Bachelor of Music Education - Choral Emphasis
University Requirements
General Education
UMKC Essentials is the university-wide curriculum that all undergraduate students will complete. The 30-credit hour program includes a First Year Experience course; three critical thinking courses in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Natural & Physical Sciences, and Social & Behavioral Sciences; a Culture and Diversity course; a Civic & Urban Engagement course; two courses in Written Composition and one course in Oral Communication; and a Math Pathway course. Transfer students entering UMKC will elect from the UMKC Essentials General Education Program or the Missouri Core 42 General Education Curriculum. Academic advisors will meet with incoming transfer students to determine which option best serves the student’s educational needs. More information about General Education may be found here: https://catalog.umkc.edu/undergraduate-academic-regulations-information/general-education-requirements/
Constitution Course
Every undergraduate student must take a course covering the United States Constitution and the Missouri State Constitution before graduation. Course options are included in the program requirements section below.
Exit Examinations
Information on exit examinations is available in the Undergraduate Academic Regulations and Information section of the catalog.
Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination
In accordance with Missouri Senate Bill 807 (section 170.013.1), 'any student entering a public institution of higher education for the first time after July 2019 who is pursuing an associate's or bachelor's degree from such institution shall successfully pass an examination on the provisions and principles of American civics with a score of seventy percent or greater as a condition of graduation from such institution'. To satisfy this requirement at UMKC, students access the exam through the Canvas site. This requirement will be listed in the degree audit system as, 'Take State Mandated Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement Examination', and listed on the transcript as 'Missouri Civics Examination'.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating from this program will:
- Students will perform on voice in large ensemble, chamber, and solo settings and learn to model, conduct and teach other instruments in laboratory, ensemble and classroom environments.
- Students will plan for and teach in laboratory and classroom settings.
- Students will demonstrate skills of classroom and music program management for k-12 programs.
- Students will assess student learning in classroom and ensemble settings.
- Students will write, speak, and reflect about their teaching and philosophy.
Program Student Learning Goals and Objectives:
1: Knowledge of Teaching: 80% of music education students will demonstrate proficiency or better in completion of the Key Assessments throughout the four semesters of their field experience sequence.
2: Instruction and Affect: 80% of undergraduate music education students will show improvement in their ability to lead and interact with students in instructional settings by creating an engaging environment, utilizing accurate content knowledge, providing clear verbal and nonverbal instruction, exhibiting appropriate affect, and other specific criteria established on the rubrics.
3: Professional Behavior: 80% of music education majors will exhibit appropriate professional behaviors throughout the four semesters of field experience.
4: Field Experience: 80% of undergraduate music education students will successfully complete 4 diverse semesters of field experience.
5: Certification: 100% of final semester music education undergraduate students will complete all certification requirements and acquire teacher certification in both Missouri and Kansas.
The UMKC Conservatory's Music Educator Preparation Program prepares teachers who demonstrate:
- Solid grounding in all music subject areas enhanced by a strong liberal arts education.
- Substantial skill in music pedagogy.
- A professional and caring commitment to students and to the educational process.
Program goals are based on a set of key principles and express knowledge, skills and dispositions. These goals reflect the current knowledge base of teacher education, and a commitment to prepare educators who will be successful in both contemporary schools and be able to shape the schools of the future.
Program Goals
1. Musicianship & Pedagogy: Undergraduates will have competent performance skills on their primary applied voice/instrument and a basic pedagogical knowledge of all other vocal, wind, string, and percussion instruments utilized in instrumental, choral, and general music education.
2. Musicianship & Application: Students will apply the skills they have garnered through their formative study in musicianship classes, applied study, conducting, and methods classes as they observe, teach, and reflect on their teaching in field experiences and student teaching.
3. Teaching and Evaluation: Undergraduate students will instruct and interact with students in urban and rural classrooms in a manner that engages them in the music learning experience by providing clear verbal and nonverbal instruction, and exhibit appropriate affect demonstrated consistently throughout the professional sequence.
4. Contextual Knowledge: Students will have the necessary skills to assemble contextual factors for each class of their field experience students, so they can modify and change learning activities to ensure all their students have the opportunity to learn to their utmost capabilities.
5. Reflection: Students will use reflective practices to gain a deeper understanding of their own teaching style and, ultimately, greater effectiveness as a teacher.
Program Requirements
UMKC Essentials
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Semester Experience Course (GEFSE) | 3 | |
| Written Communication: | ||
| ENGLISH 110 | Introduction to Academic Prose | 3 |
| ENGLISH 225 | English II: Intermediate Academic Prose | 3 |
| Oral Communication (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Effective Speaking and Listening | ||
| Introduction to Communication | ||
| Argumentation And Debate | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Math Pathway (choose one of the following): | 3 | |
| Mathematics For Liberal Arts | ||
| Statistical Reasoning | ||
| Precalculus Algebra | ||
| Precalculus | ||
Any 200-level MATH or STAT course | ||
ACT Math Sub-score of 28 or higher; or SAT Math Sub-score of 660 or higher | ||
| Critical Thinking in Arts & Humanities (GECRT-AH; Satisfied in program requirements below) | ||
| Critical Thinking in Natural & Physical Sciences (GECRT-SC) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking in Social & Behavioral Sciences (GECRT-SS) | 3 | |
| Culture & Diversity Course (GECDV) | 3 | |
| Civic & Urban Engagement Course (GECUE) | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Constitution Course Requirement
Section 170.011.1 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, 2015, states that all candidates for a degree issued by a college or university in the state of Missouri must have “satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the Constitution of the United States and of the state of Missouri, and in American history and American institutions.”
