Music MM
- Master's Degree
- Hybrid
- Greeley Campus
- Online
- Conducting (Low Residency)
- Music Education
2 Years
Fall Term (Aug.)
Spring Term (Jan.)
Summer Term (June)
-Summer is recommended for Conducting Concentration
$668/Credit
Mostly Online / Low-Residency Master’s Degree for Music Education and Conducting
This Master of Music degree with a concentration in Music Education is for working band, choir and vocal teachers or conductors who want to take their skills to the next level.
What Does Mostly Online Mean?
Our low-residency hybrid model is built for your life.
- Study online most of the year: most of the year, including the traditional school year, you complete your coursework online from wherever you live.
- Visit for summer intensives: You’ll come to campus in Greeley, Colorado, for three-week sessions during two summers (usually in June).
- Keep working and apply your learning: Don’t hit “pause” on your career. You can stay employed full-time if you choose. Best of all, you can apply what you learn every day.
- Finish in two years: earn your degree in just 24 months.
Note: though both concentration options feature this delivery method, “low-residency” is only in the title of one of the concentrations.
Get World-Class Teaching From Anywhere
- Learn from experts: UNC is one of the country’s premier universities for music teaching and leadership. You’ll learn from celebrated experts in the music world.
- Best of both worlds: live and work where you want, while still getting to collaborate in person once a year.
Conducting Concentration (Low-Residency)
Are you a music teacher or ensemble director ready to take your skills to the next level?
While many graduate degrees focus broadly on music or music education, this rare program focuses specifically on conducting. You can choose to focus on either Choral Conducting or Instrumental Conducting.
- Advanced leadership: Master the presence and rehearsal techniques needed to lead small or large ensembles.
- Deep and diverse music analysis: Learn score analysis and aural skills for a range of ensembles (band, orchestra, choir and community).
- Real-world skills: Learn how to manage auditions, build repertoires, work with new technologies, and organize the logistics of a large music program.
Music Education Concentration
Become a leader in music education, and inspire students to love music. The Music Education Concentration will help you:
- Improve your musical skills.
- Deepen your knowledge of the history, psychology and philosophy of music.
- Develop research skills to guide your teaching practice.
- Apply curricular knowledge in your classroom to enhance teaching and learning.
We’ll help you prepare for a successful career in a changing world. You can also customize your studies to match your own career goals.
Also Offered On Campus
The Music MM degree is also offered on campus, with multiple concentration options.
Your Career in Music Conducting and Education
Career Benefits
- Higher K-12 salary: In many school districts (especially in Colorado), a master’s degree can move you up on the salary schedule. This provides immediate and future income benefits.
- Preparation for leadership roles: This degree prepares you for leadership jobs like Lead Band/Choir Director, District-Level Arts Coordinator, or administrative roles.
- Higher education: With a premium UNC Master of Music degree, you will be well-prepared if you choose to work in higher education or continue on to a doctoral degree.
Spread the love of music: Music is powerful! Build on your ability to inspire new musicians and captivate audiences.
Meet with an Enrollment Counselor
Course of Study
Please note: though the labeling differs, both concentration options have the same course delivery mode – online courses for most of the year, with in-person Summer Intensive sessions. We also deliver Conducting, Music Education and many more Music MM concentration options on-campus.
Convenient Mostly Online Delivery for Both Concentrations
- You will study online for most of the year.
- Each summer you will join UNC faculty and your classmates for 3-week intensive sessions. These sessions are generally held in June.
Conducting Concentration (Low-Residency) Courses and Requirements
This concentration is 30 credits and can be completed in two years.
The Low-Residency version of the concentration differs from the on-campus Conducting Concentration:
- Different required coursework.
- In the Conducting Concentration (Low-Residency) you will complete either a Choral Conducting or Instrumental Conducting track.
Music Education Courses and Requirements
This concentration is 30-36 credits. You can start this concentration any term: Fall (Aug.), Spring (Jan.) or Summer (June)
You can complete your degree in two years with 30 credits.
- Some students choose to take added music studies coursework.
- Some students decide to work on their final comprehensive exam or thesis in an extra term.
Music Education – Courses & Requirement Details
To see specific course offerings, visit the current students page for the Music Education concentration.
If you have taken graduate courses that align with program courses, you can request transfer credit. Approved transfer credit can reduce the cost of completing this degree. Program faculty will review your transfer credit to confirm that it matches course content and objectives. See the full graduate transfer credit policy for details.
