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Department of Music

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Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Music Education (Pre K-12 Teacher Education)

Become a music teacher

The Music Department works cooperatively with the College of Education and Social Services to offer a program in Music Education that leads to both a Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree and licensure for grades Pre K-12. The UVM Music Education program maintains an active presence at the university and within the state of Vermont. Music Education students learn the musical and pedagogical skills, knowledge, and understandings needed to interact in the teaching and learning process with children and young adults. Learn more about the hands-on experiences of students in the B.S. in Music Education.

Why teach music?

Become a musical mentor and embrace a rewarding career path. If you love music and want to share your enthusiasm and excitement for it in a professional setting, teaching music may be the career for you. Music allows young people an opportunity to express themselves in a meaningful way and to build confidence by dabbling in performance and practice — a teacher's instruction is instrumental in that process.

Graduates are qualified for positions as instructors of music in public schools, though a bevy of related career opportunities exist from teaching in private schools to administration in schools.

Curriculum

Because sufficient training and musical ability is needed to justify a career in music, prospective students must audition before entering the program. Those admitted as first-year students or sophomores to the Music Education program are considered candidates in the program. Admission as a major is made at the beginning of the junior year following formal review procedures during the second semester of the sophomore year.

Criteria for admission

Students must apply during the second semester of their sophomore year to the licensure portion of the program.

  • Completion of at least 30 hours of field observation
  • GPA of 2.5 and not on academic trial
  • Cumulative average of 3.0 in MU courses
  • Full junior standing (60 hours completed toward degree)Passing of Level III audition on major instrument or voice
  • Recommendation by music faculty (non music faculty may also be included)
  • Satisfactory completion of the application process

Requirements

Basic requirements: Consult the UVM Catalogue.

Licensure portfolio: In order to successfully complete the B.S. in Music Education Program and be recommended for licensure, students must complete and present their portfolio at a Licensure Roundtable Portfolio Presentation during their final semester at UVM. Read about the requirements for your portfolio.

Observation requirements: In order to meet the state licensing requirement of 60 hours of supervised observation, and successfully complete the B.S. in Music Education Program, students must provide documentation of their observations by submitting to the Music Education Coordinator a Student Observation Form and an accompanying Observation Reflection. Observations are built into your UVM coursework as follows ...

Additional UVM and state licensure requirements:

  • Intermediate level in a single performance medium (Level III Examination)
  • Piano proficiency examination
  • 30 hours of elementary observations (K-6th grade) — documented through student observation forms and reflections
  • 30 hours secondary observation (7th-12th grade) — documented through student observation forms and reflections
  • Praxis I (typically during the sophomore year; required previous to the teaching internship)
  • Praxis II (prior to licensure)
  • Formal recommendation for licensure (in last semester)
  • Licensure portfolio roundtable presentation (in last semester)
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher — in major
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher — in all course work

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program

The Music Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation Program (PBTP) is designed for individuals who have a bachelor’s degree in music and who want to become licensed to teach in Vermont. The basic program fulfills the professional education requirements for state licensure.

All applicants to the Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Preparation (Post-Bac) Program must meet the following general entrance criteria:

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
  • A general education background based on those studies known as liberal arts, which embrace the broad areas of the social and behavioral sciences, mathematics,
    biological, and physical sciences, the humanities, and the arts.
  • A demonstrated commitment to working with children and young people and a passion to teach music.
  • A minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework.

Application for admission to music post-bac program (PDF)

Accreditation and standards

The University of Vermont is the only Music Education program in Vermont with National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation, and is fully accredited by The State of Vermont. Read the five standards for Vermont educators.

Last modified October 30 2009 01:25 PM

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