Overview
Our BFA in Music Education program is a comprehensive, four-year program that provides a strong foundation in music theory, history, performance and teaching. Upon entrance into the program, you’ll receive multiple opportunities to observe and gain hands-on experience from Milwaukee-area teachers in a variety of settings to help you identify your interests and strengths within the spectrum of music teaching.
We support you during every step on your journey to becoming a music teacher. You’ll participate in field experiences focused on helping you successfully respond to different cultures in the classroom. Our faculty and education partners are all experienced educators with a deep commitment to supporting the next generation of teachers. And because you are an artist yourself, we are committed to helping you develop creatively along the way.
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Faculty and Staff
Our inspirational faculty and staff make sure students feel welcome and empowered to think outside the box and explore all possibilities of making art at UWM. Visit the Peck School of the Arts directory to meet these artists, explore their biographies and engage with recent work.
Scholarships and Aid
Financial constraints shouldn’t hinder your artistic dreams. Our comprehensive range of scholarships and aid programs is designed to empower and support artists like you.
Study Abroad
We believe that a complete education in the arts should take you beyond the classroom and the local community. By studying abroad, you’ll gain more than a change of scenery. You’ll embark on a transformative educational experience and bring a global perspective to your field of study. Explore upcoming trips offered in partnership with the Center for International Education.
Requirements
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate applicants must meet general University admission requirements in addition to specific program requirements found on the Peck School of the Arts apply page.
Post-Baccalaureate applicants must first apply to the Peck School of the Arts and meet program requirements found on the Peck School of the Arts apply page.
Undergraduate Advising
Academic advising is a collaborative process that empowers students to realize their maximum educational potential. Students are encouraged to visit the Peck School of the Arts Advising & Student Services page to meet with your advisor prior to each semester’s registration period. Advisors provide students with individualized appointments to assist with degree requirements, course selection, campus resources, college success strategies, graduation assessment, academic policies and more.
Laptop Requirement
Preparing for a future defined by digital technology is an important step in developing artists. Our digitally integrated curriculum helps you achieve a professional level with leading art-related software and practices.
Laptop ownership is strongly recommended for all students. However, it’s required for most majors. For more information, please visit the Peck School of the Arts admission page.
Degree Requirements
Music Theory and History Requirements
The Music Theory core comprises a four-semester sequence of Materials of Theory concurrently with three semesters of Aural Theory. The Music History core comprises a three-semester sequence of the General History of Western Music. See individual programs for details.
Credits and Courses
Music Education BFA University Core
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | ||
| Competencies | ||
| Oral and Written Communication – Part A and Part B 2,3 | ||
| Quantitative Literacy (QL) – Part A and Part B 2,3 | ||
| Foreign Language 2 | ||
| Distribution Requirements 1 | ||
| Humanities | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (Must include one lab) | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | 6 | |
| Cultural Diversity 2 | ||
| School of Education Requirements | 9 | |
| Electives | ||
| Electives Outside Peck School of the Arts | 6 | |
| Electives in Peck School of the Arts 4 | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 45 | |
- 1
See General Education Requirements for more information.
- 2
Credits may be utilized in required curriculum areas.
- 3
OWC Part A and QL Part A should be completed within the first two semesters of pursuing a Music program.
- 4
9 credits are required in 3 of the 4 other departments in PSOA, outside of the student's discipline: Art and Design, Dance, Music, Theatre, or Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres. One elective must be three credits of MUSIC 310.
Music Education BFA Requirements
The minimum number of credits required to complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts is 130. Students who need background preparation courses in math, English, foreign language, and chemistry may need additional credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Music Department Proficiencies | ||
| Theory Fundamentals | ||
| Piano Proficiency or MusPerf 1 | ||
| Class Voice Level I | ||
| Music Theory | ||
| MUSIC 123 | Aural Theory I | 1 |
| MUSIC 124 | Aural Theory II | 1 |
| MUSIC 127 | Materials of Theory I | 2 |
| MUSIC 128 | Materials of Theory II | 3 |
| MUSIC 225 | Materials of Theory III | 3 |
| MUSIC 226 | Aural Theory III | 1 |
| MUSIC 421 | Materials of Theory IV | 3 |
| Music History | ||
| MUSIC 106 | Foundations of Music | 3 |
| MUSIC 211 | General History of Western Music I | 3 |
| MUSIC 212 | General History of Western Music II | 3 |
| School of Education Requirements | ||
| ED PSY 330 | Introduction to Learning and Development | 3 |
| CURRINS 545 | Reading in the Content Areas: Middle, Junior, and Senior High School | 3 |
| Choose one: | 3 | |
| The Exceptional Individual | ||
| Inclusion for Secondary Educators: Humanities, the Arts, Foreign Language | ||
| Survey of Exceptional Education | ||
| Child, Learner, Disabilities | ||
| School of Education Student Teaching | ||
| MUS ED 477 | Student Teaching in Music - Elementary Level | 5 |
| MUS ED 478 | Student Teaching in Music - Secondary Level | 4 |
| MUS ED 479 | Seminar in Student Teaching | 1 |
| Music Education BFA Core | ||
| Choose one: | ||
| Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (SS) | ||
| Public Speaking (HU) | ||
| MUS ED 350 | Introduction to Teaching Music | 2 |
| MUS ED 352 | Technology in Music Education | 2 |
| MUS ED 460 | Pedagogy and Practice for Teaching General Music K-12 | 4 |
| MUS ED 462 | Teaching Secondary Choral Music | 3 |
| MUS ED 463 | Teaching Instrumental Music | 3 |
| Requirements | ||
| Basic Skills Competency 5 | ||
| Human Relations 6 | ||
| Content Competency 7 | ||
| Act 31 8 | ||
| Satisfied by one of the following: | ||
| American Indian Peoples of Wisconsin | ||
| Introduction to American Indian Literature: | ||
Wisconsin Act 31 seminar | ||
| Total Credits | 56 | |
- 5
Must be completed to apply for admission to Mus Ed. A 2.75 cum GPA is also required for admission to Mus Ed and state licensure.
