Bachelor of Arts in Music (EC-12 Music Certification, Strings Emphasis)

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with an education minor and teacher certification is designed to prepare music educators to teach all grade levels, EC-12. The curriculum provides a comprehensive musical foundation, along with the training needed to guide students to an appreciation and understanding of music as an art form and cultural phenomenon. Curricular requirements integrate music students with the university general education requirements and a core of professional education courses.

Marketable Skills

Defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's 60x30 Strategic Plan as, "Those skills valued by employers that can be applied in a variety of work settings, including interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skills areas. These skills can be either primary or complementary to a major and are acquired by students through education, including curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities."

Degree Skills

1. Collaboration - work effectively with others toward a common goal​.
2. Analysis - think and understand in patterns.
3. Time-management - handle multiple projects simultaneously​.

Teacher Certification Skills

1. Appropriately explain the impact of effective planning and communication (within the chosen area of concentration) to relevant internal and external stakeholders in an education or community setting.
2. Identify, select, and implement entry-level instructional plans when serving as an instructor in the school setting.
3. Successfully manage organizational and student behavior when teaching in the school setting.
4. Efficiently and accurately assess student progress and use data to develop and modify instruction for K-12 students.
5. Work effectively and collaboratively with students and families from diverse backgrounds.

Admissions

1. All applicants must meet the general undergraduate admission requirements.
2. Fill out the online TWU Music Audition Application via Acceptd.
3. A letter of recommendation from your current private teacher or ensemble director will be required for each application. The letter must be received prior to your audition date and must be submitted by the letter writer through the Acceptd platform.
4. Audition and participate in a placement evaluation.

You also may choose to compete for scholarships that are available to new and transferring music students each year. These are awarded based on musical excellence, as verified through your entrance audition and placement examination, and supported by teacher recommendations.

Please visit the TWU Music Auditions website for audition dates, area-specific audition criteria, and a Step-by-Step Guide to admission into music degree programs.

Teacher Certification

In addition to the general undergraduate admissions requirements, to obtain acceptance into the undergraduate Educator Preparation Program (and prior to taking EDUC 3003, EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113, EDUC 4243, and Clinical Student Teaching) students must have:

• A cumulative GPA of 2.75 (includes all courses, whether posted to TWU transcript or used on a degree plan. Excludes developmental and repeated courses);
• Completed EDUC 2003 with a C or higher;
• Demonstrated basic skills in reading, written communication, and mathematics by meeting the requirements of the Texas Success Initiative;
• Completed the Digital Literacy Pre-assessment;
• Successfully completed a pre-admission departmental interview with an interview panel;
• A minimum of 12 to 15 semester credit hours in the subject-specific content area for the certification sought;
• Completed department application for admission to the Educator Preparation Program;
• Completed a Commitment Contract acknowledging awareness and understanding of the Professional Dispositions Policy and Educators’ Code of Ethics;
• Submitted a non-refundable Texas Education Agency Fee; and
• Acknowledged and accepted admission to the Educator Preparation Program.

Please note: 

• All accepted students must maintain the admission requirements to remain in the TWU Education Preparation Program.
• Admission requirements are determined by Texas Education Agency policies and are subject to change without notice.
• Students seeking Bilingual certification must meet minimum proficiency in Spanish.
• Students seeking Deaf/Hard of Hearing certification must meet minimum proficiency in sign.

Contact the Office of Educator Preparation Services (OEPS) at copeadvising@twu.edu or 940-898-2829 with any questions.

Degree Requirements

Total Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 129  

Major: 44 SCH;  Required Minor: 26 SCH

Program Code: MUSIC.BA;  CIP Code: 50.0901.00

Texas Core Curriculum

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
ENG 1013	Composition I	3
ENG 1023	Composition II	3
Mathematics		3
Life & Physical Sciences		6
Language, Philosophy, & Culture		3
Creative Arts		3
HIST 1013	History of the United States, 1492-1865	3
HIST 1023	History of the United States, 1865 to the Present	3
POLS 2013	U.S. National Government	3
POLS 2023	Texas Government	3
Social & Behavioral Sciences		3
CAO: Women's Studies		3
CAO: First Year Seminar, Wellness or Mathematics		3
Total SCHs		42

Courses Required for Major

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
MU 1021	Keyboard Musicianship I	1
MU 1031	Keyboard Musicianship II	1
MU 1521	Aural Skills I	1
MU 1523	Music Theory I	3
MU 1531	Aural Skills II	1
MU 1533	Music Theory II	3
MU 2521	Aural Skills III	1
MU 2523	Music Theory III	3
MU 2531	Aural Skills IV	1
MU 2533	Music Theory IV	3
MU 3313	Music History I	3
MU 3323	Music History II	3
MU 4512	Instrumental Arranging	2
Principal Instrument (4 SCH at 4000 level)		12
Music Ensemble		6
Performance Juries (6 completed)
Barrier Exam
Capstone Performance
Total SCHs		44

Music Education

Special Requirement: A grade of "B" or higher for courses to be counted toward the degree.

