Graduate Degrees

Full-Time Graduate Degree Programs

Master of Music, Music Education Specialization

Designed for elementary and secondary music teachers who already hold a K–12 state music-teaching license or the international equivalent. Specifically, this program is designed to inspire and develop the next generation of leaders in the field of music education by developing and applying scholarly research skills in the field of music education, the in-depth study of advanced pedagogical expertise, and the impact of contemporary learning theory on K–12 music education. music.colostate.edu/master-music-education

Master of Music, Music Education Specialization with Licensure

This program is designed for students who hold a Bachelor of Arts in Music or a Bachelor of Music degree and who would like to earn Teaching Licensure in K-12 Music while studying music education at the graduate level. This degree, which can be completed in three years, includes undergraduate music education coursework from both the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance and the School for Teacher Education and Principal Preparation (STEPP). music.colostate.edu/master-music-education-licensure

Master of Music, Music Education — Composition Specialization

The Master of Music in Music Education, Composition Specialization is intended as a professional degree with specialized training towards composing music for educational ensembles and incorporating composition, improvisation, and music theory into K-12 music classrooms. Students enrolled in the program will produce original compositions for educational ensembles and have them performed publicly by student ensembles. The degree option in music education with a specialization in composition is designed to provide music educators with the ability to apply compositional and arranging skills and the pedagogy of the creative process to the classroom in K-12 settings. This provides an option for a master’s degree in music education for students with an interest in composition, arranging, and the pedagogy of the creative process as opposed to the more traditional CSU graduate music education offerings of conducting, Kodály, instrumental, and choral. music.colostate.edu/master-of-music-composition/

Master of Music, Performance Option (orchestral instrument, saxophone, voice, guitar, piano, and organ) —

A comprehensive approach to the study and performance of literature in all styles and idioms of music. The curriculum is designed to develop musicianship, technical proficiency, and cultural awareness in both performance and pedagogy. Regardless of degree concentration, the graduate student will maintain regular study on their applied instrument or voice and additional directed areas based on individual goals and needs. Graduate students may choose to specialize in one or more areas as they work toward degree recital requirements.

The intent of this option is to prepare students with outstanding performance potential to be competitive in performance and teaching careers and to be advocates for the arts in their communities. They may help meet the needs for skilled performers of solo and small and large ensemble music, and they will be able to teach in a university and help meet the considerable community demand for excellent private studio teachers.

Performance areas include orchestral instruments, saxophone, guitar, voice, piano, and organ. Please visit the "Areas" section of this website for information about each studio. Here is the check sheet for the degree.

Unique performance opportunities include the Graduate String Quartet/Trio program and professional organizations in Fort Collins’ thriving arts community.

Master of Music, Conducting Specialization (Choral)

The program is committed to musical excellence with a curriculum designed to build a well-rounded choral conductor/teacher, using the musical and personal strengths of the graduate choral conducting student. By the completion of the program, the student will have developed advanced conducting skills and techniques that are appropriate to a variety of musical needs. The student will learn effective rehearsal techniques, score preparation, and become a knowledgeable scholar of important choral scores representing repertoire of various music periods and secular and sacred styles. music.colostate.edu/conducting

Master of Music, Conducting Specialization (Instrumental)

The program offers students the opportunity to conduct a broad range of ensembles in preparation for their career. The art of conducting is examined from the perspective of gesture and movement, score study/analysis/ear training, and rehearsal techniques and strategies. For students focused on band conducting, this is a program of advanced study in repertoire and advanced wind/percussion techniques with a strong supporting program of theoretical and analytical studies. For students focused on orchestral conducting, this is a program of advanced study in repertoire and advanced orchestral techniques with a strong supporting program of theoretical and analytical studies. music.colostate.edu/conducting

Master of Music, Music Therapy Specialization

Advance your career as a music therapist with our nationally recognized master's degree program in music therapy. Students in this program advance their skills with focus on neurological and evidence-based techniques that promote changes in cognitive, sensorimotor, speech and language, and psychosocial functioning. The CSU program offers a wide variety of course options in music therapy including research, composition and improvisation, neuroscience, and history of music therapy. This discipline-specific core is expanded upon with courses in counseling, psychology, and neuroscience. Come join this internationally-recognized faculty to expand on your skills as a music therapist. music.colostate.edu/music-therapy

Master of Music, Music Therapy Specialization with Equivalency

Designed for the person who has earned an undergraduate degree in music and desires to study music therapy at the graduate level. Students in this program concurrently take the necessary undergraduate prerequisite coursework to fulfill requirements for entry-level practice and graduate coursework in advanced clinical practice and research. As in the master of music therapy program a thesis or additional course work is required for graduation. music.colostate.edu/music-therapy

Doctorate of Music Therapy

The Colorado State University Ph.D. in Music Therapy emphasizes research and scholarship, as appropriate for the music therapist who aspires to a career in research, college-level teaching, or advanced clinical practice. In this program, you will engage in coursework that will advance your scholarship and help you to reach your professional goals. You will be involved in groundbreaking research, with the opportunity to develop original research in an area of interest. music.colostate.edu/music-therapy/music-therapy-phd

A music program fee is assessed with undergraduate and graduate music majors and minors, per semester. The fee does not apply to the following students: online degree students, summers-only master's degree students, music therapy students in an internship off-campus, music education students who are student teaching off-campus, and music minors who are not actively enrolled in any lessons or ensembles. Please visit the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for special course fees.

Distance Learning Graduate Degrees

Master of Music, Music Therapy Specialization

Advance your career as a music therapist with our nationally recognized master's degree program in music therapy. Students in this program advance their skills with focus on neurological and evidence-based techniques that promote changes in cognitive, sensorimotor, speech and language, and psychosocial functioning. The CSU program offers a wide variety of course options in music therapy including research, composition and improvisation, neuroscience, and history of music therapy. This discipline-specific core is expanded upon with courses in counseling, psychology, and neuroscience. Come join this internationally-recognized faculty to expand on your skills as a music therapist. online.colostate.edu/degrees/music-therapy/

Master of Music, Music Education – Conducting Specialization

The Master of Music, Music Education – Conducting Specialization is an exclusive online degree program at Colorado State University. The program features the annual Summer Conducting Seminar, the residency portion of the degree, with additional courses offered online during the school year. music.colostate.edu/master-music-education-conducting/

Master of Music, Music Education Specialization, Kodály Option

The Master of Music, Music Education Specialization, Kodály Option is designed for elementary classroom music teachers, independent music instructors, and secondary music teachers interested in developing their teaching, conducting, musicianship, and depth of knowledge about music education. music.colostate.edu/master-music-education-kodaly/

Related Programs

Master of Arts Leadership and Cultural Management

Residential and online program responds to an increased demand for graduates who can provide leadership and organization to the arts; graduates who have the skills and confidence to bridge the arts with applied administration skills. It can be argued that the demand for leaders in the arts community, who can provide vision and entrepreneurship, financial and budgetary skills, advocacy for their art and an understanding of events management and promotion, including marketing, has never been greater. In addition, the demand for people who can use their creative talents continues to grow outside the world of arts and non-profits; a creative mind is a valuable asset to any workplace and graduates will have the confidence that they can apply their skills to opportunities throughout the non-profit and for-profit sectors of our quickly changing economy. artsmanagement.colostate.edu