BMus in Music Education
Degree Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from UIC, students need to complete university, college, and school degree requirements. Students should consult the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.
Approved Illinois Teacher Educator Preparation Programs at the University of Illinois Chicago prepare undergraduate and graduate students to become leaders in education. Each program requires supervised field experiences with students in schools. Field Experience Hours are included as course assignments in specified courses within each program.
GPA and Student Teaching Requirements
- Consistent with requirements within the College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts, in order to graduate, students in the School of Theatre and Music must have at least a 2.00/4.00 GPA in all work taken in the major field, and in all work accepted for transfer by the university (transfer work plus work taken at UIC).
- Student teaching in music is completed through courses (MUS 466 and MUS 467) during the Spring semester of the student’s last year. Minimum requirements for student teaching include senior standing; 3.00/4.00 GPA in the professional coursework; grade of C or higher in all coursework required for licensure (courses taken for a credit/no credit option are not applicable towards licensure); satisfactory completion of fieldwork as assessed by university field instructors with input from school mentor teachers. Furthermore, it is required that students meet the following additional criteria: approval of the program faculty through the sophomore interview, as well as a review of performance according to the GPA prior to the student teaching semester; commitment to the Council on Teacher Education (CTE) Conceptual Framework; development of a Teaching Portfolio; and passing of any state tests required for licensure.
- To be recommended for licensure, candidates are required to maintain a UIC cumulative grade‐point average of 2.50, content area (music courses) GPA of 2.75, and professional education course GPA of 3.00. Candidates will be able to consult the Music Education Handbook, their advisor, or the Council on Teacher Education for a listing of courses used to compute these grade‐point averages.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Requirements | ||
| General and Basic Education Requirements | 24 | |
| Major Requirements | 97 | |
| DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar (Required of new freshmen only) | 1 |
| Total Hours | 122 | |
General and Basic Education Requirements
All students must complete a total of 24 hours of General Education courses, with at least one course completed in each of the categories below. Since two courses for the BMus in Music Education major can be applied toward this requirement, students will select an additional 18 hours of General Education courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| General Education Courses | ||
| All students must complete a total of 24 hours of General Education courses, with at least one course completed in each of the categories below. Since two courses (6 hours) for the BMus in Music Education major can be applied toward this requirement, students will select an additional 18 hours of General Education courses. a | 18 | |
Analyzing the Natural World course b | ||
Exploring World Cultures course b | ||
Understanding the Creative Arts course b | ||
Understanding the Individual and Society course b | ||
Understanding the Past course b | ||
Understanding U.S. Society course b | ||
| Total Hours | 24 | |
- a
Courses in the major field that are approved for General Education are BLST 262, MUS 114, MUS 118, MUS 127, MUS 227, MUS 240 and ED 100.
- b
Students should consult the General Education section of the catalog for a list of approved courses in this category.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Music Education Core (10 hours) | ||
| MUS 324 | Music Teaching in Ensemble Settings | 3 |
| MUS 325 | Participatory and Digital Music Practices (9-12) | 3 |
| MUS 326 | Teaching Music to Children (P/K-8) | 4 |
| Music Education Selectives | ||
| Selective A: Select five of the following: | 5 | |
| Teaching and Learning Brass | ||
| Teaching and Learning Jazz | ||
| Teaching and Learning Percussion | ||
| Teaching Popular Music | ||
| Teaching and Learning Strings | ||
| Teaching and Learning Voice | ||
| Teaching and Learning Woodwinds | ||
| Banda, Mariachi, & Salsa | ||
| Selective B: Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Choral Music Methods and Materials | ||
| Instrumental Music Methods and Materials | ||
| Music History Selectives | ||
| Selective A: Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Black Cultural Studies a,b | ||
| Jazz History a,c | ||
| American Popular Music since 1850 a,c | ||
| Latin American Music a,d | ||
| Music Cultures of the World a,d | ||
| Music, Gender and Culture a,e | ||
| Selective B: Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| History of Western Music II: Music of the Baroque and Classical Periods | ||
| History of Western Music III: Music from Romanticism through the Present | ||
| Music Core (47 hours) | ||
| MUS 101 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 102 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 103 | Ear Training I | 1 |
| MUS 104 | Ear Training II | 1 |
| Ensemble: Primary Area - Select one Ensemble course from the list below (7 semesters) | 7 | |
| Ensemble: Secondary Area - Select a second Ensemble course from the list below (1 semester) | 1 | |
Ensemble Courses: | ||
| Vocal Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Concert Band | ||
| University Choir | ||
| Chamber Choir | ||
| Treble Choir | ||
| University Orchestras | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Small Jazz Ensemble | ||
| MUS 152 | Instrumental Ensembles (2 semesters) | 2 |
| MUS 170 | Keyboard Skills I | 2 |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (primary instrument; 7 semesters) | 14 |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (secondary instrument; 1 semester) | 2 |
| MUS 201 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
| MUS 202 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
| MUS 203 | Ear Training III | 1 |
| MUS 204 | Ear Training IV | 1 |
| MUS 304 | Conducting | 3 |
| Professional Education (24 hours) | ||
| ED 100 | Introduction to Urban Education b,e | 3 |
| EPSY 255 | Child Development in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| MUS 350 | Music Classrooms for All Learners | 3 |
| MUS 351 | Assessment in Music Classrooms | 3 |
| MUS 465 | Developing Multiple Languages and Music Literacies | 4 |
| MUS 466 | Student Teaching (K-8) with Seminar 1 | 4 |
| MUS 467 | Student Teaching (9-12) with Seminar 2 | 4 |
| Total Hours | 97 | |
- a
This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.
