Professional certification: college/university online course offerings

American Music Teacher, June-July, 2006 by Sharon Lebsack

In an effort to aid Certification candidates with their completion of the Standard I requirements, a list of colleges and universities that offers online courses, which may be helpful in this endeavor, has been compiled.

There are six universities offering complete degrees online, and 25 institutions offering classes that are acceptable to MTNA Certification. As National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) member schools were being contacted, it became obvious that this will be a very fluid list, with many music schools just beginning to investigate the use of online instruction. As with any list, of course, availability will be determined each quarter or semester, by the class rotation used by the institution. Contact information is provided so candidates can contact the institution to inquire about class offerings for each term.

Each college or university has its own regulations for registration, with some requiring that the prospective student first be admitted to a degree program. Again, the candidate will need to contact the particular institution of interest for requirements by going to the website provided, clicking on "Academics" and choosing either a "Music" or Distance Learning" link.

In some cases, "Distance Learning" indicates courses usually described as "Correspondence Courses" or classes that require one or two on-campus meetings during the term. There are a variety of possibilities, so if an institution that interests you is not listed, please contact them directly. Keep in mind that the music department or school must be accredited by NASM and course content must be equivalent to that approved by the MTNA Certification Program.

Universities Offering Complete Degrees Online:

Auburn University: www.auburn.edu; M.M. ed

Boston University: www.bu.edu/cfa; M.M. ed

Stephen F. Austin State University: www.sfasu.edu/distance/music; M.M. ed

University of Hawaii, Manoa: http://manoa.hawaii.edu; M.M. ed

University of Northern Iowa: www.uni.edu; M.M. ed

University of Southern Mississippi: www.usm.edu; M.M. ed

Universities Offering Specific Courses:

Classes are offered on a rotational basis. Confer with the individual college or university to determine classes offered each semester.

Eastern Michigan University: www.emich.edu; music theory and music therapy

East Carolina University: www.ecu.edu; music history, music theory and music education

Fort Hays State University: www.fhsu.edu; instrumental and choral arranging

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary: www.ggbts.edu; music theory and music history

Judson College: www.judson.edu; music theory, music history and church music

Kansas State University: www.ksu.edu; music education

McNeese State University: www.mcneese.edu; music history

Old Dominion University: www.odu.edu; music history

Portland State University: www.pdx.edu; music theory

Southern Baptist Theological

Seminary: www.sbts.edu; hymnology and music history

Southern Oregon University: www.sou.edu; music history

Taylor University: www.tayloru.edu; educational psychology, music history and music theory

Texas Tech University: www.ttu.edu; music theory

University of Mississippi: www.olemiss.edu; American music

University of Missouri-Kansas City, Conservatory of Music: http://conservatory.umkc.edu/; music history and music theory

University of Nebraska at Kearney: www.unk.edu; music history and piano pedagogy

University of North Texas: www.unt.edu; music history

University of Northern Colorado: www.unco.edu; music history and vocal pedagogy

University of West Florida: www.uwf.edu; music history and music education

Vandercook College of Music: www.vandercook.edu; graduate music theory

Webster University: www.webster.edu; music and spirituality

West Texas A&M University: www.wtamu.edu; music history, song literature and music education

Winthrop University: www.winthrop.edu; music education (graduate)

Wright State University: www.wright.edu; music history

Newly Certified

MTNA is proud to acknowledge the following newly certified music teachers: (As of April 17, 2006)

Arkansas: Jeri-Mae G. Astolfi, Arkadelphia, Piano

California: Artemis Bedros, Covina, Piano

Hawaii: Steven Casano, Honolulu, Piano Winnie W. Y. Chan, Honolulu, Piano

Iowa: Julie A. Smith, Cedar Falls, Piano

Kansas: Natalie A. Wickham, Derby, Piano

Mississippi: Len D. Bobo, Union, Organ

New Jersey: Kum Foong Teresa Lim, Lawrenceville, Piano

Nevada: Meredith Bergemann, Reno, Piano

Oregon: Alena Dubauskaya, Portland, Piano

Rhode Island: Manabu Ken Takasawa, Kingston, Piano

Tennessee: Paula W. Bell, Murfreesboro, Piano

Texas: Rosemary W. Massingale, Garland, Piano Nancy D. Plourde, San Antonio, Piano

Virginia: Ellen Reynolds Nordlof, Centreville, Piano

Washington: Carol L. Hibbard, Bellevue, Piano Jill Larson, Wenatchee, Piano Claire Marshall, Bainbridge Island, Piano Bob Pajer, Snoqualmie, Piano

Wisconsin: Samuel Wells Ecoff, Hartland, Piano

Wyoming: Lynette B, Nelson, Green River, Piano

Editor's Note: Above information is current as of April 17, 2006.

Sharon Lebsack, NCTM, of Hattiesburg Mississippi, is currently vice president for competitions served as the Southern Division Certification Commissioner for four years, and was past president of the Mississippi MTA. She recently retired from the University of Southern Mississippi where she taught flute, harp and chamber music for 36 years.