Music Comprehensive Major: K-12 Music Education Emphasis (with a 3+2 Master of Arts in Education)

The 3+2 Secondary and K-12 Licensure Program allows students to complete a B.A. in their academic major with an emphasis in Secondary and K-12 Licensure and a Master of Arts in Education in five years. Students apply to the program by December of their junior year. MUS majors interested in the program need to set up an individualized plan with their MUS and EDUC advisors.  To be accepted into the 3+2 Program, each student must: 

  • Provide letters of recommendation from at least one Education Department faculty member and one faculty member from the student's major
  • Prove content, as defined by the Colorado Department of Education
  • Be accepted into Western's Teacher Licensure Program
  • Successfully complete EDUC 340 (by Spring of junior year)
  • Be on track to complete all coursework required within the academic major

Upon satisfactory completion of these requirements, students will be designated as "MAED candidates with provisional acceptance." Upon completion of the final undergraduate credits for the Western B.A., students will be designated as "MAED degree-seeking students." Students who have completed all other requirements of the 3+2 Secondary and K-12 Licensure Degree Program and all Western undergraduate requirements, yet choose to leave the MAED program before Year Five, will still have completed the BA in Secondary and K-12 Licensure, have earned 120 credits necessary for a Western undergraduate degree, and be eligible to apply for initial teacher licensure . 

Program Requirements

This program prepares students for the State of Colorado License in Music Education. A minimum of 64 credits is required, including the 28-credit Musicianship Core:

All Music majors require the 28-credit Musicianship Core, 14  or 21 credits from the Performance Curriculum (depending upon  the  emphasis), the six credits (or the equivalent) of foreign language (not required for the Music Education Emphasis), and Concert and Convocation Attendance Course (must be taken each semester of residence with a “Satisfactory” grade a minimum of six semesters). A minimum grade of “C” is required in all Music courses counted toward the major. To qualify for graduation all Music majors must meet performance requirements and piano proficiency.

Students enrolled in the Music Education K-12 Licensure professional degree emphasis will receive a 60 minute (One Hour) weekly lesson on their principal instrument/voice. This is in fulfillment of guidelines recommended for the professional degree (Music Education K-12 Licensure). 

Musicianship Core
MUS 128Theory of Music Laboratory I1
MUS 129Theory of Music I3
MUS 130Theory of Music Laboratory II1
MUS 131Theory of Music II3
MUS 140Introduction to Music (GT-AH1)3
MUS 212Introduction to Music Technology1
MUS 253Theory of Music Laboratory III1
MUS 254Theory of Music III3
MUS 340Theory of Music Lab IV1
MUS 341Theory of Music IV3
MUS 352History of Music I: Ancient to Baroque3
MUS 353History of Music II: Classical to Modern3
MUS 400Senior Recital / Senior Project2
Total Credits28

21 credits from the Performance Curriculum (seven credits in Major Performance Organizations, four credits in Small Ensembles, eight credits in Private Lessons, the two-credit MUS 250 Beginning Conducting: Choral and Instrumental, the one-credit MUS 212 Introduction to Music Technology; students must be registered for a major performing organization every semester in residence), Concert and Convocation Attendance, the Performance Requirement (MUS 400 Senior Recital / Senior Project), Piano Proficiency:

The Performance Curriculum consists of courses in Conducting, Major Performing Organizations, Small Ensembles, and Private Lessons.

The specific major performing organization required is determined by major instrument or voice.

Conducting
MUS 250Beginning Conducting: Choral and Instrumental2
Major Performance Organizations
courses may be repeated
MUS 101Orchestra1
MUS 102Symphonic Band1
MUS 104Concert Choir1
MUS 301Orchestra1
MUS 302Symphonic Band1
MUS 304Concert Choir1
Small Ensembles
courses may be repeated
MUS 121Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music0.5-1
MUS 321Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music1
MUS 105Opera1
MUS 305Opera1
Private Lessons
courses may be repeated
MUS 180Piano1-2
MUS 181Organ1-2
MUS 182Voice1-2
MUS 183Violin1-2
MUS 184Viola1-2
MUS 185Cello1-2
MUS 186Contra Bass1-2
MUS 187Flute1-2
MUS 188Oboe1-2
MUS 189Clarinet1-2
MUS 190Bassoon1-2
MUS 191Saxophone1-2
MUS 192Trumpet1-2
MUS 193French Horn1-2
MUS 194Trombone1-2
MUS 195Baritone1-2
MUS 196Tuba-Private Lessons1-2
MUS 197Special Topics1-2
MUS 198Percussion1-2
MUS 380Piano1-2
MUS 381Organ1-2
MUS 382Voice1-2
MUS 383Violin1-2
MUS 384Viola1-2
MUS 385Cello1-2
MUS 386Contra Bass1-2
MUS 387Flute1-2
MUS 388Oboe1-2
MUS 389Clarinet1-2
MUS 390Bassoon1-2
MUS 391Saxophone1-2
MUS 392Trumpet1-2
MUS 393French Horn1-2
MUS 394Trombone1-2
MUS 395Baritone1-2
MUS 396Tuba1-2
MUS 398Percussion1-2

Foreign Language

Six credits of foreign language are required in the Music Emphasis. This requirement may be fulfilled by passing the appropriate CLEP test if sufficient skill has been attained.

Concert and Convocation Attendance

All Music majors must take MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance each semester in residence. Six semesters of MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance with a grade of “satisfactory” are required of all Music majors prior to graduation.

Performance Requirements for Majors

In order to qualify for graduation, all Music majors must pass specific levels of performance as judged by a jury of Music faculty. All Music Education majors must also present a senior recital (MUS 400 Senior Recital / Senior Project). Majors in the Music Emphasis and the Business Emphasis may elect MUS 400 Senior Recital / Senior Project, or MUS 499 Internship in Music. Please contact the Music Department for exact requirements.

