Bachelor of Arts in Music Education

General Admission and Continuing Requirements

• Meet the university undergraduate admission requirements.
• Each prospective music education student must audition on his/her primary instrument prior to being admitted into the CIU music program.
• Music Convocation (MUS 1000) is optional, but attendance is encouraged of all music education students and is offered every semester.
• Private Lessons and Ensembles: Students are required to take seven semesters of private lessons in their applied instrument. Students are required to take six credit hours of ensembles. At least four of those credits must be Ambassador Choir.
• Piano Proficiency Exam: Students must take and pass the Piano Proficiency Exam to demonstrate the skill appropriate for a college-level music major.
• Senior Recital: In their final semester, students will register for and perform a 35-minute recital of level appropriate literature in which they will demonstrate the skills befitting a graduating college senior.
• Students must earn a cumulative average of 2.3 (C+) in Music Theory. Any private lesson grade lower than a 2.7 (B-) will not count toward graduation requirements.

The Bachelor of Music Education provides a major in Music Education which provides intensive studies in both music and education. Upon completion of the degree, students are eligible for recommendation for licensure to teach Choral (PK-Grade12) music.

Stage I (Initial) Admission to the Professional Program in Music Teacher Education

Music Education majors will submit a formal application, typically at the end of the Spring semester of the sophomore year, for admission to the Professional Program in Music Teacher Education.  The following evidence is required and reviewed before admission to the Professional Program in Teacher Education:

1. Evidence of the ability to succeed in an academic program, as demonstrated by a 2.75 GPA.
2. Basic academic proficiency as demonstrated by one of the following:
   1. Official score of 1100 or higher on the two-part SAT, 1650 or higher on the three-part SAT, 22 or higher on the ACT (within the last five years).
   2. Official Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (CORE) report with prescribed minimum scores: Reading 156, Writing 158, and Math 150 (within the last five years).
   3. Composite Score of 464 or higher on Praxis Core three subtests, with no individual subtest score more than four points below the required passing score for that subtest.
3. Disposition and motivation toward teaching, as demonstrated by completing a successful interview with the program director and/or an education faculty member in person or by phone.

Stage II (Advanced) Admission to Clinical Practice

Candidates complete an application and submit it to the Music Education’s Office of Clinical Experiences with the following evidence:

• Minimum GPA of 2.75
• Program adviser and faculty recommendation
• Passing scores on all required Praxis II Content Exams
• Satisfactory completion of all professional classroom requirements, which include a faculty review of student dispositions and a Student Life recommendation.
• Satisfactory completion of specialized professional association (SPA) assessments: EPP lesson plan, TWS, Teacher Candidate Professional Dispositions assessments (2), Diversity Affirmation forms.
• Satisfactory completion and performance in a minimum of 100 hours in Field Experiences I, II, III, and IV.
• TB Skin test clearance
• SLED and FBI fingerprint clearance and criminal background disclosure statement
• Approval of Faculty Committee

While enrolled in Clinical Practice, candidates will spend all of each school day for a period of no fewer than 60 instructional days in the assigned schools.  Of these 60 days, at least 36 days must be full-time teaching days.  Music teacher candidates participate in two placements:  elementary music (PK-5) and secondary choral (6-12).  A minimum of 18 full-time teaching days must be completed in each placement.  Students are responsible for their own transportation and insurance.  Students are prohibited from enrolling in any additional coursework during this semester without program faculty approval and the consent of the Dean of the College.