Graduate Students Complete Thesis Work

The Master of Arts thesis and the research leading up to it are logical outcomes of a student's graduate study and professional experience. Because of the diverse background and experience of the University of St. Thomas' Graduate Programs in Music Education faculty, students are able to undertake research using qualitative, quantitative, descriptive, historical, philosophical, or theoretical methodolgies. Consequently, whereas all students demonstrate the ability to integrate ideas and communicate their findings, some will develop, test, and evaluate a music education problem, while others will gather and interpret historical, descriptive, or philosophical data. Writing the thesis is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to the field of music education, with additional goals of providing information that will be a meaningful and relevant resource to colleagues in the program and to the thesis author.

These students have completed their research and successfully defended their Theses.

Cathy V. Augustin: A Descriptive Study to Determine the Opinions of Community Band Members Regarding the Effectiveness of Comprehensive Musicianship

Catherine L. Banim: Exceptional Learners in Band: An Examination of Secondary Band Directors' Attitudes of Mainstreaming in Select San Gabriel Valley Public Schools

Tara C. Finne: The Effects of the Orff-Schulwerk Approach on Social Listening and Cooperation

Daniel R. Fretland: Comprehensive Musicianship in High School Instrumental Music: A Study of the Thomas Jefferson High School Band Curriculum

Jeffrey A. Gottwig: The Development of Music Education Surveys for the Self-Analyzation of the Music Program of a Growing Rural-Suburban Minnesota School District

Carolyn Neumann: Childrens and Conductors Perception of Leadership Behaviors that Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence of Female Conductors of Children¹s Choirs

Keri S. Sollitt: Nature and Nurture: Parental Attitudes Regarding the Development of Singing Ability

You can read their abstracts or those completed by any of our other alumni by visiting our Graduate Thesis Abstracts page.