The Music Education Department's experienced music teacher educators aim to prepare students for successful careers in K–12 music education. Courses focused on learning principles and teaching methods, field experiences in elementary and secondary schools, and opportunities for involvement and leadership in special programs and organizations (e.g., Middle School Ensemble Program, Summer Music Academy, Collegiate Chapter of the National Association for Music Education) provide students with the knowledge base, skills, and practical experience needed to teach music effectively. Over the past 20 years, there has been a near 100 percent job placement rate for graduates of the music education program.

Because of the varying challenges and opportunities associated with teaching music in K–12 school contexts, the undergraduate music education curriculum strikes a balance between specialization and comprehensive preparation. BME students must demonstrate a sufficiently broad knowledge of the entire music program/curriculum, but also possess the specialized skills necessary to be a successful general music, choir, orchestra or band instructor.

Program Emphases

Five basic curricular options are provided for students pursuing the Bachelor of Music Education degree:

  • choral
  • choral–general
  • instrumental
  • instrumental–general
  • instrumental–jazz

The choral–general and instrumental–general emphases include a larger concentration of coursework and field experiences related to elementary general music teaching, while the choral, instrumental and instrumental–jazz emphases involve more specialized coursework and field experiences related to the teaching of choir, orchestra or band classes at the secondary level. Within each degree emphasis, students have a limited number of elective credits that may be used to further customize degree work according to their interests and needs.

As first-year students, BME students primarily complete core studies in music and liberal arts, but also enroll in their first music education course (Becoming a Music Teacher). The first early field experiences are completed during the sophomore year. During the junior year, students enroll in capstone methods courses and specialized electives that allow for more detailed and sustained study of curricular models, instructional materials, and teaching methods. Internships and full-time student teaching provide culminating experiences during the senior year, as students work in partnership with experienced public school teachers and assume the role and responsibilities of a professional music educator. Internship and student teaching placements are chosen in consultation with faculty advisors and the music education chair.

Requirements

A minimum of 126 credit hours with a cumulative GPA of 2.75 must be earned for the BME degree, with no grade below C- in a course.

In addition to 40 credit hours of teacher education coursework and 150 clock hours of early field experience, music education majors complete 24 credit hours in liberal arts disciplines (English composition, arts and humanities, mathematics, social sciences, natural sciences) and 62 credit hours in music (music theory and aural skills, musicology and ethnomusicology, applied study, ensemble, keyboard and voice, and conducting).

General education requirements in the liberal arts and core requirements in music are designated by the music education faculty and approved by the College of Music curriculum committee.

Four-Year Plans of Study

Choral Music Emphasis

Students must take keyboard or voice as the primary applied area, or petition the music education faculty for an exception. A minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted choral ensemble (Chamber Singers, University Choir, Festival Chorus or Treble Chorus). For keyboard majors, two semesters of independent accompanying may be applied to the ensemble requirement. Students must be enrolled in a conducted choral ensemble when concurrently enrolled in Conducting 1 (MUSC 3176) or Conducting II (MUSC 3186).

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
MUSC 1101
MUSC 1111
Semester 1 Theory
and Semester 2 Theory
4
MUSC 1103 Becoming a Music Teacher 1
MUSC 1121
MUSC 1131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 1
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 2
2
PMUS 1105 & PMUS 1205 (voice majors) OR PMUS 1184 & PMUS 2184 (piano majors) 2
MUSC 1802 Introduction to Musical Styles and Ideas 3
MUSC 1544 Italian Diction 1
PMUS 1XXXApplied Instruction 6
Ensemble 2
Written communication 3
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours33
Year Two
EDUC 3013 School and Society 3
MUSC 1554 English Diction 1
MUSC 2101
MUSC 2111
Semester 3 Theory
and Semester 4 Theory
4
MUSC 2103 Introduction to Music Education 2
MUSC 2121
MUSC 2131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 3
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 4
2
MUSC 2997 Sophomore Proficiency 1
MUSC 3133 Teaching General Music I 2
MUSC 3193 Vocal Pedagogy and Literature for Young Voices 2
PMUS 2105 & PMUS 2205 (voice majors) OR PMUS 1726 (piano majors) 2
PMUS 2XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours35
Year Three
MUSC 3013 String Class 1
MUSC 3023
Woodwind Class
or Brass Class
1
MUSC 3176
MUSC 3186
Conducting 1
and Conducting II
4
MUSC 3444
French Diction
or German Diction
1
MUSC 3802
MUSC 3812
History of Western Music 1
and History of Western Music 2
6
MUSC 3997 Junior Recital 1
MUSC 4143 Topics in Choral Music Education 2
MUSC 4203 Music Methods Practicum 1
MUSC 4313 Teaching Choral Music 3
MUSC 4323 Differentiating Instruction in K-8 Music Classrooms 3
PMUS 3XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
Upper-division music theory elective: MUSC 3081, MUSC 4001, MUSC 4011, MUSC 4021, MUSC 4061, MUSC 4071, MUSC 4111, MUSC 4121 or MUSC 4151. 2
Music elective 1
 Credit Hours33
Year Four
EDUC 4112
Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers
or Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools
3
EDUC 4732 Student Teaching K-12 8
MUSC 3043 Percussion Class 1
MUSC 4103 Introduction to Student Teaching 1
MUSC 4163 Choral Literature for School Ensembles 2
MUSC 4193 Student Teaching Seminar 1
MUSC 4223 Secondary Music Teaching Approaches 2
PMUS 4XXXApplied Instruction 3
Ensemble 1
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours25
 Total Credit Hours126

