Biology - Major in Biology Program

Required courses:

Music Education Core (12 credits)
MME 801 Philosophy of Music Education

A consideration of philosophical and historical issues in music education and their implications for developing curricular and instructional approaches to the field as well as greater advocacy in the field of music education as a whole. This course meets a core requirement. 3 credits.

MME 850 Ethnomusicology

This course is designed to explore musical dimensions across a variety of the world's musical cultures. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. 3 credits.

MME 870 Music for All: Teaching Music to Students with Exceptionalities

This course will cover a range of topics pertaining to the teaching of music to K-12 learners with exceptionalities (special needs). Topics include the study of the exceptionalities currently recognized by law for special services, IDEA, Individualized Education Plan (IEP), Section 504, assistive technology, inclusion, self-determination, universal design, least restrictive environment (LRE), accommodations and curriculum modifications, Response to Intervention (RTI), and the history of special education. This course meets a core requirement. 3 credits.

MME 872 Contemporary Musicianship Pedagogies

This course is designed to aid music educators in preparing, implementing, and effectively running music theory and ear training programs. In addition to creating the overall structure for these courses, emphasis will be placed on theory and ear training pedagogy, with particular emphasis on assembling resources and creating activities geared for meaningful learning outcomes. This course meets a core requirement. 3 credits.

Modern Band Concentration (12 credits)
MME 860 Modern Band Pedagogy

This course will introduce students to the music as a second language pedagogy and provide an overview of Modern Band and the application of materials for teaching keyboard, guitar, drums and bass in the K-12 classroom. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Corequisite: Take MME-861. 1 credit.

MME 861 Music of Modern Band

Students will enhance their knowledge of repertoire performance from various popular styles; and learning rhythmic, melodic and harmonic practices associated with each genre. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Corequisite: MME-860. 1 credit.

MME 862 Beginning Pedagogy and Methods for Guitar

Students will learn the skills necessary to teach guitar in a popular music setting. "Music as a second language" will be the emphasized pedagogy. Students are required to meet a minimum proficiency on the guitar. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Prerequisite: Take MME-860 and MME-861. 1/2 credit.

MME 863 Beginning Pedagogy and Methods for Drums

Students will learn the skills necessary to teach drums in a popular music setting. "Music as a second language" will be the emphasized pedagogy. Students are required to meet a minimum proficiency on each instrument. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Prerequisite: Take MME-860 and MME-861. 1/2 credit.

MME 864 Beginning Pedagogy and Methods for Electric Bass

Students will learn the skills necessary to teach electric bass in a popular music setting. "Music as a second language" will be the emphasized pedagogy. Students are required to meet a minimum proficiency on each instrument. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Prerequisite: Take MME-860 and MME-861. 1/2 credit.

MME 865 Beginning Pedagogy and Methods for Keyboard

Students will learn the skills necessary to teach keyboard in a popular music setting. "Music as a second language" will be the emphasized pedagogy. Students are required to meet a minimum proficiency on each instrument. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Prerequisite: Take MME-860 and MME-861. 1/2 credit.

MME 866 Beginning Pedagogy and Methods for Contemporary Vocal Styles

Students will learn the skills necessary to teach the voice techniques in a popular music setting. "Music as a second language" will be the emphasized pedagogy. Students are required to meet a minimum proficiency singing in a contemporary genre. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Prerequisite: Take MME-860 and MME-861. 1 credit.

MME 867 Creative Experiences in Modern Band

The course is designed to give students the opportunity to analyze and create music in popular music styles and then apply appropriate strategies that will enable them to design creative experiences for students in K-12 settings. Students will be introduced to compositional strategies for creative experiences appropriate for upper-elementary and secondary aged students and design a series of creative experiences for this purpose. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Prerequisite: MME 860, 861, 862, 863, 864, and 865. 1 credit.

MME 887 Recording for the Music Educator

Whether you are trying to record your spring concert, grab a quick recording of a rehearsal for instant feedback, or help your students produce their own songs, we will spend lots of time exploring the various aspects of making a recording. The use of microphones, room acoustics, and equipment setup will be covered by...get this...actually recording. A lot! This course meets a supportive studies requirement. 3 credits.

MME 888 Modern Band: Composition and Performance Ensemble

This course serves as the capstone to the Modern Band Certificate. Students will expand upon the proficiencies and methods learned in an ensemble setting through collaborative composition and improvisation. The cumulating experience will be a live concert promoting the pedagogies for a modern band curriculum. This course meets a supportive studies requirement. Prerequisites: MME 866 and MME 867. 3 credits.

Education Core (3 credits)
EDU 804 Research Methods in Education

This course is designed to develop the understanding of the methods employed in planning and developing research in education; students will gain experience in generating ideas for research, critically evaluating literature, synthesizing and presenting results of research, and writing in a clear and organized way. Students will explore research-based rationale for reform in education and address the use of statistics in analyzing educational research as well as local, state, and national assessments. 3 credits.

Education Concentration (3 credits)
EDU 840 Introduction to Designing Online Environment

This project-based course will introduce participants to various aspects of online learning environments with a focus on asynchronous learning. Learners will investigate standards, instructional best practices and online design techniques to build an environment that creates a sense of community and encourages collaboration and engagement. The course will include a focus on how to differentiate instruction to meet all learners' needs in an asynchronous manner of delivery. Participants will clearly convey how instructional practices, relevant skills and competencies inform their online program design and be able to communicate where and when online learning techniques can enhance traditional instructional models. This course meets a principle requirement. 3 credits.

EDU 841 Delivering Effective Online Instruction

This course will examine methods for delivering online instruction in various environments with a focus on synchronous learning. Participants will review the Teacher Effectiveness Model of Supervision and evaluate the model with regard to aspects of online delivery. The course will focus on planning live instruction that encourages learners' active participation, application, interaction and collaboration. Participants will explore setting clear expectations, professionally delivering instruction and providing meaningful feedback. The course will include components on how to differentiate synchronous instruction to meet all learners' needs. Participants will be able to articulate when and why synchronous learning is the most effective delivery of the content. This course meets an elective requirement. 3 credits.

EDU 850 Curriculum Principles and Processes

This course builds the capacity of educators and administrators as instructional leaders by equipping them with a deep understanding of how high-quality curriculum is designed, developed, and adopted for implementation in elementary and secondary programs. Principles, key concepts, and historical perspectives will be introduced to serve as a foundation for curriculum development. In order to gain experience and competency, students will engage in a full curriculum cycle including: Conducting a needs assessment, standards alignment, creating a framework, writing a scope and sequence, designing curriculum guides, planning units, and selecting instructional materials. Further, current issues and trends in curriculum will be explored and considered for application in a variety of learning environments. 3 credits.

EDU 852 Social and Cultural Diversity in Education

Students will learn about cultural and social diversity and the impact on the educational setting. To prepare students to work with diverse populations, this course will explore a variety of topics including race, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status in the educational setting. Students will obtain strategies to best support and deliver culturally responsive education practices. 3 credits.

EDU 861 Family, Community, and Agency Collaborations

This course will prepare students to further collaborate with families, agencies, and the community to support social, emotional, and behavioral wellness of students Prek-12. This includes culturally responsive approaches that will authentically engage all stakeholders in the support of students' social, emotional, and behavioral wellness. 3 credits.

Capstone (3 credits)
EDU 805 Capstone Project

Capstone project which emphasizes the student's accomplishments and fulfillment of learning goals through the course of the program. Graded pass/fail. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. The capstone project course is intended for students who have completed all coursework in the Master of Education program. 1-3 credits.