Music Education Bachelor of Music degree
(90 to 96.5 credit hours in Music)
For the major in Music Education (Bachelor of Music 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, the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written Test—ATS—W), the Content Specialty Test (CST) in music, fingerprinting, practicum in a high needs school, and designated state workshops for all students recommended for teaching certification in music.
General Requirements:
Core Curriculum
| MUS 200 | Recital Seminar | 0 |
| MUS 217 | Piano Class, Intermediate | 1 |
| MUS 218 | Piano Class, Intermediate | 1 |
| MUS 225 | Applied Music Major | 2 |
| MUS 226 | Applied Music Major | 2 |
| MUS 231 | Conducting I | 2 |
| MUS 232 | Conducting II | 2 |
| MUS 300 | Recital Seminar | 0 |
| MUS 325 | Applied Music Major | 2 |
| MUS 326 | Applied Music Major | 2 |
| MUED 150 | Introduction to Public School Music | 0 |
| MUED 250 | Foundations of Music Education I | 2 |
| MUED 251 | Foundations of Music Education II | 2 |
| MUED 252 | Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting | 0 |
| MUED 253 | Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Abuse Identification | 0 |
| MUED 255 | Foundations I Practicum - Elementary | 0 |
| MUED 256 | Foundations II Practicum - Middle School | 0 |
| MUED 291 | Technology in Music I | 2 |
| MUED 300 | Foundations in Music Education III | 3 |
| MUED 303 | Literacy Instruction Workshop | 0 |
| MUED 355 | Foundations III Practicum - Secondary | 0 |
| MUED 356 | Methods Practicum - Elective | 0 |
| MUED 400 | Professional Semester | 12 |
| Twelve ensemble participations (variable credit) | |
| Graduation Recital | 0 |
Plus the following:
MUS 118: waived for students whose principal instrument is piano
MUS 120: each semester of private applied lessons
Each student must declare a General/Choral or Instrumental concentration as designated by the Music Education Handbook.
General/Choral Concentration requirements are:
For Non-Piano/Non-Voice Students:
Music Education electives by advisement, including brass, woodwinds, string and percussion secondary instruments. One (1) -credit ensemble each semester of residency, four of which must be choral ensembles.
For Keyboard Students:
Music Education electives by advisement, including brass, woodwinds, string and percussion secondary instruments. One (1)-credit ensemble each semester of residency including piano ensemble and a minimum of four semesters in choral ensembles.
For Voice Students:
MUS 033: one semester in Freshman year
Music Education electives by advisement, including brass, woodwinds, string and percussion secondary instruments. Seven semesters in 1-credit choral ensembles.
Instrumental Concentration requirements are:
For Instrumental Applied Students:
as designated by the Music Education Handbook. Successful completion of competency examinations on specified secondary instruments. Music Education electives by advisement. One (1)-credit ensemble using principle instrument each semester, plus two semesters in a 1-credit choral ensemble, plus at least one semester of instrumental chamber music.
For Keyboard or Voice Students (this option only by permission of the Area Chair for Music Education):
MUS 316: additional permission required
Successful completion of competency examinations on specified secondary instruments. Music Education electives by advisement. One (1) credit ensemble each semester of residency. Minimum of four must be 1-credit instrument ensembles and two must be 1-credit choral ensembles. A minimum of two semesters of Secondary Applied MUS 315- MUS 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:
- 2.75 overall GPA (no MUED class with a grade lower than C)
- Music Theory completed MUS 222 and MUS 224 with no grade lower than a C-
- MUED 150, MUED 250 and MUED 251 completed
- Two practica completed
- Secondary Instrument Competencies: vocal MUS 317 and MUED 204; instrumental (four playing classes, two proficiencies, MUS 113 and MUS 218.
- MUS 231 and MUS 232.
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.
Foreign Language Requirement
Candidates in all education programs are required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language. This requirement must be satisfied in any one of the following ways:
- Score of 85 percent or higher on New York State Regents Exam (or local equivalent). Requirement is fulfilled.
- Scores of 65 percent - 84 percent on High School N.Y.S. Regents Exam (or local equivalent): Student needs to take an Elementary I level course or an Elementary II level course of a language or equivalent course(s) or successfully complete an equivalent SUNY Fredonia proficiency exam.
- Scores below 65 percent on High School N.Y.S. Regents Exam (or local equivalent) or if student did not take a N.Y.S. Regents or local Exam: Student needs to take an Elementary I level course and an Elementary II level course of the same language or equivalent.
As of December 31, 2013, candidates in all education programs are required to complete training under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). Beginning in the Fall 2013 semester, the training required under the Dignity for All Student Act (DASA) will be included in EDU 303 at SUNY Fredonia. Undergraduate candidates planning to graduate after Fall 2013 who have already completed EDU 303 on campus or taken a workshop as a substitution for EDU 303 must also complete the EDU DASA workshop prior to graduation.
Student Teaching
(Student teaching and assorted special seminar classes held irregularly during student teaching.) The student must have:
- An overall 2.75 GPA;
- An average of 2.5 in all MUED required courses and no less than a grade of C in any single MUED course;
- A 2.0 average in MUS required courses, with no grade less than D+;
- 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, except as noted in the Music Education Handbook. Some will be determined during student teaching).
- 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 MUED 150, MUED 250, MUED 251, MUED 300, MUED 301, MUED 302, MUED 304, MUED 305, MUED 391, MUED 392, MUED 393, MUED 394. Criteria are (1) dispositions 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.
- Completed and submitted student teaching application, personal data forms, and portfolio by the announced due dates.
Other Activities during the Professional Semester (Capstone experience)
Because of the time involved and the importance of student teaching in the preparation of a teacher:
- Students may not participate in any university courses or formal (School of Music sponsored) extracurricular activities during the professional semester;
- Students may not perform recitals, opera roles, concerto or ensembles during the professional semester;
- 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.