Help Wanted: Music Education Positions in Higher Education, 2007-2008

The purpose of this study was to document and describe the characteristics of college and university music education positions that were available and advertised during the 2007-2008 school year. Information for all jobs listed in the Chronicle of Higher Education and/or the College Music Society’s Music Vacancy List (N = 112) was compiled with respect to a number of variables, including where the notice was placed, job title, rank and tenure status, geographic location, applicant requirements, and job responsibilities. Data were compared with results of studies from the 1980s and 1990s. Results are informative for individuals seeking faculty positions, for college and university faculty preparing graduate students who will be applying for faculty positions, and for administrators developing criteria and responsibilities for open positions and writing the position vacancy announcements.