Texas Tech University
Faculty & student practicing on a xylophone

School of Music
Doctor of Philosophy
Music Education

doctor of philosophy (ph.d.) in Music Education

The School of Music offers the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education with an emphasis on research and music educator preparation. Students complete a core curriculum of 20-24 core hours that emphasize expertise in music education content knowledge, expertise in music educator preparation, and music education research design and methods.

Students elect 1 - 2 cognates by completing at least 9 hours in the cognate area. Cognates might include conducting, ethnomusicology, exceptionalities and/or neurodiversities (i.e., students with disabilities), interdisciplinary studies in fine arts, Kodály, music education curriculum, music theory, musicology, performance, psychology, or other student-selected/faculty-approved cognates. Please see the list of Suggested Cognates for additional options.
 
Suggested Cognates:

  • Composition
  • Conducting
  • Educator Preparation
  • Ethnomusicology
  • Exceptionalities
  • Interdisciplinary Studies in Fine Arts
  • Music Education Curriculum
  • Music Theory
  • Musicology
  • Performance
  • Psychology
  • Research (9 hours beyond required)
  • World Music Pedagogy
  • Student-selected/Faculty-approved Cognates

Programs by cognate area

Although there are not concentrations/tracks for the PhD in Music Education, students elect 1-2 cognates by completing at least 9 hours in the cognate area. Cognates might include interdisciplinary studies in fine arts, music education curriculum, conducting, performance, exceptionalities, music theory, musicology, ethnomusicology, psychology or other student-selected/faculty-approved cognates.

Suggested Cognates (others are also possible)

  • Conducting
  • Performance
  • Exceptionalities
  • Educator Preparation
  • Research (9 hours beyond required)
  • Psychology
  • Composition
  • Interdisciplinary Studies in Fine Arts
  • International Music Education
  • Music Education Curriculum
  • Musicology
  • Ethnomusicology
  • Music Theory
  • Student-selected/Faculty-approved Cognates

What Sets Us Apart

Texas Tech University is only one of a few universities in the state of Texas that offers a PhD in Music Education.  This doctoral degree is offered in addition to the established PhD in Fine Arts with a Specialization in Music Education.  The PhD in Music Education will effectively prepare graduate students for successful careers on the university level due to the emphasis that is placed on research and music teacher preparation.

PhD Degree (Black Box) - Texas Tech University, a Tier 1 institution, is only one of a few universities in the state of Texas that offers a PhD in Music Education. This doctoral degree provides graduate students with the opportunity to study the history of music education, philosophies of music education, psychology of music, the examination and application of research methodologies within the discipline, and additional topics relevant to the teaching and learning of music education. The PhD in Music Education is offered in addition to a PhD in Fine Arts - Music with a Concentration in Music Education, the latter of which provides doctoral students with opportunities to explore both the fine arts and music education. By offering both of these doctoral degrees in music education, prospective doctoral students have two options from which they may choose for their pursuits of a terminal degree.

Preparedness (Black Box) - The PhD in Music Education prepares graduate students for successful careers as scholars and music educators in higher education. PhD students in music education complete coursework and projects that provide them with multiple opportunities to examine music education literature in ways that will positively impact their future careers as university-level music educators. Additionally, doctoral students in music education are given multiple opportunities to deliver research presentations (both on-campus and at professional conferences), which also contributes to their development as emerging scholars.

Ali Duffy, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Degree

Texas Tech University is only one of a few universities in the state of Texas that offers a PhD in Music Education in addition to a PhD in Fine Arts with a Specialization in Music Education.

Alice Anne Light 

Preparedeness

The PhD in Music Education will prepare graduate students to have successful careers as scholars and music educators in higher education.

 

Program Highlights

The School of Music offers the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education with an emphasis on research and music educator preparation. Students engage in courses that emphasize expertise in music education content knowledge, expertise in music educator preparation, and music education research design and methods, which enables graduates of the program to prepare for successful careers in higher education.

Students elect 1-2 cognates, which might include conducting, curriculum, ethnomusicology, exceptionalities and neurodiversities (i.e., students with disabilities), interdisciplinary studies in fine arts, music education, music theory, musicology, performance, psychology or other student-selected/faculty-approved cognates. This enables students to tailor this terminal degree to suit their individual needs and interests.

