The IU Department of Music Education, one of the preeminent programs in the nation, is committed to excellence in teaching, musicianship, and scholarship at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department's goal is to prepare outstanding music educators who will serve as positive role models for their students and who will assume leadership positions in the field. Faculty members in the
department define music education broadly to include traditional public school music and, moreover, all aspects of music pedagogy. The department works to maintain close associations with music teachers in the state of Indiana, as well as nationally and internationally. Bachelor of Music Education students can choose from four different areas of emphasis: choral, general, band or orchestra. Depending on their instrument or voice, students can choose from a broad range of performance opportunities offered by the School of Music that includes more than 30 orchestras, bands, choral ensembles, and specialty ensembles. Undergraduate students develop as music teachers and professionals through interactions with renowned university professors and expert public school music teachers, as well as through involvement in state and national music education associations. Graduates of the program have enjoyed an outstanding job placement rate (close to 100 percent) for many years. Graduate music education programs at Indiana University place a strong emphasis on the integration of research and practice. The MME, MS, DME and PHD curricula are individualized according to the student's desire for specialization within the major and minor fields. Alumni of the graduate music education program have made significant contributions to music pedagogy and are among the most productive scholars in the field.
