Program Overview

The Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree prepares students to become professional music educators. It provides skilled musicians the opportunity to develop expertise as a classroom teacher and ensemble director in K-12 music programs. Much like the Music Performance degree program, students also study applied music on a principal instrument or voice with our artist-faculty and perform in our large ensembles. Music Education students are held to the same high standards of performance as those in other music degree tracks.

The BME degree has two concentrations: Instrumental, and Choral. Coursework is completed at both the CSU College of Education and the Schwob School of Music. Field experiences provide "real-world" experiences for students to transfer directly to the music teaching endeavors after graduation. Our music education faculty specialists, along with applied and ensemble faculty, mentor students through this demanding program, a relationship which continues after graduation. 

All educator preparation programs are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Columbus State University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)

In addition to the degree requirements, there are further requirements for teaching certification. Visit the Certification page on the CSU Center for Quality Teaching and Learning (CQTL) website for detailed information about certification requirements and the certification process.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree leads to licensure in teaching for K-12 instruction in public and private schools.

Program of Study

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core IMPACTS Area : Institutional Priorities		7
PERS 1506	Perspectives 1-hour
RIVR 1101	Taking the Plunge
RIVR 2101	Navigating Deeper Waters
Core IMPACTS Area : Mathematics & Quantitative Skills 1		3-4
DATA 1501	Introduction to Data Science
MATH 1001	Quantitative Skills and Reasoning
MATH 1101	Introduction to Mathematical Modeling
MATH 1111	College Algebra
MATH 1113	Pre-Calculus
MATH 1125	Applied Calculus
MATH 1131	Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
MATH 1132	Calculus with Analytic Geometry II
MATH 1165	Computer-Assisted Problem Solving
MATH 1401	Introduction to Statistics
MATH 1501	Calculus I
MATH 2125	Introduction to Discrete Mathematics
STAT 1401	Elementary Statistics
Core IMPACTS Area : Political Science and U.S. History		6
HIST 2111	U. S. History to 1865
or HIST 2112	U. S. History since 1865
POLS 1101	American Government
Core IMPACTS Area : Arts, Humanities, and Ethics		6
Select one Fine Arts course
ARTH 1100	Art Appreciation
ARTH 2125	Introduction to the History of Art I– Prehistoric through Gothic
ARTH 2126	Introduction to the History of Art II– Renaissance through Modern
MUSC 1100	Music Appreciation
THEA 1100	Theatre Appreciation
ITDS 1145	Comparative Arts 1
Select one Humanities course
ENGL 2111	World Literature I
ENGL 2112	World Literature II
ITDS 1155	The Western Intellectual Tradition
ITDS 1774	Introduction to Digital Humanities
PHIL 2010	Introduction to Philosophy
ITDS 1145	Comparative Arts 1
Core IMPACTS Area : Communicating in Writing		6
ENGL 1101	English Composition I
ENGL 1102	English Composition II
Core IMPACTS Area : Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences 2		7-8
ANTH 1145	Human Origins
ASTR 1105	Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System
ASTR 1106	Descriptive Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies
ASTR 1305	Descriptive Astronomy Lab
ATSC 1112	Understanding the Weather
ATSC 1112L	Understanding the Weather Lab
BIOL 1125	Contemporary Issues in Biology Non-Lab
BIOL 1215K	Introductory Biology
BIOL 1225K	Contemporary Issues in Biology with Lab
CHEM 1151 & 1151L	Survey of Chemistry I and Survey of Chemistry I Lab
CHEM 1152 & 1152L	Survey of Chemistry II and Survey of Chemistry II Lab
CHEM 1211 & 1211L	Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry I Lab
CHEM 1212 & 1212L	Principles of Chemistry II and Principles of Chemistry II Lab
CPSC 1105	Introduction to Computing Principles and Technology
CPSC 1301K	Computer Science I
ENVS 1105	Environmental Studies
ENVS 1105L	Environmental Studies Laboratory
ENVS 1205K	Sustainability and the Environment
GEOG 2215	Introduction to the Geographic Information Systems
GEOL 1110	Natural Disasters: Our Hazardous Environment
GEOL 1121	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology
GEOL 1121L	Introductory Geoscience I: Physical Geology Lab
GEOL 1122	Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology
GEOL 1322	Introductory Geo-sciences II: Historical Geology Lab
GEOL 2225	The Fossil Record
PHYS 1111 & PHYS 1311	Introductory Physics I and Introductory Physics I Lab
PHYS 1112 & PHYS 1312	Introductory Physics II and Introductory Physics II Lab
PHYS 1125	Physics of Color and Sound
PHYS 1325	Physics of Color and Sound Lab
PHYS 2211 & PHYS 2311	Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics I Lab
PHYS 2212 & PHYS 2312	Principles of Physics II and Principles of Physics II Lab
Total Credit Hours		36

¹

ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts, though listed under both Fine Arts and Humanities, may be taken only once. 

