Major in Music Education
The Music Education Major curriculum provides the musical and professional training for students desiring entrance into the K-12 educational system. This curriculum leads to licensure by the State Department of Education in Tennessee. Licensure is available in vocal music, instrumental music, or both, in grades K-12. Student teaching involves an entire semester with experiences on both elementary and secondary levels. Due to broad requirements of licensure, the program takes eight full semesters plus one summer for completion. Though students may graduate by meeting the requirements of the academic bulletin under which they enter, all current state requirements must be met for teacher licensure. The Music Education degree is the best preparation for graduate study in music education.
Students majoring in Music Education choose one of two licensure tracks-instrumental or vocal. (With additional optional hours, it is possible to pursue licensure in both tracks.) Instrumental licensure provides the appropriate credential for teaching band, orchestra, music theory and general music at all levels. Vocal licensure provides the appropriate credential for teaching elementary classroom music, middle and high school general music, choral music, piano and theory at all levels.
Students pursuing this major choose either a traditional applied performance track (in which all private study is classical in nature) or an integrative track (which includes private study in both classical and commercial styles).
Follow the links below to view required coursework in each track:
- Instrumental Licensure (includes listing of requirements for adding K-12 Vocal Licensure)
- Vocal Licensure (includes listing of requirements for adding K-12 Instrumental LIcensure)
NOTE: Students are confirmed in the Major in Music Education (allowing them to take upper division coursework in this major) after having met the requirements articulated in the Music Teacher Education Program Policies and Procedures Handbook. Typically this confirmation occurs during the sophomore year.