The Master of Music Education (M.M.Ed.) degree program is intended for new and experienced music teachers who seek advanced study in music curriculum and instruction. Applicants for this degree will have completed a bachelor's degree in music education at an accredited institution and will have obtained their teacher certification. Part-time and summers-only programs of study are available for teachers who hold full-time teaching positions. The Music Education department strongly urges applicants to complete one year of experience in the field before beginning an M.M.Ed. degree. Candidates for the Master of Music Education have the option of pursuing a non-thesis course of study that focuses on teaching pedagogy and teaching techniques or a thesis-required course of study that focuses on methodological, historical, or experimental research. Non-thesis emphases include pedagogy, technology, Kod?ly, choral conducting, and wind band conducting. Thesis-required emphases include early childhood and research. Thesis-track students must have one year of full-time teaching experience.<br><br> The Master of Music Education (MMEd) degree in Music Education-Choral Conducting emphasis is designed for graduate students who wish to further their teaching and conducting skills. Additionally, it will prepare students for entrance into a DMA or PhD program or a profession in academia. The Master of Music Education (MMEd) degree in Music Education-Wind Band Conducting emphasis is designed for graduate students who wish to further their teaching and conducting skills. There are two different tracks for students in this emphasis. Typically, students are public school music teachers, enrolled in the summers-only master's degree program who wish to enhance their teaching and conducting skills while still maintaining their full-time teaching jobs during the school year. The second track is for full-time students and is designed to ready students for entrance into a DMA or PhD program or a profession in academia.