Choral—General Music Emphasis

Students must take keyboard or voice as the primary applied area, or petition the music education faculty for an exception. A minimum of six of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted choral ensemble (Chamber Singers, University Choir, Festival Chorus or Treble Chorus) and one semester must be in a world music ensemble. For keyboard majors, two semesters of independent accompanying may be applied to the ensemble requirement. Students must be enrolled in a conducted choral ensemble when concurrently enrolled in Conducting 1 (MUSC 3176) or Conducting II (MUSC 3186).

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
MUSC 1101
MUSC 1111
Semester 1 Theory
and Semester 2 Theory
4
MUSC 1103 Becoming a Music Teacher 1
MUSC 1121
MUSC 1131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 1
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 2
2
MUSC 1802 Introduction to Musical Styles and Ideas 3
PMUS 1105 & PMUS 1205 (voice majors) OR PMUS 1184 & PMUS 2184 (piano majors) 2
PMUS 1XXXApplied Instruction 6
Ensemble 2
Written communication 3
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours32
Year Two
EDUC 3013 School and Society 3
MUSC 2101
MUSC 2111
Semester 3 Theory
and Semester 4 Theory
4
MUSC 2103 Introduction to Music Education 2
MUSC 2121
MUSC 2131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 3
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 4
2
MUSC 2997 Sophomore Proficiency 1
MUSC 3133 Teaching General Music I 2
MUSC 3193 Vocal Pedagogy and Literature for Young Voices 2
PMUS 2105 & PMUS 2205 (voice majors) OR PMUS 1726 (piano majors) 2
PMUS 2XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
Music elective 1
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours35
Year Three
MUSC 3013 String Class 1
MUSC 3023
Woodwind Class
or Brass Class
1
MUSC 3176
MUSC 3186
Conducting 1
and Conducting II
4
MUSC 3802
MUSC 3812
History of Western Music 1
and History of Western Music 2
6
MUSC 3997 Junior Recital 1
MUSC 4113 Teaching General Music 2 3
MUSC 4143 Topics in Choral Music Education 2
MUSC 4313 Teaching Choral Music 3
MUSC 4203 Music Methods Practicum 1
MUSC 4323 Differentiating Instruction in K-8 Music Classrooms 3
PMUS 3XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
Upper-division music theory elective: MUSC 3081, MUSC 4001, MUSC 4011, MUSC 4021, MUSC 4061, MUSC 4071, MUSC 4111, MUSC 4121 or MUSC 4151. 2
 Credit Hours34
Year Four
EDUC 4112
Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers
or Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools
3
EDUC 4732 Student Teaching K-12 8
MUSC 3043 Percussion Class 1
MUSC 4103 Introduction to Student Teaching 1
MUSC 4193 Student Teaching Seminar 1
MUSC 4223 Secondary Music Teaching Approaches 2
MUSC 4163 Choral Literature for School Ensembles 2
PMUS 4XXXApplied Instruction 3
Ensemble 1
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours25
 Total Credit Hours126

Instrumental Music Emphasis (Band)

Students must take wind/brass/percussion as the primary applied area, or petition the music education faculty for an exception. A minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble (Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band or Concert Band) and one semester must be in Marching Band. Freshmen are strongly encouraged to be in Marching Band (EMUS 1287) their first semester. Students must be enrolled in a conducted instrumental ensemble when concurrently enrolled in Conducting 1 (MUSC 3176) or Conducting II (MUSC 3186).

