Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact: Lindsay Fulcher, Ph.D., Head, Music Education Area
Location: Frasier Hall 108
Telephone: 970.351.2993
Fax: 970.351.1923
Website: arts.unco.edu/music
Advising Information:
Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.
To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.
The program consists of four parts:
- Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
- Required Major Credits
- Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) Credits
- University-Wide Credits
*For Educator licensure majors, PTEP coursework counts towards the minimum of nine upper-division UNC credits (300-400).
Program Description:
The Bachelor of Music Education degree emphasizes excellence in musicianship, teaching, and general studies. Attention will be given to attitudes relating to human considerations, social, economic, and culturally responsive components that give individual communities their identity.
The degree program assists students in becoming broadly based, knowledgeable, and skilled school music educators with licensure to teach Music K-12.
Program Admission Requirements:
- Students planning to major in music are required to submit an application for admission to the School of Music. An audition is required for all applicants to music degree programs; for some graduate programs, an interview may be conducted in lieu of an audition. Current School of Music admission guidelines and audition requirements are available at: arts.unco.edu/music/apply/.
- Students meeting the general admission requirements of the University may be accepted as undeclared majors. However, students may only be designated as music majors upon successful completion of the School of Music application and audition process.
Music Education Program Requirement
- All program requirements must be completed prior to student teaching.
- In all MUS courses, a student must receive C- or better to fulfill degree requirements
- Any student receiving lower than a C- in a MUS prefix class for the second time in the same class will be placed on probation. If the student receives lower than a C- a third time in the same class, the student will be removed from the major.
- Students are required to take MUS 100 7 times, based on degree. This is not tied to lessons.
- After students have fulfilled the requirements for applied lessons in their degree, additional applied lessons will be at the discretion of the studio teacher and Director.
- All students in applied lessons must enroll in a major ensemble. Students that do not have a major ensemble required for the duration of the degree program should follow their degree requirements.
- Any student receiving a grade below a C- in applied lessons will be placed on probation. A second semester of a grade below a C- in applied lessons will result, upon consent from the area, in removal from the major.
- The required half Senior Recital must be performed during a semester prior to the student teaching semester. Students must meet all music performance and recital attendance requirements listed in the respective studio and/ or area handbooks.
- The student must pass an upper-level qualifying examination, determined by the performance area, before they may enroll in 400-level instruction. This examination is to be taken by the end of the fourth semester of 200-level instruction. If the student does not pass this examination on the first try, they may retake it once in the subsequent semester. If the student does not pass a second time, they will be removed from the degree.
- Two semesters of 400-level instruction (Applied Music) are required.
Music Education PTEP Requirement
- Student must demonstrate professional promise as a teacher to the satisfaction of the music education faculty via an interview with the faculty as part of MUS 210 (Introduction to Music Education), and must continue to demonstrate professional growth through satisfactory progress in subsequent coursework.
- Students admitted to professional teacher education programs are expected to maintain accepted standards of professional behavior in all aspects of their work in their program. The music education faculty will periodically review the suitability of candidates for continuation in the program. Students who do not attain or uphold such standards are subject to academic sanctions at the discretion of the music education faculty, including denial, suspension, probation, or dismissal from the program.
- Previously admitted students whose progress in the program is deemed suspect or unacceptable may be required to appear before the music education faculty (individually or collectively) to discuss conditions for their continuance as a professional teacher candidate.
PTEP Program Requirement:
Teacher candidates who complete an approved content degree and the UNC professional teacher education program, as well as pass the appropriate Colorado Department of Education designated PRAXIS exam (if applicable), will be eligible for recommendation from UNC for a Colorado Department of Education teaching license.
If you are seeking licensure in your program area, the following items are required to complete your program.
- Completion of Application for Initial Admission to PTEP – referred to as Checkpoint #1 (Enrollment in this checkpoint will result in a one-time program fee, assessed to student accounts to pay for assessment software. This checkpoint will also require an out-of-pocket payment - to the chosen approved vendor - to obtain a fingerprint background check, which is required by the Colorado Department of Education.)
- Completion of Full Admission to PTEP – referred to as Checkpoint #2
- Completion of Application for Student Teaching – referred to as Checkpoint #3
- Completion of content specific PRAXIS test prior to Student Teaching
- Candidates may not take extra courses with Student Teaching without prior approval from the Program Coordinator and the STE Director.
- All PTEP Field Experiences and methods courses need to be successfully completed prior to Student Teaching.
- Student Teaching outside the supervision of UNC Faculty may or may not be approved.
- Teacher Candidates will not be placed in a school where they were once students or where they have a close relative attending and/or working.
- Teacher education and educator preparation licensure programs do not accept Professional Teacher Education Program (PTEP) or field based courses that are more than ten years old. PLEASE NOTE: Teacher Candidates have the right to petition this policy at the discretion of the program coordinator.
Please work with your content advisor to determine when these requirements will be completed throughout your program.
Degree Requirements — 121 Credits
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits
To complete the degree in 121 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the BME required major credits.
Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.
Written Communication — 6 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Written Communication courses
Mathematics — 3 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Mathematics courses
Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits
To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.
MUS 143 (3) Musical Styles and Context and MUS 243 (3) History of Music 1 are recommended to fulfill Arts & Humanities requirements and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.
See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses
Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits
Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.
See Natural & Physical Sciences courses
See Liberal Arts Curriculum
2. Required Major — 59 credits
Take all of the following courses:
Jazz emphasis students should take 4 credits of 221/225/421/425 and 3 credits of Classical MMOs.
