Music and Music Education EdM Initial

Master of Education with New York State Initial Certification (Ed.M. –INIT)


Description

The Ed.M degree with Teacher Certification is a program designed for students with an undergraduate degree in music who wish to prepare for teaching music in the public schools.

Curriculum Guide

The 60-point degree program (33 in program) leads to both the Ed.M. degree and New York State Teacher of Music, PreK-12 Certification. Students admitted to the program should seek guidance from the initial certification advisor at their first registration. All requirements for certification can be completed in this Ed.M. program if the candidate is identified at the first registration. Students in this Ed.M. program take coursework followed by two semesters of carefully guided student teaching in schools that reflects the Music Program’s philosophy of authentic and relevant musical pedagogy. Please see the Office of Teacher Education Website for additional specific certification requirements and exams for program completion and graduation.

In order to graduate, students must complete the necessary coursework, student teaching, and the summative project (electronic portfolio); they must also demonstrate competent musicianship in a musical performance.

Teachers College Building
A student is engaged in conversation with one her peers at a study group at Teachers College.

Admission Information

Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.

Master of Education

  • Points/Credits: 60
  • Entry Terms: Fall
  • Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based

Certification

View Public Disclosure Notification

  • NY State Initial: Music Pre-K-12

Application Deadlines

Entry Term AvailablePriority DeadlinesFinal DeadlinesExtended Deadlines
SpringN/AN/AN/A
SummerN/AN/AN/A
FallJanuary 15, 2025June 1, 2025N/A

Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.

Application Requirements

 Requirement
 Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume
 Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed
 Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable)
 $75 Application Fee
 Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
 Master's degree required
 Optional digital portfolio (included in online application)
 Must hold Master's degree in Music

For admission-related inquiries, please contact AHadmission@tc.columbia.edu.

Additional Notes

  • Applicants for the Master of Arts, Master of Arts - Initial Certification, Master of Arts - Professional Certification, and the Master of Education, must have an undergraduate degree with a major in music or music education, or an undergraduate degree with evidence of sufficient musical training and experience to qualify the student for advanced graduate work in this field.
  • Master of Education - Initial Certification program applicants must hold a Master's degree in Music.
  • The Master of Arts and Master of Arts (Hybrid) programs do not lead to certification. Applicants should have initial certification or should not seek teacher certification.

Additional Degree Information

In addition to Teachers College's policies for student progress and degree completion, students within the Program of Music and Music Education enrolled in a degree program in the department as of Fall Term 2021 or admitted later must meet the following requirements:

  1. All master's and doctoral students must enroll for a minimum of six (6) points per academic year. Students in summer MA intensive or summer doctoral cohort degrees must register for at least six (6) points during summer sessions. However, once a doctoral student is obligated for continuous doctoral dissertation advisement, students must satisfy the requirements for continuous registration as outlined in the College requirements.
  2. All masters and doctoral students must maintain a minimum of a "B" grade (exclusive of Pass/Fail courses) for each course registered through Teachers College.
  3. Students must remain in good academic standing by doing the following:
    • Maintain a minimum of "B" grades
    • Receive grades of "P" (progress) in research credits.
    • Maintain continuous enrollment
    • Doctoral students must pass all written and performance certification exams required for completion of the degree. Teacher College limits the number of retakes students have to pass a required exam part to one. (Please see the policy here:

    [https://www.tc.columbia.edu/policylibrary/policies/doctoral-certification-examination-retakes-9068741/]

    • Make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) toward completion of the degree during each academic year.

    Failure to remain in good standing will result in students being placed on program academic probation for a period of one semester. If placed on academic probation students will be notified by their Advisor and the Registrar's office. Students will be restricted to part-time registration until their grades are above the minimum level. The intent of Academic Probation is to provide students the opportunity to raise their grades to minimum levels so that they may continue to pursue their academic goals. Once placed on academic probation, a student’s grades will be reviewed regularly based on academic level; master's students will be reviewed after completion of 6 credit hours and doctoral students after completion of 3 credit hours.

    Master's students can be placed on academic probation no more than twice during their academic program. Placement on academic probation beyond the first time will be based on completing the previous academic probation period with grades above a B.

    Doctoral students can be placed on academic probation only once during their academic program.

  4. Any requests for retroactive registration must receive the approval of the faculty advisor, Program Coordinator, and Department Chair before submission to the Office of Registrar.
  5. Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T. students must complete all requirements for the Ed.D. within eight (8) years from their term of matriculation.
  6. Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T. students must take the certification exam once they have completed 70 points of coursework (both Teachers College credits and those transferred in), or within two (2) years of term matriculation, whichever comes first. Students must complete the remaining minimum of 20 points toward their Ed.D. requirements within the initial period of certification (four to six years).
  7. Whether a student sits for the certification examination will be at the discretion of the student’s advisor. If the student has more than three (3) points of "Incomplete" grades, but the advisor does not believe this poses a problem, then the student may still sit for the certification exam. However, under Teachers College policy, any doctoral student who has six (6) or more points of "Incomplete" grades as part of the program of study may not sit for the certification examination.
  8. An Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T.  student will be recommended for certification, for the purpose of determining when the obligation for continuous enrollment in doctoral dissertation advisement begins when they have passed all parts of the certification examination, has submitted a program plan, and has been formally recommended for certification by the program.
  9. After having passed part one of the certification examination, the student has a year to take the remaining steps to secure full certification, including completing the other parts of the certification examination and submitting a program plan.
  10. All Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T. candidates must complete their degree requirements by the expiration date of their period of certification. Ed.D. and Ed.D.C.T.  candidates who have not completed their degree during this time, but have registered and completed a course during the last five years, may petition for an extension if they are in good academic standing (see 3. above) and have satisfied the College requirements for continuous enrollment for doctoral dissertation advisement, if applicable. Petitions for extensions may be obtained in the Office of Doctoral Studies.
  11. Students filling for an extension must:
    • Have adequate and acceptable reasons.
    • Have been registered and completed a course within the last five (5) years.
    • Provide a feasible plan for degree completion.
    • Obtain the approval of their faculty advisor, Program Director, and Department Chair. Any petitions not accompanied with appropriate approvals will be invalid.
    • Students filing petitions for extensions may be required to retake courses, or to undertake additional coursework, as specified by faculty advisor, Program Coordinator, and/or Department Chair.
    • Petitions for extensions must be filed within six (6) months of expiration of the certification period.
    • Students are limited to a maximum of two (2) petitions for extensions, which will not exceed more than two (2) years total.
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