The Ph.D. in Music Education requires a minimum of 60 semester hours and has a minimum residence requirement that is fulfilled by satisfactory completion of 18 semester hours of graduate coursework during one 12-month period.  Full residency, however, is highly encouraged for this degree because of the required experiences with music teacher preparation activities.

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MORE HIGHLIGHTS

Facilities & technology

Students in our Ph.D. in Music Education program have access to all spaces within the School of Music, including Hemmle Hall, the Choral Room, the Band Hall, practice rooms, and the various classrooms throughout the building.  Students also have access to the technology that is present in the academic classrooms and rehearsal spaces, as well as the pianos within the practice rooms.  As a part of the music education curriculum, students will make frequent use of different learning platforms/software programs (e.g., MusicFirst, Google Drive, TEAMS, and Zoom).

Image of the inside of one of the music labs

Student Access

Access to all spaces within the School of Music, including Hemmle Hall, the Choral Room, the Band Hall, practice rooms, and the academic classrooms

Close up of computer and headphones in music lab

Learning Platforms

Students make frequent use of different learning platforms/software programs (e.g., MusicFirst, Noteflight, Google Drive)

admissions

 

APPLY NOW

In order to apply for admission into the Graduate School and the School of Music, follow these instructions.

In addition to submitting the required materials, a personal interview or audition before the appropriate divisional faculty is typically required, but if travel to Texas Tech University is not an option, telephone or online interviews may be an option.  A preliminary review of application materials by faculty generally precedes the invitation for a personal audition or interview.

 

REQUIREMENTS

Students engage in a core curriculum of 20-24 core hours that emphasize expertise in music education content knowledge, expertise in music educator preparation, and music education research design and methods.

Students elect 1-2 cognates, which might include interdisciplinary studies in conducting, curriculum, ethnomusicology, exceptionalities and neurodiversities (i.e., students with disabilities), fine arts, music education performance, music theory, musicology, psychology or other student-selected/faculty-approved cognates. This enables students to tailor this terminal degree to suit their individual needs and interests.

The PhD in Music Education requires a minimum of 60 semester hours and has a minimum residence requirement that is fulfilled by satisfactory completion of 18 semester hours of graduate coursework during one 12-month period.  Full residency, however, is highly encouraged for this degree because of the required experiences with music teacher preparation activities.

 

ONLINE LEARNING

The PhD in Music Education has a minimum residence requirement that is fulfilled by satisfactory completion of 18 semester hours of graduate coursework during one 12-month period.  Full residency, however, is highly encouraged for this degree because of the required experiences with music teacher preparation activities.

 

TUITION ESTIMATOR

curriculum

COURSES

Students elect 1 - 2 cognates by completing at least 9 hours in the cognate area. Cognates might include conducting, ethnomusicology, exceptionalities and/or neurodiversities (i.e., students with disabilities), interdisciplinary studies in fine arts, Kodály, music education curriculum, music theory, musicology, performance, psychology, or other student-selected/faculty-approved cognates. Please see the list of Suggested Cognates for additional options.”
 
Suggested Cognates: Please alphabetize the list (see below)

  • Composition
  • Conducting
  • Educator Preparation
  • Ethnomusicology
  • Exceptionalities
  • Interdisciplinary Studies in Fine Arts
  • Music Education Curriculum
  • Music Theory
  • Musicology
  • Performance
  • Psychology
  • Research (9 hours beyond required)
  • World Music Pedagogy
  • Student-selected/Faculty-approved Cognates

ONLINE CATALOG INFORMATION

Alumni Success

GRADUATE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Graduate students who earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Music Education from Texas Tech University are serving as positive contributors to the music education profession. Some of our Phd, Music Education graduates are in tenure-track/tenured positions as music educators at universities across the nation and abroad. Other PhD, Music Education graduates are serving as Directors of Departments/Schools of Music in the United States and in other countries outside of the United States. Many of our PhD, Music Education graduates have published and presented relevant research regarding the teaching and learning of music at state, national, and international music education conferences. Additionally, our PhD, Music Education alumni are also continuing to contribute to the profession by serving as guest clinicians, guest consultants, and event adjudicators.
 

CAREERS

  • Conference Presenters
  • Event Adjudicators
  • Fine Arts Administrators
  • Guest Clinicians and Consultants
  • Music Education Administrators
  • Music Education Professors
  • Private or Public School Music Educators
  • Researchers and Scholars 

doctor of philosophy (ph.d.) in Music Education FACULTY