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
MUSC 1101
MUSC 1111
Semester 1 Theory
and Semester 2 Theory
4
MUSC 1103 Becoming a Music Teacher 1
MUSC 1121
MUSC 1131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 1
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 2
2
MUSC 1802 Introduction to Musical Styles and Ideas 3
PMUS 1XXXApplied Instruction 6
PMUS 1105
PMUS 1205
Keyboard Musicianship 1
and Keyboard-Musicianship 2
2
Ensemble 2
Written communication 3
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours32
Year Two
EDUC 3013 School and Society 3
MUSC 2101
MUSC 2111
Semester 3 Theory
and Semester 4 Theory
4
MUSC 2103 Introduction to Music Education 2
MUSC 2121
MUSC 2131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 3
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 4
2
MUSC 2997 Sophomore Proficiency 1
MUSC 3133 Teaching General Music I 2
MUSC 3153 Teaching Woodwind Instruments 2
MUSC 3163 Teaching String Instruments 2
PMUS 1184 Voice Class 1
PMUS 2XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours35
Year Three
MUSC 3176
MUSC 3186
Conducting 1
and Conducting II
4
MUSC 3193 Vocal Pedagogy and Literature for Young Voices 2
MUSC 3223 Teaching Brass Instruments 2
MUSC 3243 Teaching Percussion Instruments 2
MUSC 3253 Jazz Techniques for the Music Educator 2
MUSC 3363 Marching Band Techniques 2
MUSC 3802
MUSC 3812
History of Western Music 1
and History of Western Music 2
6
MUSC 3997 Junior Recital 1
MUSC 4203 Music Methods Practicum 1
MUSC 4323 Differentiating Instruction in K-8 Music Classrooms 3
MUSC 4443 Teaching Instrumental Music 3
PMUS 3XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
 Credit Hours35
Year Four
EDUC 4112
Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers
or Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools
3
EDUC 4732 Student Teaching K-12 8
MUSC 4103 Introduction to Student Teaching 1
MUSC 4193 Student Teaching Seminar 1
MUSC 4223 Secondary Music Teaching Approaches 2
PMUS 4XXXApplied Instruction 3
Ensemble 1
Upper-division music theory elective: MUSC 3081, MUSC 4001, MUSC 4011, MUSC 4021, MUSC 4061, MUSC 4071, MUSC 4111, MUSC 4121 or MUSC 4151. 2
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours24
 Total Credit Hours126

Instrumental Emphasis (Strings)

Students must take strings as the primary applied area or petition the music education faculty for an exception. A minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble (Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia or Campus Orchestra). Students must be enrolled in a conducted instrumental ensemble when concurrently enrolled in Conducting 1 (MUSC 3176) or Conducting II (MUSC 3186).