²

At least 4 of the credit hours in this area must be in a lab science course.

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Requirements
Complete the core requirements for this program		36
Core Total		36
Field of Study Requirements
Minimum grade of C is required
Take the appropriate applied music course 4 times		8
MUSA 2221	Applied Music
or MUSA 2321	Applied Music
MUSA 2313	Keyboard Class I 1	1
MUSA 2314	Keyboard Class II 1	1
MUSC 1214	Music Theory I	2
MUSC 1215	Music Theory II	2
MUSC 1314	Music Skills I	1
MUSC 1315	Music Skills II	1
MUSC 2201	Music Theory 3	2
MUSC 2202	Music Theory IV	2
MUSP 1090	Vocal Ensemble Activities (take the course four times)	4
Field of Study Requirements Total		24
Required for the Major
Choral-Vocal (CH-V); Choral-Guitar (CH-G); Choral-Keyboard (CH-K)
Minimum grade of C is required
EDUC 2120	Exploring Socio-Cultural Contexts on Diversity in Educational Settings	3
EDUC 2130	Exploring Learning and Teaching	3
EDUC 2140	Foundations of Reading, Literacy, and Language	3
Select one of the following 2 times:		2
MUSA 1215	Secondary Applied Music (Piano for CH-V)
MUSA 1216	Secondary Applied Voice (CH-G, CH-K)
MUSA 2315	Keyboard 3/Proficiency	1
MUSA 3305	Half Recital	0
Select one of the following 3 times:		6
MUSA 4221/4321	Applied Music (Voice for CH-V, Guitar for CH-G, Piano/Organ for CH-K)
MUSC 1000	Music Convocation (6 semesters)	0
MUSC 1205	Introduction to the Lyric Stage	1
MUSC 2301	Music Skills 3	1
MUSC 2302	Music Skills 4	1
MUSC 3228	Music History to Mozart	3
MUSC 3229	Music History Beethoven to Present	3
MUSE 2105	Instrumental Methods	3
MUSE 3201	Basic Conducting	2
MUSE 3202	Intermediate Conducting	2
MUSE 3206	Intro to Music Education	1
MUSE 3221	Vocal Pedagogy I	2
MUSE 3222	Vocal Pedagogy II	2
MUSE 3241	English and Italian Diction	1
MUSE 3242	German Diction	1
MUSE 3243	French Diction	1
MUSE 4215	Choral Skills, Techniques, and Repertoire	2
Select the following 3 times:		3
MUSP 3090	Vocal Ensemble Activities
Required for the Major Total		47
Major Electives 2
Minimum grade of C is required
EDUF 4115	Classroom Management	2
MUSE 5400U	Technology in Music Education	2
MUSE 3000	Music Education Field Experience	0
MUSE 4205	Elementary School Music Methods	3
MUSE 4206	Secondary School Choral Methods	3
MUSE 4485	Student Teaching	8
SPED 2256	Introduction to the Exceptional Learner in General Education (Students must earn a grade of B or better in order to be certified to teach in the state of Georgia.)	3
MUSE 2000	Music Education Professional Sequence	0
Major Electives Total		21
Total Credit Hours		128

¹

Note: Students in the Choral-Keyboard Track substitute two semesters of MUSA 1216 Secondary Applied Voice for MUSA 2313 Keyboard Class I and MUSA 2314 Keyboard Class II.

²

Courses in this area require Admission to Teacher Education Program.

Admission Requirements

Prospective music majors must demonstrate basic aptitude in a performance medium through a placement audition and interview. Specific audition requirements are listed here:  https://music.columbusstate.edu/admissions/audition-dates.php  Transfer students: Please note that placement in music courses is based on audition and testing results and not necessarily on previous college credit.

Additional Program Requirements

In order to be accepted as a music major, each student must demonstrate aptitude in his/her major instrument or voice through a placement audition and interview with a member of the music faculty. All newly admitted music majors also must take placement examinations in music theory and piano. Music majors who take time off before completing degree requirements will be required to re-audition if they have missed a full academic year (fall and spring, or spring and fall).

Transfer students: Please note that placement in music courses is based on audition and testing results and not necessarily on previous college credit.

General Requirements

All music majors are required to attend all master classes in their major instrument and must perform at least once each semester in a recital or master class. All students enrolled in applied music must be concurrently enrolled in the major music ensemble activity that corresponds to their major instrument (Strings-Orchestra, Winds/Percussion – Wind Ensemble, Voice-Choral Ensemble).