Degree Type:
Bachelor’s Degree, Teacher Licensure
Mode of Study:
On Campus

The Department of Music provides a course of study for the Special Subjects (K-12) teaching license in North Carolina. Refer to the Department of Education for a summary of Reciprocity, Requirements for Admission to Teacher Education, and Requirements for Admission to Student Teaching. Each of these guidelines is applicable to the Music Education curriculum. Students in this program may require more than eight semesters to complete the curriculum. However, all degrees are conceived to be completed in four years.

To be accepted as a candidate for a B.M. in Music Education, the student must audition no later than the end of the fourth semester.  Music Education majors must maintain a GPA of 2.7 or higher to be eligible for the music education program. For each semester a full-time student is enrolled as a music major, a passing grade must be earned in MUS 0710 (Concert Attendance).

All music majors are required to pass the piano proficiency exam. All music majors are required to be enrolled in applied music lessons the semester their senior recital is performed.

Program Status

Effective Fall 2024, the B.M. program in Music Education is in teach out and no longer accepting new students.

Common Career Paths

Some of the top jobs for those with a Music Education bachelor degree include music teacher, music director and composer, musician and singer, and musical instrument repairer and tuner.

Common Salary Ranges for Graduates

As mentioned above, there’s a long list of career opportunities for those with a Music Education degree. But, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average annual salary for the following positions (which may require additional education) in North Carolina in 2021:

  • Music teacher (postsecondary): $71,760
  • Music director and composer: $52,550
  • Musical instrument repairer and tuner: $39,020

Average Tuition Cost

The average cost for an incoming residential freshman to attend MU is less than $18,000 – similar to the cost of attending one of the big-box public schools, but with the enhanced value of a highly-regarded private school with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

While tuition varies, depending on a student’s financial aid package, it’s important to know that the average financial award for an incoming residential freshman at MU is more than $34,000.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

More than 97% of MU students receive some form of financial aid, with the University offering more than $24 million annually to students for scholarships. If a student is active military, family of active military, or a veteran, they may also qualify for MU’s military education benefits.

Interested in Methodist University’s Music Education program?

If you have questions, reach out to Dr. Patricia Fecher using the contact info at the bottom of the page. If you’re ready to apply today, click the button below!

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Methodist University does not offer a master’s degree for Music Education. However, the University’s on-campus program will best prepare you for a career in the field.

Music Performance graduates will be able to excel in creating high-level, creative musical performances. Music Education graduates have access to a course of study for the Special Subjects (K-12) teaching license in North Carolina.

No, the Music Education program at Methodist University is offered on campus.

Major Requirements

The Music Education major (Voice) consists of 89 credits, distributed as follows:

Content Course Requirements

28 credits

MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1) MUS 2600 Music and Culture (1)
MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1) MUS 2610 Music Theory III (3)
*MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (3) MUS 2620 Music Theory IV (3)
MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3) MUS 3110 Music History: Ancient Through Baroque (3)
MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3) MUS 3130 Music History: Classic Through Romantic (3)
MUS 2070 Aural Skills III (1) MUS 4190 Music History: 20th–21st Century (2)
MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1)

* MUS 1600 is required if a student does not pass the diagnostic exam.

Select one course (3 credits) from the following:

MUS 4640 Orchestration (3) MUS 4660 Form and Analysis (3)
MUS 4650 Introduction to Composition and Arranging (3)

Required Applied Courses

12-16 credits

**MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (0) ***MUS 1750-4750 Piano Proficiency (0-4)
MUS 0800 Half Recital (In Voice) (0) **MUS 1310-4310 Applied Voice (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2)

**MUS 0710 must be taken and passed for a total of 6 semesters.

**Applied lessons (MUS 1310-4310) must be taken and passed for 6 semesters: a total of 12 credit hours of Applied Voice. Therefore, continuous enrollment is required until a minimum of 12 continuous credit hours of applied lessons (C or better) is completed.

*** All music majors whose primary instrument is not piano are required to pass the piano proficiency exam to graduate.  Students must enroll in the piano proficiency sequence (MUS 1750-4750) until the exam is successfully passed.

Required Ensemble Courses

Select 7 credits from Noblemen or Grace Notes

MUS 3280 (1)/MUS 3290 (1) Noblemen (required for all male voice students) MUS 3860 (1)/MUS 3870 (1) Grace Notes (required for all female voice students)

Required Methods Courses

13 credits

MUS 1090 Prelude to Music Education (2) MUS 2190 Secondary Music Methods (2)
MUS 1650 English/Italian Diction (2) MUS 3400 Applications of Choral Literature (2)
MUS 2090 Elementary Music Methods (2) MUS 3610 Conducting (3)

Required Tech Courses

Select two courses (2 credit hours) from the following list, or, if competent on an instrument, one tech course and one semester in concert band MUS 3480 (1)/MUS 3490 (1)

MUS 3010 String Techniques (1) MUS 3040 Brass Techniques (1)
MUS 3030 Woodwind Techniques (1) MUS 3070 Percussion Techniques (1)

Note: In addition to the program requirements above, it is recommended that Music Education majors also complete one semester of a foreign language (French, German, or Italian 1010-1020).

Teacher Professional Licensure

24 credits

Students must earn a final grade of C or better in all courses with an EDU or SPE prefix.

