Master of Arts in Education Degree

 All applicants for the Master of Arts in Education Degree (MAED) must hold, or be eligible to hold, a North Carolina "A" teaching license in music education. Successful completion of the MAED degree and requirements leads to recommendation for North Carolina Advanced Competency licensure, which may result in a significant salary increase. Students in this concentration may specialize in choral music or instrumental music. The concentration in Music Education is intended primarily for students planning on careers in public education.

The MAED degree is a 36 semester hour degree which includes the following:

 Core Curriculum (10) Unlike typical graduate programs, Western's approach to its music core is designed to synthesize historical and theoretical perspectives on music. Three courses are required in the core, each addressing its topic material in this way. The result is a new way of thinking and talking about music that we hope you will find both challenging and rewarding.

The Core courses are offered on a two year rotation. One course will be offered each regular semester. MUS 601 Writing about Music is offered every fall semester. At this point, there are no music core courses offered in the summer.

 Area of Concentration (10) The Area of Concentration are a collection of music education courses designed to give the graduate student further study into music education. The degree offers some flexibility in its culminating project. Students will either take MUS 679: Lecture/Recital or MUS 677: Capstone Project. The Lecture Recital is a culminating project which takes the form of a performance. The Capstone project is a culminating project which provides the student the opportunity for an in-depth research project not related to performing.

 Professional Education (12) These four courses are administered by the College of Education and Allied Professions. There are three required courses: EDCI 602: Methods of Research, SPED 620: Today's Students and PSY 621: Advanced Educational Psychology. Students are then offered a choice of EDCI 613: The Teacher Leader, EDCI 605: Foundations of Modern Education or EDCI 604: Curriculum Development.

Electives (4) Students are required to take 4 credits as electives. Some students audition for and continue to take private lessons. Some may continue to play their instruments by participating in ensembles.  Lessons are available to MAED students based upon studio availability.

Portfolio: The Master's Comprehensive Portfolio is a formal, organized set of documents and artifacts demonstrating the teacher's growth, as a self-directed, reflective practitioner. The Master's Comprehensive Portfolio is intended to provide tangible evidence that the candidate has met each of the advanced competencies required for the degree. The portfolio is not a collection of everything the candidate has done in the master's program; it is a carefully selected, organized set of entries demonstrating achievement of each of the standards.