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Music Education BM

The Bachelor of Music in music education degree prepares students to teach K-12 instrumental and vocal music. The program is comprised of a broad range of courses emphasizing both the theory and practice of music education, taught by a faculty of distinguished music educators. Throughout the junior year, students have the opportunity to refine their skills and knowledge through a partnership with a Chicago Public School. During the senior year, students work with master teachers throughout the Chicagoland area while student teaching. Upon graduation, students are eligible for Illinois music teacher certification.​​​​​

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
Music Core Requirements​ 71
Liberal Studies Requirements 52
Specialization Requirements 62
Electives​ 7
Total hours required 192

Learning Outcomes

Core Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Perform solo and ensemble works with appropriate techniques and musicality.
  • Identify and analyze the elements of music in a given piece, including an understanding of its compositional processes, aesthetic properties, and artistic, social, and historical contexts for works in the Western music tradition, Contemporary periods, Jazz, and World Music Cultures.
  • Demonstrate an appropriate level of aural, keyboard, and conducting skills.

Program Specific Outcomes​

Students will be able to:

  • Apply musical knowledge and skills, artistic expression, and contextual understanding to the development of instruction and assessment in instrumental, vocal, and general music contexts that demonstrate an understanding of child development and that enable students to engage in music through creating, responding, performing, and connecting.
  • Apply pedagogical knowledge and skills appropriate to the teaching of music in a manner which demonstrates an understanding of the impact of diversity, gender equity, special needs, and socio-economic status on education..
  • Utilize tools such as technology and alternative methods of teaching to enhance learning and professional growth.

Music Core Requirements

Course Requirements

All students in the School of Music are required to enroll in the following music courses:

Course Title Quarter Hours
First Year Core
MUS 110AMUSIC THEORY I2
MUS 120AMUSIC THEORY II2
MUS 130AMUSIC THEORY III2
MUS 111AURAL TRAINING I1
MUS 121AURAL TRAINING II1
MUS 131AURAL TRAINING III1
MUS 113GROUP PIANO I1
MUS 123GROUP PIANO II1
MUS 133GROUP PIANO III1
Second Year Core
MUS 212AMUSIC THEORY IV 12
MUS 222-AMUSIC THEORY V - A 22
or MUS 222-B MUSIC THEORY V - B
or MUS 222-C MUSIC THEORY V - C
MUS 232AMUSIC THEORY VI-A: CONCEPTS AND MATERIALS IN CONTEMPORARY MUSIC 32
or MUS 232B MUSIC THEORY VI-B: ANALYSIS OF MUSICAL FORM
MUS 211AURAL TRAINING IV 41
MUS 221AURAL TRAINING V 41
MUS 231AURAL TRAINING VI 41
MUS 213GROUP PIANO IV 51
MUS 223GROUP PIANO V 51
MUS 233GROUP PIANO VI 51
Choose three of the following musicology courses: 612
MUS 224MUSIC, HISTORY, AND CULTURE I
MUS 225MUSIC, HISTORY, AND CULTURE II
MUS 226GLOBAL MUSIC CULTURES
MUS 310INTRODUCTION TO ETHNOMUSICOLOGY
Upper Level Core
MUS 303BASIC CONDUCTING PRACTICUM0
MUS 304BASIC CONDUCTING4
MUS 323MUSICOLOGY SEMINAR2
1

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 300 in place of MUS 212A.

2

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 301 in place of MUS 222A/B/C.

3

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 302 in place of MUS 232A/B.

4

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 205, 206 and 207 in place of MUS 211, MUS 221 and MUS 231.

5

Jazz Studies majors take JZZ 202, 203 and 204 in place of MUST 213, MUS 223 and MUS 233.

6

Jazz Studies majors take one fewer musicology course. They supplement this missing credit in their major coursework.

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
Not Required
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Not Required
Senior Year
Capstone
Not Required
1

Students must earn a C- or better.

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. Students who complete MAT 120 and both a Computational Reasoning course and a Statistical Reasoning course in the Math and Computing Learning Domain take one less Learning Domain course. Students may not apply the course reduction to any Domain where only one course is required, and cannot be applied to the Scientific Inquiry Learning Domain.  The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam or it may be fulfilled by credit for advanced math coursework earned  in-residence at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152 MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162 MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or earned externally either as transfer credit from another college/university or as test credit through AP, CLEP, IB, or International A and A/S Level exams. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfill any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

  • 2 Courses Required

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 2 Courses Required

Math and Computing (MC)

  • Not Required

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 1 Course Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 1 Course Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 1 SWK or 1 Lab Course Required​​​​​

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)  

  • 1 Course Required

Notes

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

Major Requirements

Program Checkpoints

Students are admitted to a specialization at their initial enrollment. Students are then allowed to continue in specialization courses on the basis of program checkpoints. The program checkpoints differ for each specialization, and students should contact the department chairs or program directors/coordinators for more information. Students are not permitted to continue to enroll in specialization classes if they have not met the requirements of their program checkpoints. 

Course Requirements

Course Title Quarter Hours
MED 306INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC EDUCATION2
MED 203FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC TEACHING AND LEARNING I2
MED 204FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC TEACHING AND LEARNING II2
MED 303ELEMENTARY VOCAL-GENERAL METHODS & LAB4
MED 300ELEMENTARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL METHODS & LAB4
MED 310DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION IN MUSIC EDUCATION4
Instrumental Techniques Courses:2
CLASS GUITAR
CLASS VOICE
MED 326CREATIVITY IN MUSIC EDUCATION2
MED 340CONDUCTING FOR THE MUSIC EDUCATOR2
MED 95CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH1
MED 392STUDENT TEACHING (Student must complete twice.)12
MED 393STUDENT TEACHING SEMINAR1
18 credits of Applied Instrumental/Voice Lessons18
9 credits of Large Ensemble9
2 credits of Any Ensemble2
7 credits of Music Electives7

Professional Education Courses

Course Title Quarter Hours
SCU 207SOCIAL AND HISTORICAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION4
Select one of the following:4
ADOLESCENT AND ADULT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Instrumental Emphasis Only

Course Title Quarter Hours
MED 301SECONDARY INSTRUMENTAL METHODS AND LAB4
Instrumental Techniques Courses:
MED 101BRASS I1
MED 102BRASS II1
MED 103WOODWINDS I1
MED 104WOODWINDS II1
MED 109WOODWINDS III1
MED 105STRINGS I1
MED 106STRINGS II1
MED 107PERCUSSION I1
4 credits of Music Education Electives with advisor approval4

Vocal Emphasis Only

Course Title Quarter Hours
MED 304MIDDLE SCHOOL VOCAL METHODS AND LAB2
MED 305SECONDARY VOCAL METHODS AND LAB4
MED 308ACCOMPANYING FOR THE MUSIC EDUCATOR2
Instrumental Techniques Courses:
MED 105STRINGS I1
MED 107PERCUSSION I1
Select one of the following:1
BRASS I
BRASS II
Select one of the following:1
MED 103WOODWINDS I1
MED 109WOODWINDS III1
4 credits of music education electives with advisor approval

Liberal Studies Learning Domain Specifications

In the liberal studies learning domains, music education majors enroll in the following courses within the learning domains:

  • LSE 380 fulfills the Philosophical Inquiry requirement
  • PSC 120 fulfills Self, Society, & the Modern World
  • One of the Historical Inquiry courses must be in U.S. History.