Academic Programs

NOTE: Requirements may differ according to date of enrollment.
Current students should check their Download Adobe Acrobat Reader college catalog.
 

Requirements for the Bachelor of Music in Music Education

Requirements may differ according to date of enrollment. Current students should check their Download the College Catalog in PDF format college catalog.

For the Major in Music Education (Mus.B. degree, certification to teach music in the public schools):
The Music Education degree program provides the means for students to acquire and demonstrate the required competencies for certification to teach music in the elementary and secondary schools. The New York State Education Department also requires a standardized test of both general and professional knowledge (the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test-LAST, and the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written Test—ATS—W), fingerprinting and designated state workshops for all students recommended for teaching certification in music.

The next section describes a Core Curriculum of required studies common to every Music degree program, followed by lists of the specific requirements for each degree program as accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.
Course Number Title Credit Hours

Core Curriculum: 35 credit hours
MUS 001 Freshman Music Seminar 1
MUS 100 Recital Seminar 0
MUS 120 Concert Attendance 0
MUS 021-050 Ensembles 0
MUS 105-106* Applied Music 4

(125-126* for Mus.B. Music Education and Performance)
MUS 113 Voice Class 1
MUS 117-118 Piano Class (waive for piano majors) 2
MUS 121-122 Aural Theory I & II 4
MUS 123-124 Written Theory I & II 4
MUS 131-132 Applied Musicianship I & II 2
MUS 221-222 Aural Theory III & IV 4
MUS 223-224 Written Theory III & IV 4
MUS 263 Music History in Western Civilization 3
MUS 264 Topics in Music History 3
MUS XXX Music History Core Elective 3
*Note: A grade of “F” in any semester of applied music or a grade of "D" in two consecutive semesters of applied music will result in the removal of the student from the School of Music curriculum.

Bachelor of Music Degree Programs in Music Education

General Requirements:
Core Curriculum (35)
MUS 200 Recital Seminar 0
MUS 217-218 Piano Class 2
MUS 225-226* Applied Music 4
MUS 231-232 Conducting I & II 4
MUS 300 Recital Seminar 0
MUS 325-326* Applied Music 4
MUED 150 Introduction to Public School Music 0
MUED 250- 251 Foundations of Music Educ. I & II
 4
MUED 255- 256 Practicum 0
MUED 291 Technology in Music I 2
MUED 300 Foundations of Music Educ. III 3
MUED 355- 356 Practicum 0
MUED 400 Professional Semester 14
Twelve ensemble participations
 0
Graduation Recital 0
 * see Note under Core Curriculum
72 credits

Each student must declare a General/Choral or instrumental concentration.
General/Choral Concentration requirements are:
For Non-Piano/Non-Voice Students: MUS 317-318, 417, MUED 203-204, 210-211, 301, 302, 391-392. Music Education electives by advisement, including brass, woodwinds, string and percussion secondary instruments. A minimum of six of the 12 ensemble participations must be in choral ensembles.
For Keyboard Students: MUS 415-416, MUED 203-204, 210-211, 301, 302, 391-392. Music Education electives by advisement, including brass, woodwinds, string and percussion secondary instruments. A minimum of six of the 12 ensemble participations must be in choral ensembles.
For Voice Students: MUS 033 (one semester in Freshman year), MUS 137-138, 139-140, 317-318, 417, MUED 210-211, 301, 302, 391-392. Music Education electives by advisement, including brass, woodwinds, string and percussion secondary instruments. A minimum of six of the 12 ensemble participations must be in choral ensembles.

Instrumental Concentration requirements are:
For Instrumental Applied Students: MUED 161-164, 171-175, 185-187, 221-222, 260-264, 271-275, 285-287, 301 or 302, 304-305, 393-394, as designated by the Music Education Handbook. Successful completion of competency examinations on specified secondary instruments. Music Education electives by advisement. A minimum of two of the 12 ensemble participations must be in choral ensembles, and one in small ensembles.
For Keyboard or Voice Students (this option only by permission of the Area Chair for Music Education): MUS 315-316 (additional permission required), MUED 161-164, 171-175, 185-187, 221-222, 260-264, 271-275, 285-287, 301 or 302, 304-305, and 393-394. Successful completion of competency examinations on specified secondary instruments. Music Education electives by advisement.
A minimum of four of the 12 ensemble participations must be in instrumental ensembles and two in choral ensembles. A minimum of two semesters Secondary Applied (MUS 315/316) or other approved private study on an orchestral instrument (woodwind, brass, string, or percussion).

Students who can demonstrate the competencies and any additional requirements associated with any course will be excused from taking the course. However, since there is no upper limit in skill development, it is recommended that students use the time thus saved to complete a like amount of advanced course work from the area(s) in question. Students are encouraged to elect as much additional course work as possible in their concentration, in music education, or in performance, theory, history and literature in consultation with their academic advisor and/or the Chair for Music Education.

Students must complete at least 120 total credit hours of course work in order to meet the minimum university requirements for the awarding of a degree. Professional Standing is the recognition that students have successfully completed all requirements to enter junior level Music Education course work. At the end of sophomore year, each student will submit a formal application for Professional Standing and must demonstrate the following:
  1.   2.75 overall GPA (no MUED class lower than C)
  2. Music Theory completed (MUS 222 and 224)
  3. MUED 150, 250 and 251 completed
  4. Two practica completed 5. Secondary Instrument Competencies: vocal (MUS 317, MUED 204); instrumental (four playing classes, four proficiencies, MUS 113, MUS 218)
Any student not meeting all standards will be denied acceptance into Professional Standing and will not be admitted into junior level Music Education course work. Music Education courses may be retaken only once.

Student Teaching
(Student teaching and assorted special seminar classes held irregularly during student teaching.) The student must have:
  1. An overall 2.75 GPA;
  2. An average of 2.5 in all MUED required courses and no less than a C in any single MUED course;
  3. A 2.0 average in MUS required courses, with no grade less than D+
  4. Satisfactorily completed all stated prerequisite competencies for performance, musicianship, and music education (most competencies must be completed prior to student teaching either through course completion or special examination; some will be determined during student teaching).
  5. The recommendation of the Music Education professional staff, based on contact with the student in the Foundations in Music Education sequence of courses and the Methods Course sequence (viz., MUED150, 250, 251, 300, 301, 302, 304, 305, 391, 392, 393, 394). Criteria are (1) attitude toward teaching music including realism and accuracy in understanding the profession, (2) commitment, responsibility, and dedication to professional growth (i.e. “professionalism”), (3) ability to function under pressure, personal stability, (4) communication with professor(s) and peers, suitability of social adjustment and relations.
  6. Completed and submitted student teaching application, personal data forms, and portfolio by the announced due dates.

Other Activities during the Professional Semester
Because of the time involved and the importance of student teaching in the preparation of a teacher:
  1. Students may not participate in any university courses or formal (School of Music sponsored) extracurricular activities during the professional semester;
  2. Students may not perform recitals, opera roles, concerto during the professional semester;
  3. Students are urged to avoid other regular obligations, such as jobs, during the professional semester; student teachers often must stay after school for rehearsals and return evenings for rehearsals and concerts.