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Graduate Studies in Music

The Crane School of Music offers the Loading..., designed to meet student interests, needs and requirements within a framework that provides opportunities to pursue a balance of academic and professionally oriented courses. The Crane School of Music boasts one of the world's oldest and largest music teacher preparation programs. Crane graduates and faculty hold leadership positions in local school districts and in state and national organizations that shape our nation's musical future. We actively seek those who wish to perpetuate our rich heritage and participate in the community of ideas regarding music and music teaching.

The Crane School offers The MM Music Education degree in two formats, both designed for those with teaching positions. 

  1. An in-person summer program, designed to be completed over two consecutive in-person summer semesters, with two online courses taken between the two summers, and a capstone seminar completed (remotely) after the second summer.
  2. A fully online program, designed to be completed over two years, with students taking two courses each semester (fall, spring, and summer), except in the second summer when only one course is taken. 

This is a 32-credit Master’s degree. The degree requirements (PDF) are the same for each version of the program, as are the entry requirements. Students entering the Master of Music in Music Education degree are expected to have a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree or another Bachelor of Music degree with New York State (or equivalent) music teacher certification. For those persons holding initial certification to teach music K-12 in the State of New York, this Master of Music degrees fulfills the academic requirements for professional certification to teach K-12 music in the State of New York.

Costs

When looking at graduate tuition and fee information, note that for those in the in-person summer program, the program is designed so that students are full time each summer. For each of the two summer semesters, therefore, they pay the graduate “per semester” rate. Additionally, a total of 8 credits are charged at the graduate “per credit hour rate;” these are courses taken one-at-a-time during fall or spring semesters (two 3-credit courses and one 2-credit course). For the in-person summer sessions, please note that the college provides opportunities for on-campus housing at weekly rates. 

For students in the online program, the expectation is that they take 6 credits each semester for five semesters (fall 1, spring 1, summer 1, fall 2, spring 2) and one 2-credit course in their second summer. Each semester would be charged at the graduate “per credit hour rate.”

  • Applicants to the Master of Music in Music Education degree program must have a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education or another Bachelor of Music degree with initial teacher certification in New York or equivalent certification from another US state. The degree must be from an accredited college or university.
  • A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Applicants with a cumulative undergraduate GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 may be granted provisional admission by approval of the Crane Graduate Admissions Committee. The Committee will also examine undergraduate music theory, music history, and aural skills grades. The preference is that the average GPA for these courses is also 3.0 or more.

The materials below should be sent to the Office of Graduate Studies through the graduation application portal.

  1. Submission of a Graduate Application:

    Apply to the M.M Music Education Program

    If you are an International student looking to apply to the M.M. in Music Education program, please refer to the International Students webpage.

  2. Submission of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, even if a degree was not earned.
  3. Submission of a letter of intent written by the applicant expressing their professional goals.
  4. Music Education Questions: Address the following two questions directly. (no more than 250 words per response, please)
    • What kind of philosophy guides music teachers in working toward student inclusion and success, advancing the public good, and assuming the responsibility of securing the cultural health of the community they serve?
    • In what ways do you see your study at Crane expanding, strengthening your understanding of, and enabling you to enact these goals?   
  5. Submission of a video of the candidate teaching a class or conducting a rehearsal. As we want to see an example of your teaching, make sure the video shows you actively teaching. The teaching video is submitted in the Digital Portfolio part of your application, and the video can either be uploaded or linked to.
  6. Submission of a non-refundable $50.00 US application processing fee.
  7. Submission of two letters of recommendation.
  8. International students must also provide a certification of finances; and for non-native English speaking candidates proof of language test scores (such as the TOEFL): see the International Graduate Admissions page and the Office of International Education & Programs for details.
  9. The GRE is not required. There is also no audition requirement. 
  • The application deadline for the Master of Music - Music Education summer program is May 1st. 
  • The application deadline for the Master of Music - Music Education online program is June 1st.

All materials must be received by these dates. The priority deadline for scholarship consideration is March 2nd.

Contact Information

Crane Graduate Office
The Crane School of Music
SUNY Potsdam
44 Pierrepont Avenue
Potsdam, NY 13676
(315) 267-2417
Email: gradmusic@potsdam.edu