- b
This course is approved for the Understanding U.S. Society General Education category.
- c
This course is approved for the Understanding the Past General Education category.
- d
This course is approved for the Exploring World Cultures General Education category.
- e
This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.
Sample Course Schedule
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| Ensemble: Primary Area (1 of 7) - MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, or MUS 160 | 1 | |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (1 of 7) | 2 |
| MUS 101 | Music Theory I | 3 |
| MUS 103 | Ear Training I | 1 |
| MUS 170 | Keyboard Skills I | 2 |
| DLG 120 | UIC First-Year Dialogue Seminar | 1 |
| ENGL 160 | Academic Writing I: Writing in Academic and Public Contexts | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Ensemble: Primary Area (2 of 7) - MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, or MUS 160 | 1 | |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (2 of 7) | 2 |
| MUS 102 | Music Theory II | 3 |
| MUS 104 | Ear Training II | 1 |
| ED 100 | Introduction to Urban Education | 3 |
| Music History Selective A - BLST 262, MUS 114, MUS 118, MUS 127, MUS 227, or MUS 240 | 3 | |
| ENGL 161 | Academic Writing II: Writing for Inquiry and Research | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Ensemble: Primary Area (3 of 7) - MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, or MUS 160 | 1 | |
| MUS 152 | Instrumental Ensembles (1 of 2) | 1 |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (3 of 7) | 2 |
| MUS 201 | Theory of Music III | 3 |
| MUS 203 | Ear Training III | 1 |
| EPSY 255 | Child Development in Contemporary Society | 3 |
| Music History Selective A - BLST 262, MUS 114, MUS 118, MUS 127, MUS 227, or MUS 240 | 3 | |
| General Education course a | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Ensemble: Primary Area (4 of 7) - MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, or MUS 160 | 1 | |
| MUS 152 | Instrumental Ensembles (2 of 2) | 1 |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (4 of 7) | 2 |
| MUS 202 | Theory of Music IV | 3 |
| MUS 204 | Ear Training IV | 1 |
| Music History Selective B - MUS 231 or MUS 232 | 3 | |
| General Education course | 3 | |
| General Education course | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Ensemble: Primary Area (5 of 7) - MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, or MUS 160 | 1 | |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (5 of 7) | 2 |
| Music Education Selective A (1 of 5) | 1 | |
| MUS 304 | Conducting | 3 |
| MUS 325 | Participatory and Digital Music Practices | 3 |
| MUS 350 | Music Classrooms for All Learners | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Ensemble: Primary Area (6 of 7) - MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, or MUS 160 | 1 | |
| Ensemble: Secondary Area (1 of 1) - MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, or MUS 160 | 1 | |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (6 of 7) | 2 |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (secondary instrument) | 2 |
| Music Education Selective A (2 of 5) | 1 | |
| Music Education Selective A (3 of 5) | 1 | |
| Music Education Selective B (1 of 1) - MUS 340 or MUS 341 | 2 | |
| MUS 324 | Music Teaching in Ensemble Settings | 3 |
| MUS 351 | Assessment in Music Classrooms | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| Ensemble: Primary Area (7 of 7) - MUS 150, MUS 151, MUS 153, MUS 154, MUS 155, MUS 157, MUS 159, or MUS 160 | 1 | |
| MUS 180 | Private Instrumental Lessons (7 of 7) | 2 |
| Music Education Selective A (4 of 5) | 1 | |
| Music Education Selective A (5 of 5) | 1 | |
| MUS 326 | Teaching Music to Children | 4 |
| MUS 465 | Developing Multiple Language & Music Literacies | 4 |
| General Education course | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MUS 466 | Student Teaching (Pre-8) with Seminar 1 | 4 |
| MUS 467 | Student Teaching (9-12) with Seminar 2 | 4 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 122 | |