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 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.

Program requirement courses that may also fulfill Core General Education Requirements (CGER) (12 credits)

EDS 203Foundations of Education 1, 23
EDS 206Society and Schools 1, 33
EDS 309Global Perspectives in Education 43
MUS 205Global Cultures in Music 53
Total Credits12
1

Satisfies an SOE core requirement.

2

May also satisfy CGER - Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies (CGER SBS-BS).

3

May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: Communities of the United States (CGER CP-CU).

4

May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: The Cultures of Our World (CGER CP-CW).

5

May also satisfy CGER - Civics & Perspectives: Cultures of Our World (CGER CP-CW). Satisfies a music core requirement.

Additional allied education requirements (18 credits)

SPE 200Foundations of Special Education 13
PSY 212Lifespan Development 13
Student teaching semester
Demonstrate content knowledge through benchmark assessment prior to student teaching 6
EDS 492Student Teaching Seminar 11
One of the following: 111
Student Teaching: Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12)
Teaching Internship
Total Credits18

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
±

May also satisfy Core General Education Requirement (CGER) - Civics & Perspectives: Cultures of Our World (CGER CP-CW).

Music education core requirements (13 credits)

MUS 149Keyboard Competencies IV 61
MUS 203Foundations of Music Education3
MUS 211Basic Conducting2
MUS 320Orchestration and Arranging2
MUS 328Diction in Music1
MUS 370K-12 General Music Methods 14
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 72
MUS 379Advanced Choral Conducting & Field Experience I 1, 73
MUS 383Choral Music in the Schools and Field Experience II 1, 74
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
6

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. See SOE's benchmark assessments website for information about the benchmark assessments. For more information on student teaching, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.

7

Requires admission to the School of Education.

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

All students must complete the general education, college core, major/minor, and university degree requirements to qualify for a degree. All enrolled students have access to a degree audit to track all of these requirements. 

Baccalaureate degree requirements

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

  1. Fulfill the Core General Education Requirements (CGER).
  2. Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
  3. Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
  4. 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.
  5. Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
  6. A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
  7. Submit an application for graduation via the "Submit Intent to Graduate" 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 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 their degree audit and work closely with their advisor(s) and college dean's office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.

Core General Education Program

The Core General Education Requirement (CGER) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include CGER placeholders to ensure completion of the core general education requirements. The CGER category listed in parentheses indicated the recommended course to help complete CGER and the program requirements. Transferred courses may alter the plan. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. CGER 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 Core 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 The Eagle Advantage for College Success (UWL 100, 2 cr.) or 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 (CGER CP-CW Civics & Perspective: Cultures of Our World )3MUS 14911
MUA 2211MUS 2663
Large Ensemble (CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics at 100 level)1MUS 2681
UWL 100 or FYS 100 (CGER SBS-FS Social & Behavioral Science: Social Foundation for Success)2EDS 203 (CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies)3
CST 110 (CGER CL-SL Communication & Literacy: Spoken Literacy)3ENG 110 (CGER CL-WL Communication & Literacy: Written Literacy)3
CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us3Large Ensemble1
 15 14
Year 2
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUA 2211MUA 2211
MUS 2033MUS 2142
MUS 2131MUS 3281
MUS 2491MUS 3491
MUS 3663MUS 3673
MUS 3681MUS 3691
EDS 206 (CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States)3PSY 2123
Large Ensemble1CGER MQR-QR Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning: Quantitative Reasoning3
 Large Ensemble1
 Apply for Admission to SOE2 
 14 16
Year 3
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUA 3211MUA 3211
MUS 2112MUS 3252
MUS 2643MUS 3653
MUS 3202MUS 3704
MUS 3643SPE 2003
EDS 3093Small Ensemble1
Small Ensemble1Large Ensemble1
Large Ensemble1Apply for Field Experience I3 
 16 15
Year 4
FallCreditsSpringCredits
MUA 3211MUA 3211
MUS 2252MUA 471 or 4721
MUS 3793MUS 220 or 2272
Large Ensemble1MUS 3834
CGER CL-SWT Communication & Literacy: Stories We Tell3Large Ensemble 1
CGER NSW-MBP Natural Science & Wellness: Mind, Body, & Planet3CGER NSWL-ES Natural Science & Wellness: Experiential Science4
CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics1CGER HA-AA Humanities & Arts: Arts & Aesthetics1
Apply for Field Experience II3  
Apply for Student Teaching4  
 14 14
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: 130
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.