Music Education Major (B.Mus.)
Degree Type: B.Mus. Minimum Credits Required: 120
University Degree Requirements
For complete details on these and other university degree requirements, refer to the Degree and Graduation Requirements section in the University Catalog.
- Minimum of 120 semester credits (some programs may exceed this minimum).
- Complete the University General Education requirements.
- Minimum institutional GPA of 2.00 based on work taken at NDSU.
- Minimum of 30 credits in resident at NDSU.
- Minimum of 36 upper level credits (courses numbered 300 or higher).
- Students with transfer credit must meet the NDSU 30 credits in residence (#4). Of these 30 credits in residence, a minimum of 15 credits must be in courses numbered 300 or above, and 15 credits must be in the student's declared major curricula.
University General Education Requirements
A list of university approved general education courses along with the administrative policies governing the requirement and the categories is available
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category C: Communication | 12 | |
| Category R: Quantitative Reasoning | 3 | |
| Category S: Science and Technology | 10 | |
| Category A: Humanities and Fine Arts | 6 | |
| Category B: Social and Behavioral Sciences | 6 | |
| Category W: Wellness | 2 | |
| Category I: Intercultural Knowledge and Competence | ||
| Category L: Digital Literacy | ||
| Total Credits | 39 | |
Major Requirements
A grade of ‘C’ or better is required in all MUSC and EDUC prefix courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Music Education Core Requirements | ||
| MUSC 103 | Introduction to Music History | 3 |
| MUSC 130 | Theory and Analysis I | 3 |
| MUSC 131 | Theory and Analysis II | 3 |
| MUSC 132 | Ear Training & Sight Singing I | 1 |
| MUSC 133 | Ear Training & Sight Singing II | 1 |
| MUSC 189 | Skills for Academic Success 1 | 1 |
| MUSC 230 | Theory and Analysis III | 3 |
| MUSC 231 | Theory and Analysis IV | 3 |
| MUSC 232 | Ear Training & Sight Singing III | 1 |
| MUSC 233 | Ear Training & Sight Singing IV | 1 |
| MUSC 340 | Music History I | 3 |
| MUSC 341 | Music History II | 3 |
| MUSC 385 | Music Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| Music Education Requirements | ||
| PSYC 111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| HDFS 230 | Life Span Development | 3 |
| or PSYC 250 | Developmental Psychology | |
| MUSC 349 | Vocal Methods & Pedagogy I | 2 |
| MUSC 351 | Instrumental Conducting & Literature | 2 |
| MUSC 352 | Choral Conducting & Literature | 2 |
| MUSC 353 | Woodwind Methods I | 2 |
| MUSC 355 | Brass Methods | 2 |
| MUSC 359 | Percussion Methods | 2 |
| MUSC 380 | Recital | 1 |
| or MUSC 480 | Recital | |
| Piano | ||
| MUSC 160 | Piano Class I | 1 |
| MUSC 161 | Piano Class II | 1 |
| MUSC 260 | Piano Class III | 1 |
| MUSC 261 | Piano Class IV | 1 |
| Professional Education Requirements | ||
| EDUC 321 | Introduction to Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 322 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EDUC 451 | Instructional Planning, Methods and Assessment | 3 |
| EDUC 485 | Student Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| EDUC 486 | Classroom Management for Diverse Learners | 3 |
| EDUC 487 | Student Teaching | 9 |
| EDUC 488 | Applied Student Teaching | 3 |
| EDUC 489 | Teaching Students of Diverse Backgrounds | 3 |
| MUSC 481 | Instrumental Music Methods | 2 |
| MUSC 482 | Choral Music Methods | 2 |
| MUSC 483 | Elementary Music Methods | 2 |
| Instrumental or Vocal Music Education Track | ||
| Select either the instrumental or vocal track to complete the major. | 20 or 24 | |
| Total Credits | 106-110 | |
Instrumental Music Education Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Instrumental Education Support | ||
| MUSC 331 | Instrumental Arranging | 2 |
| MUSC 354 | Woodwind Methods II | 2 |
| MUSC 357 | Marching Band Methods and Techniques | 1 |
| MUSC 358 | Jazz Methods | 1 |
| Major Ensembles | ||
| Must be taken in 7 different semesters. Must enroll in 2 semesters of MUSC 111 and 5 semesters of 112 or 303. | ||
| MUSC 111 | Marching Band | 2 |
| Select 5 credits from the following: | 5 | |
| University Band | ||
| Wind Symphony | ||