- 6
Should be completed prior to Student Teaching.
- 7
Required to apply for Student Teaching.
- 8
Required to apply for licensure. Also meets the following GER requirements: Cultural Diversity and Social Science (ANTHRO 213) or Humanities (ENGLISH 276). Learn more about General Education Requirements here.
EC-A K-12 Music Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Principal Instrument | ||
7 semesters of MusPerf 2XX | ||
| Secondary Music Requirement: | ||
| One semester of 1XX lessons on secondary area 9 | 1 | |
| MUS ED 331 | Keyboard Skills for Music Educators I | 1 |
| MUS ED 332 | Keyboard Skills for Music Educators II | 1 |
| Performing Ensemble Requirements | ||
| Complete 5 semesters on principal instrument, 1 semester on a secondary instrument, and 1 semester of a small/chamber ensemble based on ensemble assignments, set at the beginning of each semester: | ||
| Large Ensembles | ||
| Symphony Band | ||
| Wind Ensemble | ||
| Symphony Orchestra | ||
| Alta Voce Singers | ||
| Alta Voce Singers | ||
| Kameraden Chorus | ||
| Bella Voce | ||
| Concert Chorale | ||
| University Community Orchestra | ||
| University Community Band | ||
| Small/Chamber Ensembles | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Chamber Ensemble - Mixed | ||
| Early Music Ensemble | ||
| Opera Theatre | ||
| Popular Music Ensemble (or ensemble comprised of a single instrument, i.e. saxophone ensemble) | ||
| Music Education | ||
| MUSIC 353 | Conducting | 2 |
| MUSIC 354 | Instrumental Conducting | 2 |
| or MUSIC 357 | Choral Conducting | |
| Pedagogy and Techniques | ||
| MUSPERF 315 | Brass Pedagogy and Techniques | 3 |
| MUSPERF 316 | String Pedagogy and Techniques | 3 |
| MUSPERF 317 | Woodwind Pedagogy and Techniques | 3 |
| MUSPERF 318 | Percussion Pedagogy and Techniques | 2 |
| MUSIC 444 | Vocal Pedagogy I | 2 |
| MUSIC 245 | Basic and Italian Lyric Diction | 1 |
| MUSIC 246 | German and French Lyric Diction | 1 |
| MUS ED 351 | Folk Instrument and Popular Instrument Pedagogy and Technique | 2 |
| Total Credits | 24 | |
- 9
Instrumentalists approved for voice should take MUSPERF 111 before taking MUSIC 444. In addition they should take MUSIC 245 and either MUSIC 246 or 1 credit of music elective from the content courses. Vocalists should take an ensemble instrument other than piano or guitar. Non voice instrumentalists need to complete MUSIC 140 plus 2 credits of music elective from content courses in place of MUSIC 245 and MUSIC 246.
K-12 Teacher Certification and Licensing
This degree prepares students to teach the arts in schools and community settings with a path to WI teacher licensure. Once admitted, students can apply to their intended arts education program which includes a criminal background check. Courses which include clinical or field experience or internships, require a criminal background check and negative Tuberculosis (TB) test result for placement in a field experience. Students are responsible for obtaining the information necessary to become knowledgeable about the requirements below and plan their studies accordingly. Please refer to the Credits and Courses section and connect with the PSOA Advising & Student Services Office for further information.
Communication Competency
A grade of C or higher in: COMMUN 101 or COMMUN 103 (or THEATRE 260 for Theatre majors).
The communicative abilities of students remain under constant review as a factor for retention in the program. Students experiencing communication difficulty may be remanded for remedial work. Students who have satisfactorily completed an interpersonal course at another college or university may request an evaluation of their communication status through the Department of Communication.
Developmental Reading Course
All teachers of special subjects (e.g., music, art, theatre) wishing to be certified by the State of Wisconsin (K-12) must complete one course in developmental reading (CURRINS) with a C or better.
Human Learning and Development
Students must demonstrate an understanding of how pupils grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas. Completion of an approved course in Ed Psych with a C or better meets this requirement.
