Music Education

To receive full consideration for admission and graduate assistantships, the application deadline is December 1. The Music Education department will consider applications on a rolling basis for the following semester but cannot guarantee an interview, admission, or graduate assistantship if application is received after the deadline.

Residency Requirement

Per Graduate College policy 8.2.1.1, "The student must be in residence at OU for at least two consecutive 16-week semesters during the pursuit of the doctoral degree while enrolled and engaged in coursework or research activities as prescribed by the major academic unit."

Assistantships

There is no separate application for assistantship. Unless the applicant indicates otherwise, we assume that all applicants are interested in being considered for assistantships. Please note that assistantships are usually awarded for the Fall and Spring semesters together. We very seldom have assistantships available for anyone entering in a Spring semester. We do not award assistantships for Summer sessions.

Procedure for Applying

Submit the online application (see Graduate Admissions page) and all materials as described below. After submitting the online application, an in person interview/audition may be required, depending on your concentration.

Application materials required for all graduate degrees

These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

Resume
- Submitted to the online application under the Resume tab.
Statement of Purpose
- Submitted to the online application under the Statement of Purpose tab
- Please compose a brief personal statement (approximately 2–3 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font text with 1-inch margins) regarding your desire to pursue a graduate degree in music. Include responses to the following prompts:
  1. How would you describe your professional path to this point?
  2. Why do you want to pursue this degree at OU?
  3. How do you want to grow musically, artistically, pedagogically, and/or intellectually during your graduate studies?
  4. What skills, expertise, and experiences do you bring to graduate study at OU?
  5. Describe your post-degree plans (i.e., How will you apply your newly acquired academic knowledge and expertise?).
Three letters of reference
- Submitted to the online application under Recommendations tab
- Your three reference letters should include:
  - At least one letter from: your studio professor, ensemble conductor, chamber coach, etc., or a person who has considerable knowledge about your abilities as a performer or composer.
  - At least one letter from: a person who can speak to your abilities as a scholar of music.

Scholarly writing requirement

This degree requires you to submit a sample of your scholarly writing.

Submitted to the online application under the Supporting Documents tab
The guidelines for this writing sample are as follows:
1. Should represent your best writing and researching skills.
2. Preferably not more than 3 years old; should be recently revised. If you do not have a recent scholarly writing sample on hand, we ask that you compose something original.
3. Adhere to a consistent method of formatting and citations (e.g., Chicago, MLA, Turabian, APA) and include a bibliography/reference list.
4. A minimum of 5 pages of double-spaced, 12-point font text (not counting bibliography) with typical 1-inch margins.
5. Ensure your writing sample is representative of the field. Consider presenting a complete argument supporting a clear thesis, perhaps methodological in nature for empirical research, or other format reflective of various academic areas in music.
6. Please contact the Graduate Music Office (gradmusic@ou.edu) or the area chair for your program with any questions about meeting these requirements.

Application materials and additional actions required for this degree

These items must be submitted to the online graduate application system.

Evidence of the successful completion of three years of full-time music teaching experience at the elementary, secondary, and/or college level, or the equivalent.
- Submitted to the online application under Supporting Documents.
A recent video recording of classroom or private instruction, or ensemble rehearsal that demonstrates teaching effectiveness. Audio recordings of ensemble performances that the applicant has conducted may also be sent, but not as a substitute for the video recording. The applicant may request an on-site observation visit by music faculty in lieu of a video recording. The applicant bears all costs.
- Audio or video files or links to online recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.

Depending on on your concentration, you may need to submit additional materials or take additional actions, as described below.

Emphasis in Choral Conducting

Applicants interested in an emphasis in choral conducting must provide a video recording of a choral rehearsal, or may schedule an on-campus interview/audition.

Video files or links to online video recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.

Emphasis in Instrumental Conducting

Applicants interested in an emphasis in instrumental conducting must provide a video recording of an instrumental ensemble rehearsal, or may schedule an on-campus interview/audition.

Video files or links to online video recordings may be submitted to the online application under Digital Portfolio > Upload Media.