Music Education, BSE (Certification in Instrumental Music)

Students should have a strong background in music, with performance experience on a particular instrument.

Auditions

All students must pass an audition and a music fundamentals exam in order to declare a music education major. To schedule an audition, students must contact the School of Music for a separate application. Visit music.ua.edu/apply-audition for an application or more information.

Auditions typically take place between January and the first week of March prior to fall enrollment. With the assistance of a Music Education advisor, students, including transfer students, will formally declare the major the first semester of enrollment after formal acceptance into the School of Music.

General Studies: 47–49 hours

Courses that are common to the teaching field and the general studies component may be applied to both. Music education majors should select PY 101 Intro To Psychology or HD 101 Life Span Human Development and MUS 250 Music In World Cultures to satisfy UA Core Curriculum behavioral science and fine arts requirements.

Code and Title		Hours
Area V:
EDU 200	Orient to Teacher Education (required)	1

Instrumental Music Teaching Field: 66–69 hours

The University of Alabama GPA — and, if transfer work, the cumulative GPA — must be at least 2.50 in these courses.

Music Academics

(C- or above required for MUS 115, MUS 117, MUS 215, MUS 217)

Code and Title		Hours
MUS 115	Theory I: Voice Leading	4
MUS 117	Theory II: Diatonic Harmony	4
MUS 215	Theory III: Chromatic Harmony	4
MUS 217	Theory IV: Advanced Harmony	4
MUS 250	Music In World Cultures	3
MUS 251	Music History I	3
MUS 252	Music History II	3
MUS 323	Music History III	3
MUS 351	Fund Of Conducting	2
MUS 494	Band Conducting	2
MUE 200	Intro to Music Education ¹	2
Total Hours		34

prerequisite for admission into the teacher education program

Applied and Ensemble

Code and Title		Hours
MUA 010	Music Convocation (x 5)	0
Principal Applied:
MUA 170-MUA 190 ¹		4
MUA 270-MUA 290 ¹		4
MUA 370-MUA 390 ¹		4
MUA 470-MUA 490 ¹		1
MUA 499	Senior Recital	1
Instrumental Ensemble courses (minimum one per term, advisor approved):		7
100-level large ensemble (2 hrs, one per semester)
200-level large ensemble (2 hrs, one per semester)
300-level large ensemble (2 hrs, one per semester)
400-level large ensemble (1 hr, one semester)
Total Hours		21

Course numbers MUA 170–MUA 190, MUA 270–MUA 290, MUA 370–MUA 390, and MUA 490 denote private study of the principal instrument or voice for music majors; each course carries one to four hours of credit and may be repeated for credit. Music majors should register for the principal applied instrument at the 100-level during the first two semesters and at the 200-level during the second two semesters at the University. Department permission is required for upper division applied lessons and admission to TEP. An upper-level applied lesson evaluation is required.

Class Instruments

Code and Title		Hours
Class Piano (0-4 hours)--Pass the following piano classes with no grade less than B:		0-4
MUA 121	Class Piano I
MUA 122	Class Piano II
MUA 123	Class Piano III
MUA 124	Class Piano IV
or MUA 231/MUA 331/MUA 121-124, or combination
MUA 299	Piano Proficiency (Exam) ^*	0
MUE 252	Teach String/Percu Instr	2
MUE 351	Tchg Flute Single Reeds	3
MUE 352	Teaching Double Reeds	1
MUE 353	Teach Brass Instruments	2
MUE 354	Teaching Percussion II	1
MUE 381	Vocal Methods Lab	1
Total Hours		10-14

Students must register for MUA 299 Piano Proficiency to show evidence of passing piano proficiency examination. Students completing the Class Piano series should register for MUA 299 Piano Proficiency concurrently with MUA 124 Class Piano IV. Students are required to take piano until evidence of passing the piano proficiency is provided.

See general studies requirements listed earlier in this section.

Professional Studies: 34 hours

Students must earn grades of C- or higher in each of the following professional studies courses. The University of Alabama GPA — and, if transfer work, the cumulative GPA — must be at least 2.50 in these courses:

Code and Title		Hours
BEF 362	School, Culture, and Society	3
BEP 305	Educational Psychology ¹	3
MUS 448	Tchng Instrumental Music Pub S	3
MUE 350	Evaluatn Teaching Learning Mus	3
MUE 387	Elem School Music Program	3
MUE 389	Clinical Experience In Mue ¹	3
SPE 300	Survey Spe Accomd Stratg	3
Internship
MUE 497	Internship Music Educ ^{2, 3}	12
EDU 400	Internship Seminar	1
Total Hours		34

This is a prerequisite for admission to the teacher education program.

Passing scores on the appropriate Praxis subject assessment(s) for the teaching field are required for internship.

Internships will include a split assignment with placements outside the greater Tuscaloosa area (Greater Birmingham or Huntsville communities).

2024-25 Undergraduate Catalog