Department of Music: Bachelor of Science in Music Education (B.S.)
The B.S. in Music Education degree leads to provisional PK-12 certification in the State of Connecticut. The program is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in music education.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Bachelor of Science in Music Education Degree Program
The program goals include:
- To prepare students to become highly skilled teaching professionals.
- To prepare students to become highly skilled performers on their principal instrument.
- To give students a comprehensive musical education which includes experiences in traditional ensembles, jazz and contemporary ensembles, conducting, form & analysis, music history, music of diverse cultures, pedagogy, music technology, composition, improvisation and professional development.
- To increase students’ understanding and awareness of the arts in relation to society, in particular the education system, thereby developing life-long advocates of the arts.
Students wishing to pursue this degree program must first be admitted by audition.
Self-declared music education majors must maintain a GPA of 2.67 or higher upon the completion of 60 credits of course work in order to remain a self-declared education major. Students who fail to meet this requirement will be notified by the dean of the School of Visual and Performing Arts. Students must achieve a GPA of 2.8 or higher in order to be accepted into all professional education programs as candidates for teacher certification.
Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Music Education –– Certification PK-12
Completion of a minimum of 131 semester hours including the exercise science requirement, and requirements in music, music education, and education as specified by course number and title in the eight-semester sequence shown below.
Recommended sequence:
First Year |
|
| MUS 108 | Music Theory I |
| MUS 114 | Sight Singing/Ear Training I |
| MUS 125 | Keyboard Comp. I |
| MUS 180 | Applied Music |
| MUS 113 | Convocation/Recital Repertoire |
| MED 206 | Intro to Music Education |
| Large ensemble | |
| Small ensemble | |
| WRT ___W or ENG ___W | (writing intensive course) |
| PSY 100 | Intro to Psychology |
Spring Semester |
|
| MUS 109 | Music Theory II |
| MUS 115 | Sight Singing/Ear Training II |
| MUS 126 | Keyboard Comp. II |
| MUS 181 | Applied Music |
| MUS 113 | Convocation, Recital Repertoire |
| Large ensemble | |
| Small ensemble | |
| *** MED 100 | Voice Workshop |
| _______ | Math course elective |
| COM 160, 161, or 162 | Communication |
| HPX 177 | Fitness for Life |
Sophomore Year |
|
| MUS 208 | Music Theory III |
| MUS 210 | Sight Singing/Ear Training III |
| MUS 225 | Keyboard Comp. III |
| MUS 180 | Applied Music |
| MUS 113 | Convocation, Recital Repertoire |
| Large ensemble | |
| Small ensemble | |
| *ED 206 | Intro to Education |
| MUS 230 | Music History & Lit. I |
| *** MED 103 | Brass Workshop |
| *HPX 215 | Health Issues in School |
| HIS 101 | American Perspectives |
Spring Semester |
|
| MUS 209 | Music Theory IV |
| MUS 211 | Sight singing/Ear training IV |
| MUS 226 | Keyboard Comp. IV |
| MUS 181 | Applied Music |
| MUS 113 | Convocation, Recital Repertoire |
| Large ensemble | |
| Small ensemble | |
| MUS 231 | Music History & Lit. II |
| *** MED 110 | Percussion Workshop |
| *EPY 204 | Adolescent Development |
| _______ | Lab science course elective |
Junior Year (Professional Program—Part I) |
|
| MUS 318 | Music Technology |
| MUS 317 | Form & Analysis |
| *** MED 102 | Woodwinds: Single Reed |
| MUS 320 | Basic Conducting |
| MUS 390 | Applied Music |
| MUS 113 | Convocation, Recital Repertoire |
| Large ensemble | |
| Small ensemble | |
| _______ | Social and behavioral science course elective |
| _______ | Humanities course elective |
Spring Semester |
|
| *** MED 108 | Woodwinds: Double Reed |
| **MED 303 | Elementary Music Methods |
| **MED 304 | Elementary Professional Development School Experience |
| MED 316 | Arranging |
| MED 104 | World Music in the Classroom |
| MUS 321 | Choral Conducting |
| OR | |
| MUS 322 | Instrumental Conducting |
| MUS 391 | Applied Music |
| MUS 113 | Convocation, Recital Repertoire |
| Large ensemble | |
| Small ensemble | |
| _______ | Social & behavioral science course elective |
| _______ | Computer Science or Math course elective |
Senior Year (Professional Program—Part II) |
|
| **EPY 405 | Introduction to Special Education |
| **MED 353 | Secondary Music Methods |
| **MED 354 | Secondary Professional Development School Experience |
| *** MED 105 | Strings |
| MUS 390 | Applied Music |
| MUS 113 | Convocation, Recital Repertoire |
| Large ensemble | |
| Small ensemble | |
| _______ | Social and behavioral science course elective |
| MUS 214 | Half Recital (optional, but recommended)) |
Spring Semester |
|
| **MED 320 | Student Teaching |
| AND | |
| **MED/ED 340 | Assessment of Teaching Strategies |
*Minimum grade of "B" required.
