MEMT Master's Non-Thesis Portfolio Presentation Format & Submission

Review to Prepare for Final Term & Portfolio Presentation

MEMT Students should update & review their degree progress check sheet with their faculty advisor prior to scheduling their final master's examination. All items must be completed and appropriately documented before a student may schedule their Master’s Final Exam Presentation.
Students should review the School of Music Exam & Graduation website to ensure they meet degree and graduation requirements.

General Requirements for Portfolio

For the portfolio portion of the final examination, the student will prepare in consultation with a faculty advisor a portfolio of materials representative of the candidate’s graduate work overall and demonstrative of the candidate’s ability to reflect critically upon and apply the concepts and techniques acquired during graduate studies to his or her professional practices in music education or music therapy.

1) This portfolio may contain, but is not limited to: (a) selected papers written for particular courses; (b) practica evaluations; (c) completed course projects; (d) audio-visual examples of teaching and/or clinical work directly related to the candidate’s graduate studies; and/or (e) any other materials that convey the breadth and depth of the candidate’s graduate work.

2) In addition, the portfolio must contain (a) an 8-12 page essay reflecting upon, evaluating, and integrating these materials in terms of the candidate’s academic journey, professional goals, and professional behaviors, including an organizing statement within the essay whereby the candidate shows inter-connections she or he has explored throughout the program of graduate studies in general and in assembling the portfolio in particular, and (b) critical evaluations of 2 studies of the candidate’s choice published in research journals within the past calendar year in terms of their relevance and potential applications to the candidate’s professional work and interests.

3) The essay, the 2 research evaluations, and the overall organizing statement must demonstrate an ability to think critically, synthesize and connect ideas, communicate professionally, and make practical transfers to real-life, professional situations. In other words, the portfolio is not a simple “scrapbook,” and preparation and defense of the portfolio should not be considered a mere “show and tell” exercise.

The portfolio must be submitted in hard copy to the committee two weeks prior to the scheduled presentation.

Note to MEMT 898 Master's Final Exam Instructor: Please submit a grade or change of grade as quickly as possible upon signing the NTMCPA authorization form documenting the completion of the portfolio presentation. The instructor may assign a grade online for the current term once the grade rosters are available for use and a past term immediately. Anytime online submission of a grade is not available, a paper change of grade may be done.