Music Education (B.M.)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

This program prepares students for positions as teachers and/or supervisors of choral, instrumental and general music in public or private schools. Upon successful completion of all degree requirements, music education graduates are eligible for licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with reciprocity in 52 states through the NASDTEC Interstate Contract. In the music education curriculum students pursue licensure for K-12 teaching in instrumental/choral/general music. As licensure requirements are subject to change by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and are beyond the control of Gordon College, the College reserves the right to alter Music Education program requirements as necessary.

Minimum Course Grade

All music majors and minors must attain a minimum grade of C (2.0) in all music courses required for the major or minor, including music labs. Any required music course in which a grade below C has been received will not fulfill a prerequisite and must be repeated until the minimum requirements are met.

Requirements

Students pursuing this degree are required to earn a total of 140 credits.

Core Adjustments for Bachelor of Music in Music Education

Music Education majors receive the following core reductions:

Music Education majors must fulfill two of the following core requirements, with a minimum of 4 credits in each (8 credits total). Validation of either Language I or Language II will fulfill the corresponding requirement without credit.

Language I
Language II
Literature
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences

All other core requirements must be completed as outlined in the Core Curriculum - Undergraduate section of the catalog.

Music Education

Students majoring in music education must complete the following music courses:

MUS 111 - Foundational Music Reading Skills (2)
MUS 117 - Introduction to Music Education (2)
MUS 118 - Music Education Prepracticum (0)
MUS 211 - Music Theory I (3)
MUS 212 - Music Theory II (3)
MUL 211 - Aural Skills I (2)
MUL 212 - Aural Skills II (1)
MUS 226 - Music History and Literature I (4)
MUS 245 - World Music (2)
MUS 311 - Music Theory III (4)
MUL 311 - Aural Skills III (1)
MUS 318 - Conducting (4)
MUS 319 - Advanced Conducting (2)
MUS 326 - Music History and Literature II (4)
MUS 327 - Choral Methods and Literature (4)
MUS 328 - Instrumental Methods and Literature (4)
MUS 329 - Music History and Literature III (2)
MUS 335 - Music Education I (PreK-5) (4)
MUS 336 - Music Education II (6-12) (4)
MUS 346 - Instrumentation and Arranging (2)
MUS 407 - Music Education Seminar (2)
MUS 415 - Practicum (12)
PSY 245 - Life Span Developmental Psychology (4)
Applied music (28 credits on one instrument; includes piano proficiency credits as applicable)
Instrument classes, as noted below
Meet music major ensemble requirement (seven semesters - see below)
Passing of piano and voice proficiency examinations
Successful completion of a senior recital

Piano Proficiency

Students are required to complete four semesters of Piano Proficiency; credits will be included with the Applied Music credits.

Students testing into MUS 043 need only that course.

Students testing out of MUS 043 are exempt from the requirement.

Instrument Classes

7 credits of instrument classes:

Instrument Majors

Voice Majors

Ensemble Requirement

Seven semesters of ensemble participation are required.

Vocalists

Practicum

Students are placed in appropriate school settings for a 12-credit (minimum 15-week) student teaching experience supervised by College faculty, staff and supervising practitioner(s). Students must apply for their practica during the year prior to their student teaching and be registered and finalized prior to starting their teaching assignment. Practicum Prerequisites: full approval in the appropriate teacher education program, successful completion of major coursework and senior recital, and successful completion of the Massachusetts tests for educator licensure (communication, literacy skills and music). As licensure requirements are subject to change by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and are beyond the control of Gordon College, the College reserves the right to alter Music Education program requirements as necessary.

Departmental Honors

At the recommendation of their advisor, a qualifying music major with a departmental GPA of 3.65 or higher would be eligible to apply for Departmental Honors. Under the direction of a faculty advisor, students will complete a research-based project in their final two or three semesters of study. Applications must be made to the department chair, who will then bring the application before the music faculty. The student must maintain and graduate with a minimum departmental GPA of 3.65 in order to receive honors. Final projects for honors are in addition to any required senior or junior recitals for the BM degree and any capstone requirement for the BA degree.

Applications must be made according to the following time table:

BM in performance: Apply 1st semester of junior year;
BM in education: Apply 2nd semester of sophomore year;
BA in music: Apply 1st semester of junior year.

Final projects could include:

Research paper
Lecture recital
Composition