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
MUSC 1101
MUSC 1111
Semester 1 Theory
and Semester 2 Theory
4
MUSC 1103 Becoming a Music Teacher 1
MUSC 1121
MUSC 1131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 1
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 2
2
MUSC 1802 Introduction to Musical Styles and Ideas 3
PMUS 1105
PMUS 1205
Keyboard Musicianship 1
and Keyboard-Musicianship 2
2
PMUS 1XXXApplied Instruction 6
Ensemble 2
Written communication 3
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours32
Year Two
EDUC 3013 School and Society 3
MUSC 2101
MUSC 2111
Semester 3 Theory
and Semester 4 Theory
4
MUSC 2103 Introduction to Music Education 2
MUSC 2121
MUSC 2131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 3
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 4
2
MUSC 2997 Sophomore Proficiency 1
MUSC 3133 Teaching General Music I 2
MUSC 3153 Teaching Woodwind Instruments 2
MUSC 3163 Teaching String Instruments 2
MUSC 3273 String Pedagogy and Literature 2
PMUS 1184 Voice Class 1
PMUS 2XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
Non-music core requirements 3
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours34
Year Three
MUSC 3043 Percussion Class 1
MUSC 3176
MUSC 3186
Conducting 1
and Conducting II
4
MUSC 3193 Vocal Pedagogy and Literature for Young Voices 2
MUSC 3223 Teaching Brass Instruments 2
MUSC 3802
MUSC 3812
History of Western Music 1
and History of Western Music 2
6
MUSC 3997 Junior Recital 1
MUSC 4203 Music Methods Practicum 1
MUSC 4323 Differentiating Instruction in K-8 Music Classrooms 3
MUSC 4443 Teaching Instrumental Music 3
PMUS 3271 Improvisation Basics 2
PMUS 3XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
Non-music core requirements 3
 Credit Hours35
Year Four
EDUC 4112
Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers
or Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools
3
EDUC 4732 Student Teaching K-12 8
MUSC 4103 Introduction to Student Teaching 1
MUSC 4193 Student Teaching Seminar 1
MUSC 4223 Secondary Music Teaching Approaches 2
PMUS 4XXXApplied Instruction 3
Ensemble 1
Upper-division music theory elective: MUSC 3081, MUSC 4001, MUSC 4011, MUSC 4021, MUSC 4061, MUSC 4071, MUSC 4111, MUSC 4121 or MUSC 4151. 2
Non-music electives 3
Music elective 1
 Credit Hours25
 Total Credit Hours126

Instrumental—General Music Emphasis

Students must take keyboard, strings or wind/brass/percussion as the primary applied area or petition the music education faculty for an exception.

For keyboard majors, a minimum of four of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble (Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, Campus Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band or Campus Band), one semester must be in a conducted choral ensemble, and one semester must be in a world music ensemble. One semester of independent accompanying may be applied to the ensemble requirement.

For string majors, a minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble, one semester must be in a conducted choral ensemble, and one semester must be in a world music ensemble.

For woodwind, brass and percussion majors, a minimum of four of the seven semesters of required ensemble participation must be in a conducted instrumental ensemble, one semester must be in marching band, one semester must be in a conducted choral ensemble, and one semester must be in a world music ensemble.

Freshmen are strongly encouraged to be in Marching Band (EMUS 1287) their first semester. Students must be enrolled in a conducted instrumental ensemble when concurrently enrolled in Conducting 1 (MUSC 3176) or Conducting II (MUSC 3186).

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
MUSC 1101
MUSC 1111
Semester 1 Theory
and Semester 2 Theory
4
MUSC 1103 Becoming a Music Teacher 1
MUSC 1121
MUSC 1131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 1
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 2
2
MUSC 1802 Introduction to Musical Styles and Ideas 3
PMUS 1105
PMUS 1205
Keyboard Musicianship 1
and Keyboard-Musicianship 2
2
PMUS 1XXXApplied Instruction 6
Ensemble 2
Written communication 3
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours32
Year Two
EDUC 3013 School and Society 3
MUSC 2101
MUSC 2111
Semester 3 Theory
and Semester 4 Theory
4
MUSC 2103 Introduction to Music Education 2
MUSC 2121
MUSC 2131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 3
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 4
2
MUSC 2997 Sophomore Proficiency 1
MUSC 3133 Teaching General Music I 2
MUSC 3153 Teaching Woodwind Instruments 2
MUSC 3163 Teaching String Instruments 2
PMUS 1184 Voice Class 1
PMUS 2XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours35
Year Three
MUSC 3043 Percussion Class 1
MUSC 3176
MUSC 3186
Conducting 1
and Conducting II
4
MUSC 3193 Vocal Pedagogy and Literature for Young Voices 2
MUSC 3223 Teaching Brass Instruments 2
MUSC 3802
MUSC 3812
History of Western Music 1
and History of Western Music 2
6
MUSC 3997 Junior Recital 1
MUSC 4113 Teaching General Music 2 3
MUSC 4203 Music Methods Practicum 1
MUSC 4323 Differentiating Instruction in K-8 Music Classrooms 3
MUSC 4443 Teaching Instrumental Music 3
PMUS 3XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
 Credit Hours33
Year Four
EDUC 4112
Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers
or Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools
3
EDUC 4732 Student Teaching K-12 8
MUSC 4103 Introduction to Student Teaching 1
MUSC 3253
Jazz Techniques for the Music Educator
or String Pedagogy and Literature
or Marching Band Techniques
2
MUSC 4193 Student Teaching Seminar 1
MUSC 4223 Secondary Music Teaching Approaches 2
PMUS 4XXXApplied Instruction 3
Ensemble 1
Upper-division music theory elective: MUSC 3081, MUSC 4001, MUSC 4011, MUSC 4021, MUSC 4061, MUSC 4071, MUSC 4111, MUSC 4121 or MUSC 4151. 2
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours26
 Total Credit Hours126