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
MU 3542	Conducting I	2
MU 2202	Introduction to Music Education	2
MU 2061	Keyboard Musicianship III	1
MU 3832	Elementary Music Content	2
MU 3401	Voice Class	1
MU 3001	Brass Techniques	1
MU 3011	Percussion Techniques I	1
MU 3031	String Techniques	1
MU 3041	Woodwind Techniques	1
MU 3432	Secondary Methods and Literature I	2
MU 3602	Secondary Methods and Literature II	2
MU 3601	Advanced Conducting	1
Elementary Music Proficiency Exam
Instrumental Music Proficiency Exam
Total SCHs		17

Departmental Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	SCHs
MU 2913	Music and Cultures	3
Total SCHs		3

Professional Education Studies

Admission to the Educator Preparation Program is required. Students must apply for admission into the Educator Preparation Program prior to enrolling in EDUC 3003/EDUC 3482, EDUC 4113/EDUC 4243, and EDUC 4946. Information is available from the Office of Educator Preparation Services.

Recommended Plan of Study

First Year
Fall		TCCN	SCHs
MU 1021	Keyboard Musicianship I	MUSI 1181	1
MU 1521	Aural Skills I	MUSI 1116	1
MU 1523	Music Theory I	MUSI 1311	3
MU 2202	Introduction to Music Education		2
MU 3401	Voice Class		1
Large Ensemble			1
Applied Music: Primary Instrument			2
UNIV 1231	Learning Frameworks: The First Year Experience (Students should enroll in the music major specific section.)	EDUC 1100, EDUC 1200, EDUC 1300	1
ENG 1013	Composition I	ENGL 1301	3
	SCHs		15
Spring		TCCN
MU 1031	Keyboard Musicianship II	MUSI 1182	1
MU 1112	Music and Wellness		2
MU 1531	Aural Skills II	MUSI 1117	1
MU 1533	Music Theory II	MUSI 1312	3
Large Ensemble			1
Applied Music: Primary Instrument			2
ENG 1023	Composition II	ENGL 1302	3
Mathematics Core			3
	SCHs		16
Second Year
Fall		TCCN
MU 2061	Keyboard Musicianship III	MUSI 2181	1
MU 2521	Aural Skills III	MUSI 2116	1
MU 2523	Music Theory III	MUSI 2311	3
MU 3011 or 3041	Percussion Techniques I or Woodwind Techniques		1
MU 3703	Women in Music		3
Large Ensemble			1
Applied Music: Primary Instrument			2
HIST 1013	History of the United States, 1492-1865	HIST 1301	3
	SCHs		15
Spring		TCCN
MU 2531	Aural Skills IV	MUSI 2117	1
MU 2533	Music Theory IV	MUSI 2312	3
MU 2913	Music and Cultures	MUSI 1307	3
MU 3001 or 3031	Brass Techniques or String Techniques		1
Large Ensemble			1
Applied Music: Primary Instrument			2
HIST 1023	History of the United States, 1865 to the Present	HIST 1302	3
Language, Philosophy, & Culture Core			3
	SCHs		17
Third Year
Fall		TCCN
MU 3041 or 3011	Woodwind Techniques or Percussion Techniques I		1
MU 3313	Music History I		3
MU 3542	Conducting I		2
MU 4512	Instrumental Arranging		2
Large Ensemble			1
Applied Music: Primary Instrument			2
EDUC 2003	Schools and Society	EDUC 1301	3
	SCHs		14
Spring		TCCN
MU 3031 or 3001	String Techniques or Brass Techniques		1
MU 3323	Music History II		3
MU 3601	Advanced Conducting		1
MU 3832	Elementary Music Content		2
Large Ensemble			1
Applied Music: Primary Instrument			2
Life/Physical Science Core			3
EDSP 3203	Learners with Exceptionalities		3
	SCHs		16
Fourth Year
Fall		TCCN
POLS 2013	U.S. National Government	GOVT 2305	3
EDUC 3003	Learning Theory and Development		3
MU 3432	Secondary Methods and Literature I		2
EDUC 3482	Teaching Diverse Learners Through Technology Integration		2
Social/Behavior Science Core			3
Life/Physical Sciences Core			3
	SCHs		16
Spring		TCCN
MU 3602	Secondary Methods and Literature II		2
POLS 2023	Texas Government	GOVT 2306	3
READ 3013	Literacy and Learning across the Curriculum		3
EDUC 4113	Design and Implementation of Instruction and Assessment		3
EDUC 4243	Classroom Environment and Management		3
	SCHs		14
Fifth Year
Fall		TCCN
EDUC 4943	Clinical Student Teaching		3
EDUC 4943 or 4946	Clinical Student Teaching (Option to take two sections of EDUC 4943 or one section of EDUC 4946, depending on placement type.) or Clinical Student Teaching		3
	SCHs		6
	Total SCHs:		129