Bachelor of Science in Music Education

The Bachelor of Science 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:

1. To prepare students to become highly skilled teaching professionals.
2. To prepare students to become highly skilled performers on their principal instrument.
3. 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.
4. 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 and interview.

Self-declared music education majors must maintain a GPA of 3.0 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, Performing, and Communication Arts. Students must achieve a GPA of 3.0 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 120 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
Fall Semester
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
Fall Semester
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)
Fall Semester
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 312	Middle Level Music Methods
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)
Fall Semester
**EPY 405	Introduction to Special Education
**MED 313/314	Secondary Music Methods (Choral and/or Instrumental)
**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:

1. 1. 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

1. 1. 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

1. 1. 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

1. 1. 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)

1. 1. 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.

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 3.0 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 student teaching requirement for music consists of two seven and a half week assignments. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the schools to which they are assigned for student teaching.
2. 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 3.0 cumulative GPA in academic and professional required courses to graduate as a music education major.
3. 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.