| All students enrolled in applied instruction must participate in a major ensemble specific to their area. | ||
| Minor Ensemble | ||
| Must enroll in 2 different semesters as approved by adviser. May be selected from the following ensembles: | 2 | |
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| University Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Brass Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Woodwind Chamber Ensemble | ||
| String Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Mixed Chamber Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| Major Choral Ensemble | ||
| Must enroll for 2 different semesters as approved by adviser: | 2 | |
| Cantemus | ||
| Statesmen of NDSU | ||
| University Chamber Singers | ||
| Applied Major Instrument | ||
| Two semesters each of 100 level, 200 level, and 300 level. One semester of 400 level. Select from the following: | 7 | |
| Applied Wind Instruments | ||
| Applied Percussion Instruments | ||
| Applied Upper Strings | ||
| Applied Lower Strings | ||
| Applied Guitar | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Vocal Music Education Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Vocal Education Support | ||
| MUSC 174 | Pronunciation for Singers I | 1 |
| MUSC 175 | Pronunciation for Singers II | 1 |
| Major Choral Ensemble | ||
| Must be taken in 7 different semesters. Select from the following in consultation with adviser: | 7 | |
| Cantemus | ||
| Statesmen of NDSU | ||
| Concert Choir | ||
| All students enrolled in applied instruction must participate in a major ensemble specific to their area. | ||
| Minor Choral/Vocal Ensemble | ||
| Must be taken in 2 different semesters. Select two credits from the following in consultation with adviser: | 2 | |
| University Chamber Singers | ||
| Madrigal Singers | ||
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Major Instrumental Ensemble | ||
| Must be taken in 2 different semesters. Select two credits from the following in consultation with adviser: | 2 | |
| Marching Band | ||
| University Band | ||
| Wind Symphony | ||
| University Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Madrigal Singers | ||
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Applied Voice | ||
| Must enroll in the following as indicated: | 7 | |
| Applied Voice (for 2 semesters) | ||
| Applied Voice (for 2 semesters) | ||
| Applied Voice (for 2 semesters) | ||
| Applied Voice (for 1 semester) | ||
| Total Credits | 20 | |
- 1
MUSC 189 is only required for first-time, first-year students--A first-time, first-year student is defined as a student who has not yet completed a college course as a college student. Students that are not first-time, first-year students that either transfer into the university or change their major are not required to take MUSC 189.
Proficiency Waiver
- Piano proficiency exam must be completed before student teaching.
- Piano credit requirements listed may be waived in whole or in part for successful completion of the piano proficiency.
- Piano majors may fulfill this requirement by accompanying or performance on a secondary medium according to the discretion of the student's applied instructor/adviser.
Degree Requirements and Notes:
- Music majors may not declare a general music minor, but may declare specific music minors.
- Music majors must pass a Sophomore Screening or Barrier Jury prior to enrolling in student teaching. More information is available in the Area Handbook for your degree track.
- Instrumental Music Education majors must declare and receive a Vocal Music Education minor.
- Vocal Music Education majors must declare and receive an Instrumental Music Education minor.
- A grade of 'C' or better is required in all MUSC and EDUC prefix courses.
- To be placed in student teaching, a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 2.75 GPA in professional education coursework is required.
- To exit the program, a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 2.75 GPA in professional education coursework is required as well as completing the tests for Praxis Subject and Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT): Grades 7-12 (5624).
- See Teacher Education for admission requirements.