Requirement for Music Majors (54 Credits)

Music Education - 43.5-44 Credits

Westfield State University’s educator preparation programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). The Music Department, in collaboration with the Education Department, offers a program of study leading to licensure by the Massachusetts Department of Education as a Teacher of Music.

Admission to the Music Education concentration is dependent upon completion of the piano proficiency requirement and successful completion of a comprehensive entrance examination, which includes an assessment of the candidate’s understanding of music education philosophy, as well as an assessment of his or her skills in the following areas: music theory, music history, basic musicianship, and piano.

All Music Education students must pass a pre-practicum jury examination in the semester preceding the practicum. The examination will demonstrate proficiency in conducting, score reading, piano, sight singing, and the major applied area.

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

Admission and retention in the Music Education program is dependent on an overall GPA of 2.8, a 2.8 GPA in applied music, and a 3.0 GPA in pedagogy coursework.

Pedagogical Coursework:

• EDUC 0221 - Foundations of Special Education Credits: 3
• EDUC 0363 - Sheltered English Immersion Credits: 3
• EDUC 0215 - Theory of Critical Multicultural Education Credits: 3
• MUSC 0221 - Introduction to Music Education Credits: 3
• MUSC 0322 - Elementary Music Methods Credits: 3
• PSYC 0206 - Educational Psychology Credits: 3

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  One of the following Music Education Methods courses:

• MUSC 0332 - Instrumental Music Education Methods Credits: 3
• MUSC 0333 - Choral Music Education Methods Credits: 3

Required College Core Coursework

• PSYC 0101 - Introduction to Psychology Credits: 3

Practicum

• MUSC 0328 - Practicum: Music K-12 Credits: 12

One of the following tracks:

Note:

Students progress toward meeting Advanced Standing in Teacher Education is monitored at the end of the sophomore year (57 credits). All students must meet the requirements for Advanced Standing to achieve teacher candidacy. Please see section on Licensure for Teaching  under Academic Policies.

In order to be eligible for student teaching, a student must have completed all required course and field work, have an overall GPA of 2.8 (including transfer work), a GPA of 3.0 in all pedagogy coursework, and have a passing grade in the appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (i.e., Communication and Literacy and subject matter tests).

Additional Graduation Requirements

All students must meet the University Graduation Requirements  and complete a general education or common core of studies, distributed among the different academic areas as detailed in General Education: WISE  or Common Core .