Bachelor of Music Education

Programs

Bachelor of Music Education 

Application and Audition Requirements

Music Education majors are expected to display those personal characteristics and professional qualities possessed by effective teachers. Applicants audition in their applied performance area and are interviewed by the music education faculty to determine their admission to this program.

Applications for admission to the UMKC Conservatory are reviewed by both the Applied and the Music Education faculties. Applicants must demonstrate facility in their applied performance area and a strong academic record in addition to well-defined attitudes and goals toward music in elementary and secondary education (see fitness-to-teach).

  1. Applicants must have an ACT score of 21 or higher, or be at the 50 percentile or higher in the high school class rank, or have a high school grade-point average of 2.50 or better.
  2. Applicants may be asked to complete an interview or an online questionnaire related to their interest in the music education program.
  3. Applicants who do not achieve these standards (listed above) may be considered for provisional admission, but must meet the standards listed below to progress through the degree with approval of the music education faculty.

Expectations for Degree Progression and Retention

Academic/Professional Status

Evaluation of student progress occurs each semester through an audit and advising system in the Music Education Division. In addition, the progress of all students is reviewed at the completion of the junior year by the entire Music Education faculty in order to determine admission to the teacher education track. The Music Education faculty expects music education students to exhibit those characteristics appropriate for effective teaching throughout the program and to maintain good standing, free from academic and disciplinary issues.

  1. All music courses must be completed with the grade of “C” or higher, and students must meet or exceed all GPA levels required for music teacher certification in the State of Missouri.
  2. Applied Study:
    1. Successfully complete the sequence of applied music lessons (Choral emphasis students must progress through the 302 level, Instrumental emphasis students must progress through the 401 level).
    2. For instrumental (band and orchestra) music education majors: Complete a 30-minute public recital
    3. For choral music education majors: The degree recital in voice is not required.
 

Professional Readiness Interview

Upon being admitted to the teacher education track, the Conservatory and the School of Education have a process in place to assure that all teacher candidates will be assessed throughout their program according to “Professional Readiness” criteria (the Professional Readiness Checklist/Referral Form is available from the Music Education Faculty). Additional criteria include:

  1. Completed criminal background history review.
  2. Meeting academic requirements, including scholastic integrity and good communication skills.
  3. Exhibiting personal and professional behaviors, such as appropriate social and interpersonal skills and appropriate dress for professional contexts.
  4. Demonstrating appropriate cultural and social attitudes and behavior, including respect for diversity and acceptance of and accommodations for exceptional learners
  5. Demonstrating appropriate emotional and cognitive dispositions, such as sound judgment and reflective and analytical thinking.

All teacher candidates will be reviewed routinely according to these established guidelines. Patterns of concern identified in the review may result in a formal review process. Additionally, faculty may choose to refer a teacher education candidate for review at any time.  The review process may result in remediation or removal from the Teacher Education program. Candidates referred for review are expected to participate in the process. Refusal to participate will not terminate halt the review process, and refusal and may result in removal form from the program.

Any teacher candidate referred for review is afforded due process throughout the review proceedings. Students may submit a formal letter to the dean in response to the proceedings. After all stages of review, a letter of appeal may be submitted to the dean for consideration. The dean’s decision is final.

Field Experience and Student Teaching

Undergraduate students participate in a 3-semester sequence of field experiences leading to student teaching. During this sequence, students are assigned to elementary and secondary schools with cooperating teachers who supervise and mentor them.  Students continue in the third semester placements for student teaching during their final semester of the degree.  Students are placed at one elementary site and one secondary site as required for K-12 certification. One of these sites becomes the primary experience for student teaching (12 weeks) with the other site being an abbreviated experience (5 weeks).

Synthesis and application of all previous coursework and field experiences occurs during student teaching. This emersion experience, under the guidance of a cooperating teacher and a university supervisor, is the culmination of this program. To be eligible for a student teaching assignment, students must are expected to meet the following requirements:

  1. Satisfy the retention criteria described above.
  2. Successfully complete all required course work except student teaching.
  3. Earn passing scores for requisite certification examinations (as specified by the state of Missouri and Kansas).

Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Music Education degree are eligible for K-12 music certification in Missouri and Kansas.

 

Double Majors and Extended Certification

Students who have dual aspirations in music education and performance may pursue a double degree with approval from both the performance and music education faculty. Students will work in close consultation with Conservatory faculty and advisors to develop an appropriate curricular map. While much of the foundational coursework in these degrees is the same, an extended time frame for completion of both degrees will be required.

Instrumental Music Education Extended Certification: The Instrumental Music Education extended certification can be added onto the Vocal Music Education major. This is not a major or minor, but an extended certification that meets Missouri teacher certification requirements in instrumental music K-12. Additional course work is required (14 credit hours): Methods/Techniques in strings, brass, woodwinds, and percussion, Applied Major Instrument, Instrumental Ensemble, Advanced Instrumental Conducting, and Instrumentation/Arranging.

Choral Music Education Extended Certification: The Choral Music Education extended certification can be added onto the Instrumental Music Education major. This is not a major or minor, but an extended certification that meets Missouri teacher certification requirements in choral music K-12. Additional course work is required (14 credit hours): Choral Arranging, Applied Voice, Choral Techniques, Advanced Choral Conducting, Choral Literature, Choral Ensemble.

 

Certification Procedures

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Music Education degree, student transcripts are submitted to the UMKC School of Education for review. Upon successful review, the student is recommended for certification in Missouri and Kansas.

In addition to UMKC coursework and student teaching, all prospective teachers must take and earn a satisfactory score on requisite certification examinations in both Missouri and Kansas.