Instrumental—Jazz Emphasis (Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion)

Students will receive classical instrument instruction as the primary applied area and will receive some additional applied instruction in jazz (saxophone, trumpet, trombone or jazz drumset). A minimum of five of the seven semesters of required ensemble registration must be in a classical, conducted instrumental ensemble (Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band or Concert Band) with at least one semester required in Marching Band and three semesters must be in either Jazz Ensemble or Jazz Combo. Freshmen are strongly encouraged to be in Marching Band (EMUS 1287) their first semester.

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredit Hours
MUSC 1101
MUSC 1111
Semester 1 Theory
and Semester 2 Theory
4
MUSC 1103 Becoming a Music Teacher 1
MUSC 1121
MUSC 1131
Aural Skills Lab, Semester 1
and Aural Skills Lab, Semester 2
2
MUSC 1802 Introduction to Musical Styles and Ideas 3
PMUS 1XXXApplied Instruction 6
PMUS 1105
PMUS 1205
Keyboard Musicianship 1
and Keyboard-Musicianship 2
2
Ensemble 2
Written communication 3
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours32
Year Two
EDUC 3013 School and Society 3
MUSC 2103 Introduction to Music Education 2
MUSC 2997 Sophomore Proficiency 1
MUSC 3061
MUSC 3071
Jazz Improvisation I
and Jazz Improvisation II
4
MUSC 3133 Teaching General Music I 2
MUSC 3153 Teaching Woodwind Instruments 2
MUSC 3163 Teaching String Instruments 2
PMUS 1184 Voice Class 1
PMUS 2XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 3
Non-music core requirements 6
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours34
Year Three
MUSC 3176
MUSC 3186
Conducting 1
and Conducting II
4
MUSC 3193 Vocal Pedagogy and Literature for Young Voices 2
MUSC 3223 Teaching Brass Instruments 2
MUSC 3243 Teaching Percussion Instruments 2
MUSC 3253 Jazz Techniques for the Music Educator 2
MUSC 3363 Marching Band Techniques 2
MUSC 3802
MUSC 3812
History of Western Music 1
and History of Western Music 2
6
MUSC 3997 Junior Recital 1
MUSC 4203 Music Methods Practicum 1
MUSC 4323 Differentiating Instruction in K-8 Music Classrooms 3
MUSC 4443 Teaching Instrumental Music 3
PMUS 3XXXApplied Instruction 5
Ensemble 2
 Credit Hours35
Year Four
EDUC 4112
Adolescent Development and Learning for Teachers
or Educational Psychology for Elementary Schools
3
EDUC 4732 Student Teaching K-12 8
MUSC 3081 Jazz Theory and Aural Foundations 1 3
MUSC 4103 Introduction to Student Teaching 1
MUSC 4193 Student Teaching Seminar 1
MUSC 4223 Secondary Music Teaching Approaches 2
PMUS 4XXXApplied Instruction 3
Ensemble 1
Non-music electives 3
 Credit Hours25
 Total Credit Hours126

Dual Degree Program

BMus/BMusEd in Music Performance and Music Education

Qualified music majors who have been approved by the relevant major departments may elect to complete a dual degree in music performance (woodwinds, brass and percussion, strings, voice or jazz emphasis) and music education (instrumental or choral tracks). Requirements for these dual degree program range from 139 to 148 credit hours, and a minimum of 10 semesters of study (including one semester of full-time student teaching) is typically necessary to complete all requirements.

Learning Outcomes 

  • Perform solo and ensemble repertoire demonstrating musical artistry, technical proficiency and stylistic understanding.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical studies, including sight-reading and ear training.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of historical studies including the analysis of stylistic periods and music of non-Western cultures.
  • Demonstrate a sufficiently broad knowledge of the entire K-12 music program/curriculum.
  • Develop specialized skills necessary to be a successful general music, choir, orchestra or band director.