Music Education MSE Program – Wayne State College Nebraska

Music Education MSE program overview

Enhance your teaching, leadership, and classroom instruction skills for music education. In the Curriculum and Instruction MSE program, you will explore instructional theory and new approaches to curriculum design that meet the needs of today’s elementary and secondary schools. Earning a master's in Music Education prepares educators for leadership roles in the classroom and in band or choir. If you're already a certified teacher, earning your Curriculum and Instruction master's degree with Music Education emphasis from Wayne State College can help advance your career and improve your teaching skills, which makes you more competitive in the job market. The music education master's program is designed primarily for K-12 teachers who wish to remain in the classroom by combining an enhanced teaching program with instructional leadership skills. This program may also appeal to non-teachers, as careers can be found outside of education in directorship positions, performance, and music lessons; however, conferral of this degree to non-teachers will not result in teacher certification.

Licensure: This program is designed for teachers who are already certified in this content area as an opportunity to go deeper into their specialty while simultaneously earning a master’s degree. This program does not meet initial certification/licensure requirements through the Nebraska Department of Education. It has not been determined if this program meets requirements for all other states. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Nebraska, please check that state's licensing board to determine their licensing requirements. Learn more about state authorization, licensure, and reciprocity.

Student learning outcomes for the MSE Curriculum and Instruction program:

Analyze literature to improve educational practices.
Develop learning environments that promote student achievement.
Cultivate professional relationships with all stakeholders.
Utilize evidence-based inclusive practices to develop meaningful learning experiences for students.

Download program handbook (PDF) View program courses

Curriculum and instruction core courses (12 credits)

Credits: 3
Description: Beginning graduate students will develop a practical knowledge and application of basic types of research, as well as basic research tools and skills that will be helpful to them throughout their program. Graduate students will create a research plan and write a review of literature (paper). Students will create appropriate survey and interview questions, develop a beginning understanding of educational statistics, and the process for developing a research proposal including Institutional Review Board requirements and application processes.
Credits: 3
Description: This class is designed to acquaint students with the latest research related to instructional theory, and further, to create opportunities for teachers to try new instructional approaches. The course surveys systems that teachers may use to assess the pros and cons of various instructional approaches.
Credits: 3
Description: A course designed to examine the principles underlying the development of a PK-12 public school and post-secondary program curriculum. Emphasis on methods of determining priorities, objectives, scope and sequence and organizational patterns. The roles of state and local involvement will also be examined.
Credits: 3
Description: Philosophies and theories underlying the American educational system. An analysis of the differing philosophies of education and their implications for education in a democratic society.

Music education focus area courses (24 credits)

Credits: 3
Description: Study of historical, philosophical, and social foundations of music education, including creating and assessing curricula in accordance with state and national standards. Current trends and pedagogy in music education will be studied as well as the development of skills and techniques related to music instruction.
Choose three courses from the following:
- MUS 515 Choral Literature and Materials (3 credit hours) – A survey of literature and materials for choirs and vocal ensembles.
- MUS 516 Instrumental Literature and Materials (3 credit hours) – A survey of literature and materials for instrumental ensembles and bands and orchestras.
- MUS 601 Advanced Choral Conducting (3 credit hours) – Advanced study of techniques required for conducting vocal ensembles and choirs. Includes rehearsal management and music interpretation.
- MUS 602 Advanced Instrumental Conducting (3 credit hours) – Advanced study of techniques required for conducting instrumental ensembles and bands and orchestras. Includes rehearsal management and musical interpretation.
- MUS 610 Analytical Techniques for Tonal Music (3 credit hours) – Development and expansion of analytical approaches learned in the undergraduate theory curriculum through score study of representative works from the common-practice period. Students will synthesize the essential concepts of music theory through systematic and empirical investigation into the compositional procedures of selected choral and instrumental masterworks from the tonal repertoire.
Choose two courses from the following:
- MUS 503 Music of the Baroque and Classical Periods (3 credit hours) – Music of the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries. Emphasis on J.S. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, and on the development of the various vocal and instrumental forms of these periods.
- MUS 504 Music of the Romantic Period (3 credit hours) – A study of music of the Romantic period, from Beethoven up to the 20th century. Developments in chamber music, opera, and symphonic music will be studied with accompanying representative works.
- MUS 505 Music of the 20th Century (3 credit hours) – A study of music of the 20th century. Representative works of chamber music, vocal, instrumental, opera, symphony, and non-traditional forms.
Choose at least 4 credit hours from the following courses:
- MUS 524 Piano Pedagogy (3 credit hours) – The study of teaching techniques and solo literature for the piano.
- MUS 544 Topics in Music Pedagogy and Literature (2 credit hours) – The study of teaching techniques and literature in instrumental and vocal performance. The performance area will depend on needs and interests of students and will be in one of the following areas: voice, keyboard, woodwinds, brass, percussion, or strings. May be repeated for up to 6 credit hours with no content duplication.
- MUS 653 Piano Lessons (2 credit hours) – Class fee of $20.
- MUS 655 Voice Lessons (2 credit hours) – Class fee of $20.
- MUS 657 Brass Lessons (2 credit hours) – Class fee of $20.
- MUS 659 Woodwind Lessons (2 credit hours) – Class fee of $20.
- MUS 661 Strings Lessons (2 credit hours) – Class fee of $20.
- MUS 663 Percussion Lessons (2 credit hours) – Class fee of $20.
Take 2 credits of additional music electives.