EDU 2400 Instructional Technology (2) EDU 4190 Seminar in Positive Behavior Development (3)
EDU 3300 Educational Psychology (3) *EDU 4210 Student Teaching (10)
EDU 3420 Field Experience III (1) SPE 2550 Educating Diverse Populations (3)
EDU 4070 Professional Orientation (2)

Licensure Testing Requirements

0 credits

ETS Praxis I Core Academic Skills Test for Educators or requisite ACT/SAT passing scores (test codes: 5713, 5723, 5733, or combined test code: 5752) ETS Performance Assessment (PPAT)
Praxis II, Music (test code: 5114)

* During the student teaching semester, enrollment in applied music, MUS 0710, and an ensemble is not required. A final grade of B or better is required in Student Teaching to apply for a North Carolina Teacher License.


Instrumental Major Requirements

The Music Education major (Instrumental) consists of 88-94 credits, distributed as follows:

Content Course Requirements

28 credits

MUS 1070 Aural Skills I (1) MUS 2600 Music and Culture (1)
MUS 1080 Aural Skills II (1) MUS 2610 Music Theory III (3)
*MUS 1600 Music Fundamentals (3) MUS 2620 Music Theory IV (3)
MUS 1610 Music Theory I (3) MUS 3110 Music History: Ancient Through Baroque (3)
MUS 1620 Music Theory II (3) MUS 3130 Music History: Classic Through Romantic (3)
MUS 2070 Aural Skills III (1) MUS 4190 Music History: 20th-21st Century (2)
MUS 2080 Aural Skills IV (1)

* MUS 1600 is required if a student does not pass the diagnostic exam.

Select one course (3 credits) from the following list:

MUS 4640 Orchestration (3) MUS 4660 Form and Analysis (3)
MUS 4650 Introduction to Composition and Arranging (3)

Required Applied Courses

12-16 credits

**MUS 0710 Concert Attendance (0) ***MUS 1750-4750 Piano Proficiency (0-4)
MUS 0800 Half Recital (In major instrument) (0) MUS 3370 Applications of Piano Literature (Piano Majors ONLY) (2)
**MUS 1140-4810 Applied Piano, Organ, Voice, Strings, Woodwinds, Percussion, or Brass (2)

**MUS 0710 must be taken and passed for a total of 6 semesters.

**Applied lessons (MUS 1310-4310) must be taken and passed for 6 semesters: a total of 12 credit hours of Applied lessons. Therefore, continuous enrollment is required until a minimum of 12 continuous credit hours of applied lessons (C or better) is completed.

*** All music majors whose primary instrument is not piano are required to pass the piano proficiency exam to graduate.  Students must enroll in the piano proficiency sequence (MUS 1750-4750) until the exam is successfully passed.

Required Ensemble Courses

Select 7 credits from the following:

MUS 3260 (1)/MUS 3270 (1) Guitar Ensemble MUS 3900(1)/MUS 3910 (1) Chamber Orchestra
MUS 3480 (1)/MUS 3490 (1) Concert Band Athletic Band (2 years) for winds, brass, and percussion

Note: If Guitar Ensemble is not offered, students may take one of the other ensembles for equal credits. Piano majors may accompany a choral ensemble for equal credits, if qualified to do so, or play in one of the other ensembles.

Required Tech Courses

Select three courses (3 credits) outside of chosen applied area from the following list:

MUS 3010 String Techniques (1) MUS 3040 Brass Techniques (1)
MUS 3030 Woodwind Techniques (1) MUS 3070 Percussion Techniques (1)

Students must take at least 1 credit hour of voice (voice lessons (MUS 1170, 1180), voice class (MUS 1110, 1120), or choral ensemble (MUS3280, 3290, 3860, 3870).

Note: In addition to the program requirements above, it is recommended that Music Education majors also complete one semester of a foreign language (French, German, or Italian 1010-1020).

Required Methods Courses

9-11 credits

MUS 1090 Prelude to Music Education (2) MUS 3120 Applications of Band Literature (2) Brass, Percussion, and Winds only
MUS 2090 Elementary Music Methods (2) MUS 3370 Applications of Piano Literature (2) Piano majors only
MUS 2190 Secondary Music Methods (2) MUS 3610 Conducting (3)

Teacher Professional Licensure

24 credits

Students must earn a final grade of C or better in all courses with an EDU or SPE prefix.

EDU 2400 Instructional Technology (2) EDU 4190 Seminar in Positive Behavior Development (3)
EDU 3300 Educational Psychology (3) *EDU 4210 Student Teaching (10)
EDU 3420 Field Experience III (1) SPE 2550 Educating Diverse Populations (3)
EDU 4070 Professional Orientation (2)

Licensure Testing Requirements

0 credits

ETS Praxis I Core Academic Skills Test for Educators or requisite ACT/SAT passing scores (test codes: 5713, 5723, 5733, or combined test code: 5752) ETS Performance Assessment (PPAT)
Praxis II, Music (test code: 5114)

* During the student teaching semester, enrollment in applied music, MUS 0710, and an ensemble is not required. A final grade of B or better is required in Student Teaching to apply for a North Carolina Teacher License.


NC State Board of Education Complaint Process

The North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) has jurisdiction to investigate allegations of noncompliance regarding specific laws and rules. Complaints may address Educator Preparation Program requirements set forth in Article 15(D) of Chapter 115C. The SBE does not have jurisdiction over complaints related to contractual arrangements with an EPP, commercial issues, obtaining a higher grade or credit for training, or seeking reinstatement to an EPP. All complaints filed with the SBE must be in writing. A person or entity may file a written complaint with SBE by filling out a complaint form and submitting online and/or mailing or faxing a hard copy to the address on the form.

Contact

Patricia Fecher, Ed.D.

Associate Provost, Academic Operations; Interim Chair & Associate Professor of Education; SACSCOC Liaison
Dr. Patricia Fecher