Piano Proficiency

All students with a Music Major or Minor, with the exception of the Music Technology Minor, must pass the piano proficiency examination by the end of the required theory sequence. The two-semester sequence of  MUS 173 Piano class and MUS 174 Piano Class may be taken for elective credits to prepare for the exam. The specific courses are not required courses and student assessed to have sufficient piano background may prepare for the exam independently. Please contact the Music Department for exact requirements.

And the following:

MUS 120Introduction to Music Education1
MUS 212Introduction to Music Technology1
MUS 213Woodwind Methods (with laboratory)1
MUS 214Brass Methods (with laboratory)1
MUS 215String Methods (with laboratory)1
MUS 216Percussion Methods (with laboratory)1
MUS 217Voice Methods1
MUS 290Introduction to Improvisation1
MUS 350Advanced Conducting: Choral and Instrumental2
MUS 360Teaching General Music in Elementary Schools2
MUS 365Methods and Philosophy of Teaching and Supervising Instrumental Music in the Public Schools: K-122
MUS 370Methods and Philosophy of Teaching and Supervising Vocal Music in the Public Schools: K-122
Total Credits16

The student must also fulfill the requirements of the K-12 Music Licensure 3+2 Program (see description under Education) to qualify for the Colorado License in Music Education. Please contact the Chair of the Department of Music or the Director of the Teacher Education Program for exact required course work in Education. 

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance 0
MUS 101
Orchestra
or Symphonic Band
or Concert Choir
1
MUS 180-198 Private Lessons 1
MUS 121 Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music 0.5-1
HWTR 100 First Year Seminar 1
ENG 102 Writing and Rhetoric I (GT-CO1) 3
MUS 100 Fundamentals of Music (GT-AH1) 3
MUS 173 Piano class 1
EDUC 000 Education Gateway Course 0
Essential Skills MATH 3
 Credits13.5-14
Spring
MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance 0
MUS 101
Orchestra
or Symphonic Band
or Concert Choir
1
MUS 180-198 Private Lessons 1
MUS 120 Introduction to Music Education 1
MUS 121 Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music 0.5-1
MUS 128 Theory of Music Laboratory I 1
MUS 129 Theory of Music I 3
MUS 140 Introduction to Music (GT-AH1) 3
MUS 174 Piano Class 1
ENG 103 Writing and Rhetoric II (GT-CO2) 3
 Credits14.5-15
Year Two
Fall
MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance 0
MUS 101
Orchestra
or Symphonic Band
or Concert Choir
1
MUS 180-198 Private Lessons 1
MUS 121 Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music 0.5-1
MUS 130 Theory of Music Laboratory II 1
MUS 131 Theory of Music II 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
 Credits13.5-14
Spring
MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance 0
MUS 101
Orchestra
or Symphonic Band
or Concert Choir
1
MUS 180-198 Private Lessons 1
MUS 121 Instrumental and Vocal Chamber Music 0.5-1
MUS 253 Theory of Music Laboratory III 1
MUS 254 Theory of Music III 3
MUS 290 Introduction to Improvisation 1
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
 Credits13.5-14
Year Three
Fall
MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance 0
MUS 301
Orchestra
or Symphonic Band
or Concert Choir
0.5-1
MUS 380-398 Private Lessons 1
MUS 212 Introduction to Music Technology 1
MUS 215 String Methods (with laboratory) 1
MUS 250 Beginning Conducting: Choral and Instrumental 2
MUS 340 Theory of Music Lab IV 1
MUS 341 Theory of Music IV 3
MUS 360 Teaching General Music in Elementary Schools 2
MUS 365 Methods and Philosophy of Teaching and Supervising Instrumental Music in the Public Schools: K-12 2
 Credits13.5-14
Spring
MUS 000 Concert and Convocation Attendance 0
MUS 301
Orchestra
or Symphonic Band
or Concert Choir
0.5-1
MUS 380-398 Private Lessons 1
MUS 350 Advanced Conducting: Choral and Instrumental 2
MUS 370 Methods and Philosophy of Teaching and Supervising Vocal Music in the Public Schools: K-12 2
MUS 216 Percussion Methods (with laboratory) 1
Gen Ed Social Sciences 3
Gen Ed Natural Sciences w/lab 4
 Credits13.5-14
Year Four
Fall
MUS 301
Orchestra
or Symphonic Band
or Concert Choir
0.5-1
MUS 380-398 Private Lessons 1
MUS 214 Brass Methods (with laboratory) 1
MUS 352 History of Music I: Ancient to Baroque 3
MUS 400 Senior Recital / Senior Project 2
Gen Ed Arts & Humanities 3
 Credits10.5-11
Spring
MUS 301
Orchestra
or Symphonic Band
or Concert Choir
0.5-1
MUS 380-398 Private Lessons 1
MUS 213 Woodwind Methods (with laboratory) 1
MUS 217 Voice Methods 1
MUS 353 History of Music II: Classical to Modern 3
MUS 400 Senior Recital / Senior Project 2
EDUC 340 Application of Pedagogy and Practice 3
 Credits11.5-12
Year Five
Fall
EDUC 403 Instruction and Assessment in Content Area 3
EDUC 405 Data-driven Instructional Practices 3
EDUC 604 Learning Environments 3
EDUC 610 K-12 Student Teaching 3
EDUC 624 Managing to Differentiate 3
 Credits15
Spring
EDUC 606 Reading and Writing in the Content Area 3
EDUC 607 Rethinking Learning in the 21st Century 3
EDUC 610 K-12 Student Teaching 3
EDUC 629 Inclusion and English Learners 3
 Credits12
 Total Credits131-135