ACT 31
Students must have knowledge of the history, culture, and tribal sovereignty of American Indian tribes and bands located in Wisconsin to meet the ACT 31 requirement. Successful completion of ANTHRO 213, ENGLISH 276 or ACT 31 workshop through UWM Continuing Education or other approved courses meet this requirement.
Exceptional Education
Students must complete a course in exceptional education with a C or better to be eligible for a license.
Certification
Students are required to keep a portfolio of evidence to document satisfaction of PI 34 teaching standards. Portfolio content is defined, evaluated, and reviewed by individual programs. Successful completion of K-12 required classes with a C or better and a recommendation of program faculty are required before admission to student teaching. Students are also required to meet a 3.0+ GPA on specific content knowledge coursework or pass the content test (Praxis II) prior to student teaching.
Student Teaching
Eligibility for student teaching is determined by admission to the Peck School of the Arts program, departmental recommendation, completion of all prerequisite courses and fulfillment of any departmental requirements.
In general, education methods courses are not transferable from other institutions. These courses must be taken in residence. Other criteria include removal of all incompletes in required courses, compliance with the Human Relations Requirement, satisfactory class standing, negative TB test passing Criminal Background Check, recommendation by the department, and submission of the student teacher application. Specific dates and directions for applying are available from each program by request.
Teacher's License Applications
Students eligible for graduation are not automatically recommended for certification to the State Department of Public Instruction. They must first be approved for certification by their departments.
After all requirements have been met for the undergraduate degree with Teacher Certification or the post-baccalaureate degree certification program and the departmental approval is obtained and the degree is posted, a student may apply to the WI Department of Public Instruction for a state teacher's license.
The Department of Public Instruction conducts a criminal record check of each applicant for a teaching license, like that used for admission to the arts education program. Based on this information, an applicant may be denied a license even if recommended for certification by UWM.
Music Education, BFA Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with a BFA in Music Education will be able to:
- Recognize and distinguish music from all periods of European art music history, and from a variety of other world cultures and traditions, based on musical and stylistic features.
- Recognize assumptions, concepts, models, and various methods in musicological and ethnomusicological work and in their own thinking, and will be able to choose the most appropriate analytical tools and concepts to examine specific musics.
- Interpret, analyze, critique, and reflect on art music from different critical perspectives and aesthetic viewpoints.
- Express ideas about music in written form demonstrating a mastery of factual knowledge, bibliographic resources, analytical method, critical thinking, and the ability to construct a coherent and well-organized argument.
- Perform solo instrumental or vocal repertoire, chamber music, and large ensemble music in public, in a practical demonstration of their understanding of period or cultural aesthetic ideals.
- Meet state standards for music teacher certification in music.
- Apply knowledge of music (theory, history and practice) and childhood development to explain music concepts to students at different stages of learning (early childhood, elementary through high school).
- Use various modes of pedagogy including singing, listening, moving, creating, and playing as demonstrated through instructional approaches.
- Recognize student differences (cultural, linguistic, physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and affective) and develop strategies for meeting individual student needs, including alternative exercises/assignments/tasks for these students as part of lesson planning.
Policies and Regulations
Academic Regulations
For information on University-wide Academic Action Policy and honors for scholarship, see Academic Policies.
Auditing Courses
No studio or performance courses may be audited.
Declaration of Submajor
In most instances, after two years of basic preparatory courses in the major, students choose an area of specialization within their respective departments, known as a submajor. Students must declare a submajor after they have accumulated 45 to 75 credits to assure completion of the appropriate curriculum requirements for graduation.
Grievance and Appeal Procedures
If you have concerns about a class or a grade, or if you’ve been dropped from a program and would like to appeal, follow the grievance procedures found under the resources section on the Peck School of the Arts Advising & Student Services page.
Independent Study
Under special conditions, juniors and seniors are permitted to take courses in independent study. For regulations on independent study, see the departmental advisor.
Program Changes
All program changes must be signed by the instructor and the Peck School of the Arts Office of Student Services. Certain other courses may also require this approval indicated in the semester's Schedule of Classes.
Second Bachelor's Degree Candidates
Students with good scholastic records who wish to earn a second bachelor's degree in the Peck School of the Arts must obtain the recommendation of the Peck School of the Arts department in which they wish to major before they can be accepted. Upon acceptance, students must earn in residence a minimum of 30 credits beyond the studies for the first degree and must satisfy all curriculum requirements.
Semester Credit Load
A full-time Peck School of the Arts student is one who takes a minimum of 12 credits per semester. Typically, Peck School of the Arts students are not permitted to carry more than 18 credits per semester. Students who have a 3.0+ cumulative GPA may, with the permission of the Peck School of the Arts Office of Student Services, carry up to 21 credits per semester.
Transfer Students
Transfer students from other universities and colleges or UWM units are accepted by the Peck School of the Arts provided they meet the UWM admissions criteria and have a 2.0+ cumulative GPA.
Honors in the Major
- Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.500 or greater in the major and the academic department's recommendation.
- High Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or greater and the academic department's recommendation.
- Departmental Honors are granted to students recommended by their academic department for Honors excellence in performance not reflected in the GPA.
- Dean's Honors are granted to students with major achievements in one or more of the arts.
College of the Arts and Architecture Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.