Majoring & Minoring

Bachelor of Music in Music Education

This degree is intended for students who wish to pursue a career as a music educator in elementary, middle or high schools. Both instrumental and vocal tracts are offered.

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.

Bachelor of Music – Major in Music Education

The BM degree with a major in Music Education is designed for students with a strong interest in teaching music. This degree plan provides musical skills and competencies necessary to teach music. However, in order to acquire certification to teach in Texas public schools, music education students must apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program through the Education Department, and complete the required 37 credits of professional education courses in the Education Department. 

Degrees are awarded by Southwestern University, while certification is awarded by the State of Texas. Therefore, a student may seek certification in one of two ways: 1) fulfill the major in Music Education with Certification, or 2) fulfill the Music Education degree without Certification, then enroll in a state-approved alternative teacher certification program. In any case those seeking certification by the State of Texas music must receive a satisfactory score on the TExES examination.

In summary, there are four tracks for majoring in Music Education:

  • Choral/Vocal emphasis with Certification: Students obtaining this degree and passing state-certification examinations will receive All-Level Music Certification from the state of Texas to teach Early Childhood music through Secondary Choir.

     

    Major in Music Education – with Certification (choral/vocal emphasis): 75 credits in the major area
    • Six semesters of MUL80-100 Recital Attendance (four semesters for transfer students)
    • MUL80-114 Music Literature I
    • MUL80-214 Music Literature II
    • MUL80-314 Music Literature III
    • MUL80-414 Music Literature IV
    • MUL 80-701 Diction in Vocal Music I
    • MUT76-111 Solfege/Ear Training I
    • MUT76-113 Music Theory I: Harmony in Practice
    • MUT76-211 Solfege/Ear Training II
    • MUT76-213 Music Theory II: Form and Analysis
    • MUT76-223 Music Technology
    • MUT76-311 Solfege/Ear Training III
    • MUT76-313 Music Theory III: Counterpoint
    • MUT76-343 Orchestration
    • MUT76-413 Music Theory IV: 20th-Century Music
    • MUE77-423 Methods of Music in the Elementary School
    • MUE77-443 Choral Music Education
    • MUE77-603 Choral Conducting
    • MUE77-633 Advanced Choral Conducting
    • Seven semesters of ensemble, selected among the following:
      • ENS78-121/221 Southwestern University Singers
      • ENS78-131/231 Southwestern University Chorale
    • Seven semesters (14 credits) of Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x (principal instrument)
    • Four credits of Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x Piano

    NOTE: Music Education majors must enroll in applied piano lessons every semester until the Keyboard Proficiency Exam is passed.

    Additional Course Requirements for All-Level Certification: 37 credits
    • EDU40-494 Foundations and Curriculum of American Schools
    • EDU40-554 Schools, Society and Diversity
    • EDU40-814 Classroom Organization and Management
    • EDU41-804 Student Teaching in the Secondary School
    • EDU42-804 Student Teaching in the Elementary and Secondary School
    • EDU43-404 Survey of Exceptionalities
    • EDU45-762 Literacy in the Content Area
    • PSY33-104 Principles of Psychology
    • PSY33-224 Developmental Psychology
    • PSY33-333 Educational Psychology

    The capstone experience is fulfilled by a junior or senior recital. A portion of the recital must include small ensemble performance.

    Note: This degree is exempt from the foreign language requirement.

  • Choral/Vocal emphasis without Certification: Students obtaining this degree may seek certification after graduation by enrolling in a state-approved Alternative Teacher Certification Program.

     

    Major in Music Education – without Certification (choral/vocal emphasis): 78 credits in the major area
    • Six semesters of MUL80-100 Recital Attendance (four semesters for transfer students)
    • MUL80-114 Music Literature I
    • MUL80-214 Music Literature II
    • MUL80-314 Music Literature III
    • MUL80-414 Music Literature IV
    • MUL80-701 Diction in Vocal Music I
    • MUT76-111 Solfege/Ear Training I
    • MUT76-113 Music Theory I: Harmony in Practice
    • MUT76-211 Solfege/Ear Training II
    • MUT76-213 Music Theory II: Form and Analysis
    • MUT76-223 Music Technology
    • MUT76-311 Solfege/Ear Training III
    • MUT76-313 Music Theory III: Counterpoint
    • MUT76-343 Orchestration
    • MUT76-413 Music Theory IV: 20th-Century Music
    • MUE77-423 Methods of Music in the Elementary School
    • MUE77-443 Choral Music Education
    • MUE77-603 Choral Conducting
    • MUE77-633 Advanced Choral Conducting
    • MUE77-943 Academic Internship
    • Seven semesters of ensemble, selected among the following:
      • ENS78-121/221 Southwestern University Singers
      • ENS78-131/231 Southwestern University Chorale
    • Seven semesters (14 credits) of Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x (principal instrument)
    • Four credits of Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x Piano

    Note: Music Education majors must enroll in applied piano lessons every semester until the Keyboard Proficiency Exam is passed.

    Additional Course Requirements: 13-16 credits

    Four courses from:

    • EDU40-494 Foundations and Curriculum of American Schools
    • EDU40-554 Schools, Society and Diversity
    • EDU43-404 Survey of Exceptionalities
    • EDU45-762 Literacy in the Content Area
    • PSY33-104 Principles of Psychology
    • PSY33-224 Developmental Psychology
    • PSY33-333 Educational Psychology

    The capstone experience is fulfilled by a junior or senior recital. A portion of the recital must include small ensemble performance.

    Note: This degree is NOT exempt from the foreign language requirement. It is strongly recommended that the language requirement be fulfilled by two semesters of German and two semesters of French.

