Music Education, All Levels, Initial, Post-baccalaureate Licensure

Post-baccalaureate Program Leading to an Initial Teaching License

Westfield State University has a history and abiding commitment of preparing educators who serve the educational needs of prekindergarten through secondary school students in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The shared vision of Westfield’s education programs is articulated as “Educators as Leaders Building Learning Communities.” Themes that support this vision are community building, reflective practice, diversity, and social justice.

Westfield State University teacher education programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Westfield is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Westfield State is working toward accreditation of its educator preparation programs under AAQEP standards with an anticipated Quality Assurance Review in 2020.

Post-baccalaureate programs leading to teaching licensure are offered through the Department of Graduate and Continuing Education, and are designed for individuals holding a baccalaureate degree who wish to obtain an initial teaching license, without obtaining an additional degree. Post-baccalaureate initial licensure programs are offered in

*Programs marked with an asterisk are not accepting new candidates as of spring 2016.

Applicants may be required to take additional courses and/or document professional experiences in the cognate area of the license, in addition to the pedagogical and professional courses required for licensure. See Programs of Study for individual programs.

Students who satisfactorily complete program requirements leading to a teaching license are recommended for licensure to the Massachusetts Department of Education. Program requirements include completion of all coursework, passage of Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTELs) and completion of a practicum experience.

Program Description

The post-baccalaureate Music Education program leads to initial licensure to teach all grade levels, but does not confer a degree. Applicants to this program must have:

a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college of university with a GPA of 2.6 or greater;
passed the MTEL Communications and Literacy test; and
a 2.7 GPA in undergraduate English courses, including English Composition I & II or equivalent

Program of Study

A. Prerequisite coursework or experience

Students wishing to be licensed to teach music must complete all the requirements of a music major as determined by an initial advising meeting with the program director.

Coursework involves music theory, music history, applied music lessons and ensemble participation, but is dependent upon the student’s entrance audition and demonstrated strengths.

Admission to the music teacher licensure program is dependent upon completion of the piano proficiency requirement and completion of an entrance examination to include music education philosophy, major applied area, basic musicianship, and piano.

Students must successfully audition with the music department to demonstrate performance skills and basic musicianship before acceptance.

B. Required Courses for Licensure

MUSC 0221 Introduction to Music Education
MUSC 0230 Basic Conducting
MUSC 0312 Form and Analysis
EDUC 0221/0540 Introduction to Students with Exceptional Learning Needs
EDUC 0380/0580 Critical Multicultural Education
EDUC 0363/0631 Sheltered English Immersion
PSYC 0101 Introduction to Psychology (prerequisite for PSYC 0206)
PSYC 0206 Educational Psychology
MUSC 0328 - Practicum: Music K-12*

Vocal Track

MUSC 0319 Vocal Technique and Pedagogy
MUSC 0330 Choral Conducting
MUSC 0333 Choral Music Education
Four (4) Instrument classes by advisement

Instrumental Track

MUSC 0156 Voice Class
MUSC 0331 Instrumental Conducting
MUSC 0332 Instrumental Music Education
Eight (8) Instrument classes by advisement

*Seminar hours will be required during practicum

Additional Requirements

A 30-hour diversity experience is required before or during practicum.

All students preparing for a practicum experience in instrumental music normally take a traditional concert band or orchestral instrument for the applied major. Students planning a practicum experience outside their usual performing area must demonstrate performance experience and proficiency equivalent to MUSC 0172 Applied Music (Minor) III or complete three semesters of minor applied study and ensemble experience in voice, percussion, winds, or orchestral strings, as appropriate.

Students must pass the required MTEL subject matter test (Music), and have a GPA of 2.8, for admission to practicum.

Practicum placements are generally within a 30-mile radius of the university unless otherwise specified and approved.