SPU’s Education program is accredited at the state and national levels, and our graduates are among the most sought-after educators in the field. You’ll benefit from a combination of class and field work, which includes opportunities for diverse experiences within public and private school settings in urban and suburban Seattle. Each component of the program is designed to sharpen your skills, develop your competence and character, and prepare you for teaching and service.
Undergraduate teacher candidates complete all requirements for a bachelor’s degree in addition to the requirements for the P–12 Residency Teacher Certification Program. Music majors with an emphasis in Music Education are prepared to meet endorsement requirements for choral/vocal, instrumental, and/or general music endorsements. Courses are specially designed to meet state education requirements while also addressing music areas of specialization, such as “Music in Special Education” and “Music Technology” courses.
The BA in Music Education includes both a rigorous music program and the education coursework and internship for Washington P–12 music teaching certification.
- A minimum 119 credits are required, including 37 upper-division credits.
- You must fulfill the requirements for the Music degree, including ensemble experiences.
- Piano and guitar proficiency are required.
- If you are enrolled in “Music Theory I–II” or any Creative Engagement course, you may be required to enroll in MUS 2200 until you can pass the Keyboard Proficiency Exam.
- You will present a junior recital on your major instrument.
- You can choose course options that lead to general, instrumental or vocal/choral endorsements.
- Once admitted to the major, you should maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
- This major requires separate admission to the School of Education, in order to complete the certification program requirements.
- Service learning, September experience, lab experiences, and internships provide comprehensive experiences in local schools supervised by experienced music educators.
Entering and Completing a Music Education Major
In order to earn a degree, you must complete at least one academic major. SPU encourages students to explore various academic paths, so if you change your mind about a major or minor, or want to include an additional program, you are able to do so, as outlined below.
Note that the University encourages you to enter your chosen major(s) and minor(s) by the start of your junior year. Students who transfer as juniors and seniors should enter a major within their first two quarters at SPU.
- If this is your first quarter at SPU and you identified the Music Education major as your first choice on your application for admission to the University, you have gained entry to the major. To change or add a major or minor, follow these instructions.
- If you are an SPU student with an SPU cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, follow these instructions to enter a major or minor in this department.
- Students on academic probation (with an SPU cumulative GPA below 2.0) will not be permitted to enter a new major or minor until they regain good academic standing.
- The University requires a grade of C- or better in all classes that apply to a major or minor; however, programs may require higher minimum grades in specific courses. You may repeat an SPU course only once for a higher grade.
- To advance in this program, meet with your faculty advisor regularly to discuss your grades, course progression, and other indicators of satisfactory academic progress. If your grades or other factors indicate that you may not be able to successfully complete the major or minor, your faculty advisor can work with you to explore options, which may include choosing a different major or minor.
- You must complete the major or minor requirements that are in effect in the SPU Undergraduate Catalog for the year you enter the major or minor.
teacher certification
In order to complete the teacher certification courses required for the Music Education major, you will need to gain admission to SPU's School of Education. Find out more about admission to the School of Education.