or arts administration.