MUS 143: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities.
MUS 243: Satisfies LAC Arts & Humanities.
Choose two credits from the following courses based on your instrument:
Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion (2 credits)
Strings (2 credits)
| MUS 230 | Small Ensembles and Chamber Music | 1 |
| MUS 430 | Small Ensembles and Chamber Music | 1 |
3. Required PTEP — 37 credits
Complete one of the following courses:
| PSY 347 | Educational Psychology for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| PSY 349 | Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers | 3 |
Complete the following courses:
| EDF 290 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| EDFE 444 | Supervised Student Teaching | 1-15 |
| ECLD 340 | Academic Language/Literacy Development in the Content Areas at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| EDSE 433 | Exceptional Students in the Regular Classroom | 2 |
Complete the following PTEP Methods Courses (15 credits):
| MUS 210 | Introduction to Music Education | 1 |
| MUS 310 | Teaching General Music in Elementary Schools | 2 |
| MUS 312 | Teaching Instrumental Music in Elementary Schools | 2 |
| MUS 325 | Choral Methods and Literature for Elementary and Secondary Schools | 2 |
| MUS 331 | String Pedagogy and Literature for the Instrumental Music Teacher | 2 |
| MUS 356 | Marching Band Techniques | 1 |
| MUS 413 | Teaching Contemporary and Culturally Responsive Music in Schools | 2 |
| MUS 414 | Transitional Capstone Course in Music Education | 2 |
| MUS 450 | Seminar in Student Teaching for Music Educators | 1 |
4. University-Wide Credits — 0 credits*
*Note: Students must apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum requirements and the major requirements to complete this degree program in 121 credit hours. This degree does not require university wide electives and has received an exception from the CDHE to exceed the typical limit of 120 credit hours.
Four Year Plan
This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance.
Year 1 – 32 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 113 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 114 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing I | 1 |
| MUS 160 | Class Piano I | 1 |
| MUS 230 | Small Ensembles and Chamber Music | 1 |
| | or | |
| MUS 292 | Marching Band | 1 |
| | Applied Music Course | 1 |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 115 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 116 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing II | 1 |
| MUS 143 | Musical Styles and ContextLAA1 | 3 |
| MUS 161 | Class Piano II | 1 |
| MUS 314 | Guitar in the Classroom | 1 |
| | Applied Music Course | 1 |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Application for Initial Admission to PTEP | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Year 2 – 33 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 210 | Introduction to Music Education | 1 |
| MUS 213 | Music Theory III | 3 |
| MUS 214 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing III | 1 |
| MUS 230 | Small Ensembles and Chamber Music | 1 |
| | or | |
| MUS 292 | Marching Band | 1 |
| MUS 243 | History of Music ILAA1 | 3 |
| MUS 260 | Class Piano III | 1 |
| MUS 360 | Voice Class | 1 |
| MUS 365 | Percussion Techniques | 1 |
| PSY 347 | Educational Psychology for Elementary Teachers | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 349 | Educational Psychology for Secondary Teachers | 3 |
| | Applied Music Course | 1 |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Spring Semester
| EDF 290 | Foundations of Education | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 215 | Music Theory IV | 3 |
| MUS 216 | Aural Skills and Sight Singing IV | 1 |
| MUS 244 | History of Music II | 3 |
| MUS 361 | Single Reed and Flute Class | 1 |
| | Applied Music Course | 1 |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Application for Full Admission to PTEP | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Year 3 – 32 credits
Fall Semester
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 209 | Introduction to Music Technology | 2 |
| MUS 310 | Teaching General Music in Elementary Schools | 2 |
| MUS 312 | Teaching Instrumental Music in Elementary Schools | 2 |
| MUS 319 | Instrumental Techniques and Conducting | 1 |
| MUS 330 | String Techniques | 1 |
| MUS 362 | Double Reed Class | 1 |
| MUS 368 | Brass Techniques I | 1 |
| | Applied Music Course | 1 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | or | |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Spring Semester
| ECLD 340 | Academic Language/Literacy Development in the Content Areas at the Secondary Level | 3 |
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 320 | Wind Literature, Pedagogy and Conducting | 2 |
| MUS 325 | Choral Methods and Literature for Elementary and Secondary Schools | 2 |
| MUS 331 | String Pedagogy and Literature for the Instrumental Music Teacher | 2 |
| MUS 369 | Brass Techniques II | 1 |
| MUS 404 | Jazz Methods and Materials | 2 |
| | Applied Music Course | 1 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | or | |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Year 4 – 24 credits
Fall Semester
| EDSE 433 | Exceptional Students in the Regular Classroom | 2 |
| MUS 100 | Recitals, Concerts and Productions | 0 |
| MUS 356 | Marching Band Techniques | 1 |
| MUS 413 | Teaching Contemporary and Culturally Responsive Music in Schools | 2 |
| MUS 414 | Transitional Capstone Course in Music Education | 2 |
| | Applied Music Course | 1 |
| | Jazz Ensemble Course | 1 |
| | or | |
| | Major Musical Organization | 1 |
| | Liberal Arts Curriculum | 3 |
| | Application for Student Teaching | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Spring Semester
| EDFE 444 | Supervised Student Teaching | 1-15 |
| MUS 450 | Seminar in Student Teaching for Music Educators | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |
Advising Notes –
- This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete your bachelor’s degree in 4 years. You will meet with the School of Music Retention Coordinator and your faculty advisor every semester to track your progress.