This fall Morningside College will begin offering graduate-level courses specifically designed for music teachers. The new 18-hour Music Education Strand is designed to extend a practicing music educator’s teaching abilities. It will be offered 100-percent online, and the coursework may be applied toward a Master of Arts in Teaching degree.

This fall Morningside College will begin offering graduate-level courses specifically designed for music teachers.

The new 18-hour Music Education Strand is designed to extend a practicing music educator’s teaching abilities. It will be offered 100-percent online, and the coursework may be applied toward a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Morningside.

There will be courses on conducting, performance literature, music literacy, arranging music, instructional design and assessment in music education, developing creativity, and topics in elementary general music, choral music and instrumental music. Opportunities for collaboration and networking will be woven into the educational experience.

Anyone who has earned a bachelor’s degree and a music teaching license may enroll in these courses.

The lead faculty member in the program will be Dr. Jean Hickman, assistant professor of music education at Morningside. Hickman has experience teaching at the college level and locally at East Middle School, West High School and Western Iowa Tech Community College. She has received educator awards from the Sioux City Community Schools, Morningside College and the University of Iowa. She has a doctorate in music education and choral conducting from the University of Florida.

For more information on the Music Education Strand, contact Hickman at hickmanj@morningside.edu.