Courses at UMKC that satisfy this state requirement are:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following: | ||
| The Supreme Court And The Criminal Process | ||
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| Honors American Government | ||
| American Government | ||
There are a few other ways this requirement can be satisfied for students transferring to UMKC:
- Take an equivalent course from the list above at a regionally accredited institution.
- Earn credit for one of the above courses through AP, IB, or CLEP.
- Take a course that directly satisfies the Missouri Constitution Requirement at another Missouri institution.
- Have a previous bachelors degree (or higher) from a regionally accredited institution.
- Have an Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Complete the 42 Hour Core at a Missouri institution and have it listed on the official transcript.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CONSVTY 151 (MUSE; satisfies GECRT-AH course requirement) | 3 | |
| Musicianship | ||
| CONSVTY 141 | Musicianship I | 4 |
| CONSVTY 142 | Musicianship II | 4 |
| CONSVTY 241 | Musicianship III | 4 |
| CONSVTY 242 | Musicianship IV | 4 |
| Keyboard Skills | ||
| CONSVTY 110 | Keyboard Skills I | 1 |
| CONSVTY 123 | Keyboard Skills II | 1 |
| CONSVTY 223 | Keyboard Skills III | 1 |
| CONSVTY 310 | Keyboard Skills IV | 1 |
| Applied Lessons | ||
| VOICE 101 | Freshman Voice I | 2 |
| VOICE 102 | Freshman Voice II | 2 |
| VOICE 201 | Sophomore Voice I | 2 |
| VOICE 202 | Sophomore Voice II | 2 |
| VOICE 301 | Junior Voice I | 2 |
| VOICE 302 | Junior Voice II | 2 |
| VOICE 300 Studio Class(enroll with applied lesson each semester - 6 semesters) | ||
| Diction Courses | ||
| CONSVTY 185B | Foreign Language For Singing II | 2 |
| CONSVTY 185C | Foreign Language For Singing III | 2 |
| or CONSVTY 185D | Foreign Language For Singing IV | |
| Music History | ||
| CONSVTY 350A | Styles and Genres in Music | 3 |
| CONSVTY 350B | Methods in Musicology | 3 |
| Conducting and Arranging | ||
| CONSVTY 380 | Basic Conducting - Choral | 2 |
| CONSVTY 382 | Choral Conducting | 2 |
| CONSVTY 425A | Arranging for Choral Groups | 2 |
| Field Experiences | ||
| CONSVTY 411A | Field Experience in Music | 1 |
| CONSVTY 411B | Field Experience in Music | 1 |
| CONSVTY 411C | Field Experience in Music | 1 |
| Ensemble Courses | ||
| Any combination of the following courses (7 semesters) | 7 | |
| UMKC Choral Union | ||
| Conservatory Singers | ||
| Conservatory Concert Choir | ||
| Music Education Courses | ||
| CONSVTY 278 | Music Teaching Matters: A Professional Beginning | 3 |
| CONSVTY 357 | Choral Literature | 2 |
| CONSVTY 370 | Choral/Vocal Techniques | 2 |
| CONSVTY 373N | Survey Of Wind And Percussion Instruments | 1 |
| CONSVTY 373P | Survey Of String Instruments | 1 |
| CONSVTY 385 | Elementary Music Methods | 3 |
| CONSVTY 387 | Secondary Music Methods - Choral | 3 |
| CONSVTY 405 | Philosophical and Pragmatic Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| CONSVTY 412A | Student Teaching Music in Elementary School | 3 |
| CONSVTY 412B | Student Teaching Music in Secondary School | 3 |
| Social Sciences MO Constitution (choose one from the following to satisfy both requirements) | 3 | |
| U.S. History to 1877 | ||
| U.S. History Since 1877 | ||
| American Government | ||
| Professional Education Courses | ||
| EDRD 439 | Language & Literacy across the Disciplines | 3 |
| TCH-ED 403 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| TCH-ED 404 | Education of the Exceptional Child and Youth | 3 |
| TCH-ED 419 | Student Teaching in Elementary School | 3 |
| TCH-ED 420 | Adolescent Development | 3 |
| TCH-ED 437 | Student Teaching in High School | 3 |
| Total Credits | 106 | |
GPA Minimum: 2.8
Total Credit Hours: 133
Tools for Planning and Fulfilling Academic Requirements
UMKC's Major Maps are detailed, semester by semester plans that lead a student to complete all degree requirements within four years. Plans include benchmarks and critical courses by term that assist a student’s evaluation of progress and major “fit”. In order to ensure that the appropriate courses are taken, students are encouraged to consult with the undergraduate advisor for this major. Please see the tab above to view the major map for this program.
UMKC’s Transfer Guides provide detailed guidance on recommended transfer coursework, plans of study, transfer timelines, and transfer contact information. To ensure a seamless transfer experience, students are encouraged to work with both their community college advisor and a UMKC advisor when planning their coursework.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Audit’ degree audit system provides an individual evaluation of all degree requirements (General Education, Degree Specific, Major Specific, etc.) for students' officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. This evaluation is used to certify all graduation requirements.
UMKC’s PlanMyDegree ‘Plans’ degree planning tool enables students to develop a personalized semester by semester plan of study towards completion of degree requirements for student’s officially recorded (Office of the Registrar) and “what if” exploratory plans of study. Update and edit your full plan to degree completion each term and confirm accuracy each semester with your Academic Advisor(s).
