Music Education Major: Choral and General Music Emphasis (Grades K-12) - Bachelor of Science (BS)

Completion of the Music Education: Choral and General Music Emphasis Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching license:

  • Music, grades K-12 (2500).

Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.

Students in all teacher education programs must be admitted to the School of Education in order to complete their program requirements and be eligible for endorsement for the appropriate teaching license(s). Students majoring in music education: choral and general music (grades K-12) must meet specific program admission criteria.

Retention and advancement

Teacher candidates may be retained in their teacher education program provided they fulfill the conditions described in the SOE Retention Policy.Students must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching as described in the Student Teaching and Internship Policy. Additional SOE program requirements, including the culminating assessment of pedagogical knowledge, are described on the SOE catalog page.
Additional student teaching requirement
Students must complete MUS 149 with a grade of "B" or higher and successfully complete the recital requirement (400-level, applied music) prior to student teaching.

Curriculum

The Music Education: Choral and General Music Emphasis Program is aligned with Wisconsin Teacher Standards (WTS) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) Standards.

Required general education courses (9 credits)

Besides the courses specified below, music education: choral and general music emphasis majors must satisfy additional general education requirements. The General Education Program requires a total of 42 credits.

EDS 203School, Society, and Teachers 1, 43
EDS 206Multicultural Education 2, 43
MUS 205Global Cultures in Music 33
Total Credits9
1

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Self and Society (GE Category 6).

2

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women's Studies (GE Category 3).

3

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: International and Multicultural Studies, Global and Multicultural Studies (GE Category 4-2). Also satisfies a music core requirement.

Additional allied education requirements (21 credits)

EDS 309Teaching Global Perspectives Across the Curriculum3
SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 43
PSY 212Lifespan Development 43
Student teaching semester 5
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar 41
One of the following: 411
Student Teaching: Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits21

Audition required.

Music core requirements (24 credits)

MUS 205Global Cultures in Music ±3
MUS 264History of Western Music I3
MUS 266Theory of Music I3
MUS 268Aural Skills I1
MUS 364History of Western Music II3
MUS 365History of Western Music III3
MUS 366Theory of Music II3
MUS 367Theory of Music III3
MUS 368Aural Skills II1
MUS 369Aural Skills III1
Successful completion of concert attendance
Total Credits24
±

Counts toward General Education Program requirement: International and Multicultural Studies, Global and Multicultural Studies (GE Category 4-2).

Music education core requirements (13 credits)

MUS 149Keyboard Competencies IV 51
MUS 203Foundations of Music Education3
MUS 211Basic Conducting2
MUS 320Orchestration and Arranging2
MUS 328Diction in Music1
MUS 370K-12 General Music Methods 44
Total Credits13

Additional music instruments (6-7 credits)

MUS 214String Techniques2
MUS 225Percussion Techniques2
Mock ensemble participation: two meetings per semester in convocation while enrolled in techniques courses
Select one of the following:2-3
Brass Techniques
Woodwind Techniques
Total Credits6-7

Advanced choral and general music education (11 credits)

MUS 213Class Ukulele and Guitar1
MUS 349Vocal Accompanying1
MUS 325Choral Literature 62
MUS 379Advanced Choral Conducting & Field Experience I 4, 63
MUS 383Choral Music in the Schools and Field Experience II 4, 64
Total Credits11

Applied voice and ensemble (14 credits)

Large ensemble-choral
Select six credits from the following:6
Concert Choir I
Concert Choir II
Concert Choir III
Concert Choir IV
Treble Chorus I
Treble Chorus II
Treble Chorus III
Treble Chorus IV
Choral Union I
Choral Union II
Choral Union III
Choral Union IV
Small ensemble
Select two credits from the following:2
Ensembles
Jazz Ensemble I
Jazz Ensemble II
Jazz Ensemble III
Jazz Ensemble IV
Jazz Orchestra I
Jazz Orchestra II
Jazz Orchestra III
Jazz Orchestra IV
Select five credits in applied voice, including at least two credits at the 300-level, from the following:5
Applied Voice
Applied Voice
MUA 471Recital1
Total Credits14
4

Also satisfies an SOE core requirement.

5

Students must complete MUS 149 with a grade of "B" or higher and successfully complete the recital requirement (400-level, applied music), as well as all other course requirements and benchmarks prior to student teaching. For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

6

Requires admission to the School of Education.

Additional teacher education requirements are listed on the School of Education catalog page.

All teacher education students must complete the general education, School of Education, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.

Baccalaureate degree requirements

Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:

  1. Fulfill the general education requirements.
  2. Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
  3. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  4. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  5. At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
  6. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  7. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  8. Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
1

Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.

2

The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.

No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.

Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.

The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.

At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level. 

Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.

This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.

Year 1
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUS 1461MUA 2211
MUS 1471MUS 1481
MUS 205 (Gen Ed Global Studies)3MUS 14911
MUA 2211MUS 2663
Large Ensemble1MUS 2681
FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar)3EDS 203 (Gen Ed Self & Society)3
CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral)3ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written)3
Gen Ed Arts2-3Large Ensemble1
 Gen Ed World History3
 15 17
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUA 2211MUA 2211
MUS 2033MUS 2643
MUS 2131MUS 3281
MUS 2491MUS 3491
MUS 3663MUS 3673
MUS 3681MUS 3691
EDS 206 (Gen Ed Minority Cultures)3PSY 2123
Large Ensemble1Gen Ed Math4
Gen Ed Health & Well Being3Large Ensemble1
 Apply for Admission to SOE2 
 17 18
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUA 3211MUA 3211
MUS 2112MUS 3252
MUS 2142MUS 3653
MUS 3202MUS 3704
MUS 3643SPE 2003
EDS 3093Small Ensemble1
Small Ensemble1Large Ensemble1
Large Ensemble1Apply for Field Experience I3 
Gen Ed Arts2-3 
 17 15
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUA 3211MUA 3211
MUS 2252MUA 471 or 4721
MUS 3793MUS 220 or 2272
Large Ensemble1MUS 3834
Gen Ed Humanistic Studies3Gen Ed Natural Lab Science4
Gen Ed Lang/Logical Systems3-4Large Ensemble 1
Apply for Field Experience II3  
Apply for Student Teaching4  
 13 13
Additional year
FallCredits 
All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching. Students must also complete MUS 149 with a grade of "B" or higher and successfully complete the recital requirement (400-level, applied music) prior to student teaching.5  
EDS 4921 
EDS 49711 
 12  
Total Credits: 137
1

Prerequisite: MUS 148 or consent of instructor. Offered Spring - Even Numbered Years.

2

See the SOE admissions website for complete admission and application details. Students will be required to complete a criminal background check at the time of application for admission.

3

Students applying for field and student teaching placements will be asked to disclose any criminal charges.

4

Students must apply for student teaching through the Office of Field Experience one year prior to the student teaching semester.

5

For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.