  • Instrumental emphasis with Certification: Students obtaining this degree and passing state-certification examinations will receive All-Level Music Certification from the state of Texas to teach Early Childhood music through Secondary Choir.
     
    Major in Music Education- with Certification (instrumental emphasis): 80 credits in the major area
    • Six semesters of MUL80-100 Recital Attendance (four semesters for transfer students)
    • MUL80-114 Music Literature I
    • MUL80-214 Music Literature II
    • MUL80-314 Music Literature III
    • MUL80-414 Music Literature IV
    • MUL80-701 Diction in Vocal Music I
    • MUT76-111 Solfege/Ear Training I
    • MUT76-113 Music Theory I: Harmony in Practice
    • MUT76-211 Solfege/Ear Training II
    • MUT76-213 Music Theory II: Form and Analysis
    • MUT76-223 Music Technology
    • MUT76-311 Solfege/Ear Training III
    • MUT76-313 Music Theory III: Counterpoint
    • MUT76-343 Orchestration
    • MUT76-413 Music Theory IV: 20th-Century Music
    • MUE77-311 String Methods
    • MUE77-321 Woodwind Methods
    • MUE77-331 Brass Methods
    • MUE77-341 Percussion Methods
    • MUE77-351 Vocal Methods
    • MUE77-423 Methods of Music in the Elementary School
    • MUE77-473 Methods of Marching Band Performance
    • MUE77-613 Instrumental Conducting
    • MUE77-623 Advanced Instrumental Conducting
    • Seven semesters of ensemble, selected among the following:
      • ENS78-101/201 Southwestern University Wind Ensemble
      • ENS78-171/271 Southwestern University Orchestra
    • Seven semesters (14 credits) of Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x (principle instrument)
    • Four credits of APM8x-00x/8x-20x (secondary instrument*)

    *Fulfilled by Piano for all students except those whose principal instrument is Piano.

    NOTE: Music Education majors must enroll in applied piano lessons every semester until the Keyboard Proficiency Exam is passed.

    Additional Course Requirements for All-Level Certification: 37 credits
    • EDU40-494 Foundations and Curriculum of American Schools
    • EDU40-554 Schools, Society and Diversity
    • EDU40-814 Classroom Organization and Management
    • EDU41-804 Student Teaching in the Secondary School
    • EDU42-804 Student Teaching in the Elementary and Secondary School
    • EDU43-404 Survey of Exceptionalities
    • EDU45-762 Literacy in the Content Area
    • PSY33-104 Principles of Psychology
    • PSY33-224 Developmental Psychology
    • PSY33-333 Educational Psychology

    The capstone experience is fulfilled by a junior or senior recital. A portion of the recital must include small ensemble performance. Music Education students (Instrumental Emphasis) are required to perform as a member of a chamber ensemble at least once each year, either as part of a regular Wind Ensemble (or Orchestra) performance, or as part of a Musicale.

    Note: This degree is exempt from the language requirement.

  • Instrumental emphasis without Certification: Students obtaining this degree may seek certification after graduation by enrolling in a state-approved Alternative Teacher Certification Program.

     

    Major in Music Education – without Certification (instrumental emphasis): 83 credits in the major area
    • Six semesters of MUL80-100 Recital Attendance (four semesters for transfer students)
    • MUL80-114 Music Literature I
    • MUL80-214 Music Literature II
    • MUL80-314 Music Literature III
    • MUL80-414 Music Literature IV
    • MUL80-701 Diction in Vocal Music I
    • MUT76-111 Solfege/Ear Training I
    • MUT76-113 Music Theory I: Harmony in Practice
    • MUT76-211 Solfege/Ear Training I
    • MUT76-213 Music Theory II: Form and Analysis
    • MUT76-223 Music Technology
    • MUT76-311 Solfege/Ear Training III
    • MUT76-313 Music Theory III: Counterpoint
    • MUT76-343 Orchestration
    • MUT76-413 Music Theory IV: 20th-Century Music
    • MUE77-311 String Methods
    • MUE77-321 Woodwind Methods
    • MUE77-331 Brass Methods
    • MUE77-341 Percussion Methods
    • MUE77-351 Vocal Methods
    • MUE77-423 Methods of Music in the Elementary School
    • MUE77-473 Methods of Marching Band Performance
    • MUE77-613 Instrumental Conducting
    • MUE77-623 Advanced Instrumental Conducting
    • MUE77-943 Academic Internship
    • Seven semesters of ensemble, selected among the following:
      • ENS78-101/201 Southwestern University Wind Ensemble
      • ENS78-171/271 Southwestern University Orchestra
    • Seven semesters (14 credits) of Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x (principal instrument)
    • Four credits of Applied Music 8x-00x/8x-20x (secondary instrument*)

    *Fulfilled by Piano for all students except those whose principal instrument is Piano.

    NOTE: Music Education majors must enroll in applied piano lessons every semester until the Keyboard Proficiency Exam is passed.

    Additional Course Requirements: 13-16 credits

    Four courses from:

    • EDU40-494 Foundations and Curriculum of American Schools
    • EDU40-554 Schools, Society and Diversity
    • EDU43-404 Survey of Exceptionalities
    • EDU45-762 Literacy in the Content Area
    • PSY33-104 Principles of Psychology
    • PSY33-224 Developmental Psychology
    • PSY33-333 Educational Psychology

    The capstone experience is fulfilled by a junior or senior recital. A portion of the recital must include small ensemble performance. Music Education students (Instrumental Emphasis) are required to perform as a member of a chamber ensemble at least once each year, either as part of a regular Wind Ensemble (or Orchestra) performance, or on a Friday afternoon Musicale at Southwestern University.

    Note: This degree is NOT exempt from the foreign language requirement.