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2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]

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Bachelor of Music Education

The Bachelor of Music Education program enables students to meet certification requirements for teaching music in Michigan PK-12 settings. Students will be required to select one of two emphases: Choral/vocal emphasis or instrumental emphasis. Students must earn a minimum of 70-73 hours in music and 42 hours in education.

Choral/vocal majors typically choose an applied emphasis in voice or keyboard. Instrumental majors typically choose a standard band or orchestra instrument as their applied emphasis.

Students in the Bachelor of Music Education degree program typically take five years to complete the degree. This includes four years of coursework in Music and an additional year to satisfy the coursework required for teacher certification.

Certification Requirements:

Bachelor of Music Education students MUST complete both the MUS course requirements for the Music Education major AND the Secondary Teacher Certification - Secondary Education Major: PK-12 Emphasis course requirements

Music Education Major MUS Requirements: 70 to 73 credits (three are general education)

Secondary Teacher Certification - Secondary Education Major: PK-12 Emphasis Requirements: 42 credits (fifteen are general education). For a current list of course requirements for the PK-12 emphasis, please see the Secondary Teacher Certification - Secondary Education Major catalog.

Requirements

Music Theory and Aural Perception

There are 19 credits required, including:

AND one course from:

Music Literature and History

There are 12 credits required (three are general education):

AND one of the following (all count as SWS general education):

Keyboard Musicianship

There are three instrumental or four choral/vocal credits required. Piano majors are exempt from this requirement.

Music Education (Professional) Courses

There are 22 instrumental credits or 21 choral/vocal credits required, including:

Ensembles

There are seven to nine credits required.

Ensembles for Instrumental Music Majors

May be repeated for credit.

Ensembles for Instrumental Music Majors

May be repeated for credit.

Students taking applied lessons in wind, brass, or percussion must also complete two semesters of MUS 107 - Marching Band.

Ensembles for Choral/Vocal Majors

May be repeated for credit.

Applied Music, Instrumental and Choral/Vocal

There are seven credits required, including:

Students approved for Performance Honors applied lessons have the option of taking the following courses:

Suggested Order of Music Coursework

Year One

Fall

Winter

Year Two

Fall

Winter

Year Three

Fall

Winter

Year Four

Fall

Winter

Year Five

Completion of Teacher Apprenticeship and Teacher Internship coursework for the Secondary Education Major PK-12 emphasis.

For a current list of course requirements for the PK-12 emphasis major, please see the Secondary Teacher Certification - Secondary Education Major: 5-12 and PK-12 Emphases catalog.


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