Have Questions? Get in Touch!
Rapha Xavier
Enrollment Counselor
Jill Burleson Burgett
Choral Conducting Program Coordinator
Krissie Weimer
Music Education Program Coordinator
Tuition Rate
Simple Per-Credit Tuition Rate
You pay the same rate whether you are in-state or out-of-state.
Per Credit
Rate for the 2025-26 academic year (fall, spring and summer terms).*
No Student / Technology Fees
Certain courses, e.g., field experiences, may include course fees to support added services and materials.
*Tuition for the 2026-27 academic year will be decided mid-June 2026.
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP): UNC provides a health insurance plan to all degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in 6 or more credits for a term. If you have comparable insurance coverage, and do not want to be charged for SHIP coverage, you can opt out of this plan. Please visit the UNC Student Health Insurance pages for more information.
Estimates of additional costs: For the purposes of determining financial aid, UNC follows Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) and federal guidelines to develop an estimated, average Cost of Attendance (budget) for different student classifications. For your personal tuition estimates, we recommend using the program-specific tuition information above. But UNC’s official Cost of Attendance/Student Budgets page can help you identify other estimated expenses for which you may be responsible while completing your program.
Federal Financial Aid
Degree-seeking students are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Master’s degree students need to be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full-time enrollment is based on 9 credits per term.
You will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNC Applying for Aid page provides important dates, including the release date and deadline for each academic year (a Fall-Spring-Summer cycle which begins each August).
- Late FAFSA submissions are still accepted throughout the academic year, but you may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.
- If the priority deadline has passed for the upcoming/current school year, we encourage you to apply for FAFSA consideration as soon as you enroll for your first courses.
- Depending on the time of year, you may be able to submit an application for the current academic year and an early/priority application for the following academic year.
You can also find helpful information in the Federal Student Aid Resources.
Program Eligibility
General Admission Requirements
- Possess a baccalaureate degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
- Have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better, on a 4.00 point scale, for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are in the process of completing a previous degree or have special GPA considerations, please read the specific requirements for this program type.
- Note: the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for graduate school admission.
Eligibility for Out-of-State Students
Eligibility by State
UNC can offer distance learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the major U.S. territories. We check for changes in state rules as needed. Some states may have extra rules for internships, clinical placements, and student teaching. Visit the State Authorization page to learn more.
International Student Eligibility
No student visa: F-1 and J-1 student visas are not available for this program. However, if you are a non-U.S. citizen who will be in the U.S. under another visa category, you may be able to enroll in this program. Before you apply, please check for enrollment or employment restrictions for your visa category.
If you do apply to this program, you will need to provide proof of your English language ability or complete the UNC Intensive English Program. Please visit the International Admissions page for information about:
- Minimum English language requirements
- Applying as an international student
On-Campus Delivery Also Available
The Music MM degree is also offered on campus, with multiple concentration options.
Are You Ready to Apply?
Thank you for your interest in this UNC program! Here are some elements you can check to be sure you are eligible and ready to apply to this program.
Program Eligibility
See the Program Eligibility section above.
International Applicants
Please see the International Student Eligibility section above to check your eligibility for this program.
Recommended Application Deadlines
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact an Enrollment Counselor for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Conducting Concentration (Low Residency) Recommended Deadlines
Students typically this concentration begin with the in-person Summer session, but can start in Fall or Spring as well. The School of Music recommends that you complete your application by:
- Summer term: April 1
- Fall term: Aug. 1
- Spring term: Dec. 1
Please note: for Summer term 2026, applications for this new concentration delivery will still be accepted until May 15!
Music Education Recommended Deadlines
You can start this concentration any term. For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: March 15
- Fall term: June 15
- Spring term: Nov. 15
Application Process Details
On the application, you will choose:
- Music: Conducting Concentration (Low-Residency) (M.M.)
- Music: Education (M.M.)
Start term: Fall Term (Aug.), Spring Term (Jan.) or Summer Term (June). Note: for the Conducting Concentration (Low-Residency) we recommend Summer term start.
View the full application process details for each concentration in the UNC Graduate Catalog:
- Conducting Concentration (Low-Residency) application process details.
- Music Education Concentration application process details and the UNC College of Performing and Visual Arts Music Education Audition Requirements.
Apply to This Program
Register & Start Your Application
Submit a Started Application
Application Checklist & Status