**Students must have been accepted into the Professional Program to register for these courses.
*** Or other MED workshop course in consultation with adviser.
Special Music Education Requirements:
- A minimum grade of “C” is required in each of the following courses for all music education majors.
MED 100 Voice Workshop MED 102 Woodwind Workshop: Flute & Single Reeds MED 103 Brass Workshop MED 104 World Music in the Classroom MED 105 String Workshop MED 108 Woodwind Workshop: Double Reeds MED 110 Percussion Workshop MED 206 Introduction to Music Education MED 303 Elementary Music Methods MED 304 Elementary Professional Development MED 316 Arranging MED 353 Secondary Music Methods MED 354 Secondary Professional Development School Experience - Apply and meet the criteria for professional program acceptance and present a minimum grade of “C” in each of the following courses:
Writing Intensive Course (W) COM 160, 161 or 162 HIS 101 American Perspectives PSY 100 Intro to Psychology Lab Science 4 SH - Apply and meet the criteria for professional program acceptance and present a minimum grade of “B” in each of the following courses:
EPY 204 Adolescent Development in the School ED 206 Introduction to Education, HPX 215 Health Issues in the Schools - Students applying for acceptance into the professional program must have passed the following music courses:
MUS 108, 109 Music Theory I & II; MUS 113, 114 Sight Singing/Ear Training I & II MUS 125, 126, 225, 226 Keyboard Competency I, II, III & IV MUS 180, 181 Applied Music (4 semesters) MUS 208, 209 Music Theory III, IV MUS 210, 211 Sight Singing, Ear Training III, IV MED 206 (Must be passed with a C or better) - The following deadline dates must be met by students applying for professional teacher education program acceptance.
fall semester admittance April 1 spring semester admittance Nov. 1. - During their senior year, students will enter the student teaching phase of the program, at which time all major course requirements must be completed. In order to register for student teaching, music education majors must present at least a 2.8 GPA in their academic and professional major requirements taken at WestConn. Students are advised not to register for other courses or work in other jobs during this semester. A student teaching application, available in the Office of E&EP in Westside 249 and approved by the appropriate music education adviser, must be filed with the chairperson of the E&EP department during the semester just prior to the student teaching semester. The applications must be submitted by noon on April 1 for the following fall semester and noon on Nov. 1 for the spring semester. The student teaching requirement for music consists of two seven and a half week assignments. Music education majors may elect student teaching in the fall or spring of their senior year. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the schools to which they are assigned for student teaching.
- Students earning less than a “P” grade in student teaching may be required to complete additional student teaching and/or course work before receiving a recommendation for graduation and certification. Students must present at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA in academic and professional required courses to graduate as a music education major.
- After completing the academic program and successfully completing student teaching, the PRAXIS II examination must be successfully passed. Although not a requirement for graduation, passing scores on the appropriate Praxis II exam are necessary for program completion and subsequent recommendation for certification.
