Majoring & Minoring: Concentrations: Music Education

Courses include instrumental, choral and advanced conducting, instrumental methods, and choral techniques. During their senior year, each student working toward certification as a public school music teacher will have the opportunity to practice teach at schools in the Austin area.

Music education students have the opportunity to study with faculty who have taught music in public schools, and who are active in conducting high school band, choir and orchestra festivals.

Additional course requirements

Music Education: 36 semester hours, including Education 40-493, 553, 813; Education 41-803; Education 42-803; Education 43-403; Education 45-763; Music Theory 76-213, 343; Psychology 33-103, 223, 333.

The Capstone experience is fulfilled by a junior or senior recital. Music Education majors must also choose from among three concentrations, the requirements for which are listed below. Computer Literacy and Public Speaking (or passage of competency exams) are required for certification, but not required for the degree.

NOTE: Music Education majors working toward teacher certification are exempted from the University foreign language requirement.

Instrumental Concentration (Winds)

16 semester hours, including Music Education 77-311, 321, 331, 341 (not required for percussion principals), 351, 423, 463, 473, 613 (a core course requirement), 622.

Instrumental Concentration (Strings)

13 semester hours, including Music Education 77-311, 321, 331, 341, 351, 423, 463, 613 (a core course requirement), 622.

Vocal Concentration

14 semester hours, including Music Education 77-311, 321, 331, 341, 423, 443, 603 (a core course requirement), 612; Music Literature 80-701, 711.

Additional course requirements for the Bachelor of Music, Area of Emphasis:

Music Education (non-certification program)

21 semester hours, including Education 40-553, Education 43-403; Psychology 33-103, 223; Music Education 77-943; Music Education 77-463 (for instrumental concentrations) or 77-443 (for vocal concentration); Music Theory 76-343.

*Note: This program gives students the basic competencies for music teachers required by the National Association of Schools of Music, but does not lead to certification before graduation from Southwestern. Students who obtain employment in Texas public schools with a bachelor’s degree will be required to pursue subsequent certification through various programs offered by educational institutions and certification centers throughout the state of Texas.

IMPORTANT

Music Education majors in this non-certification program are NOT exempted from the foreign language requirement in the General Education program. Music Education students should consult with their advisers and determine early in their studies which program they wish to pursue.

Students who change from the certification to the non-certification program will be required to fulfill the language requirement (fourth-semester proficiency). Two of the courses in Education and Psychology listed above should be used toward fulfilling the Social Science Division distribution requirements in the General Education program.

Instrumental Concentration (Winds and Strings)

Six semester hours, including Music Education 77-311, 321, 331, 341*, 613, 622. *Percussion principals should substitute one hour of Music Education elective for this course.

Vocal Concentration

Six semester hours, including Music Education 77-522, 612, 603; Music Literature 80-701, 711.