The Music Program at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls offers high-quality undergraduate study in music, leading to the degrees Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Arts in Music, and Bachelor of Science in Music, as well as Minors in Music and Musical Theater. The UW-River Falls is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

All applicants for admission to degree programs in music (including transfer students) must satisfactorily complete a Music Major Entrance Expo. 


BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION 


The Bachelor of Music Education degree plan is designed for students who wish to become music teachers. Students who wish to focus on music performance should explore the Bachelor of Arts - Music degree. Students who wish to focus on other non-performance options in music should explore the Bachelor of Science - Music degree. 

DEGREE SUMMARY 

  1. Foundations & Core Courses (39 credits)
  2. Techniques Courses (4 credits)
  3. Applied Music Courses (9 credits)
  4. Ensembles (10 credits)
  5. Music Education Courses (15 credits)
  6. Professional Education Courses (24 credits) 
     


1) Foundation & Core Courses (39 credits)


Select each of the following courses: 

  • MUS 126 Technology for the Musician - 1 cr.
  • MUS 130 Musicianship I - 3 cr.
  • MUS 131 Musicianship II - 3 cr.
  • MUS 132 Aural Skills I - 1 cr.
  • MUS 133 Aural Skills II - 1 cr.
  • MUS 140 Class Piano I - 1 cr.
  • MUS 144 Class Piano II - 1 cr.
  • MUS 146 Class Piano III - 1 cr.
  • MUS 230 Musicianship III - 3 cr.
  • MUS 231 Musicianship IV - 3 cr.
  • MUS 232 Aural Skills III - 1 cr.
  • MUS 233 Aural Skills IV - 1 cr.
  • MUS 234 Music History & Literature 1 - 3 cr.
  • MUS 235 Music History & Literature 2 - 3 cr.
  • MUS 240 Piano Proficiency - 1 cr.
  • MUS 254 Classroom String Techniques - Guitar and Ukulele - 1 cr.
  • MUS 300 World Music (g) - 3 cr.
  • MUS 342 Conducting I - 2 cr.
  • MUS 346 Advanced Conducting and Rehearsal Techniques - 2 cr.
  • MUS 435 Music Literature - 2 cr.
  • MUS 492 Senior Capstone Recital - 1 cr. 

2) Techniques Courses (4 credits) 


Select each of the following courses within ONE of the following sections (Choral or Instrumental): 

CHORAL FOCUS

  • MUS 247 Diction I: IPA & Italian - 1 cr.
  • MUS 248 Diction II: German & French - 1 cr.
  • MUS 264 Vocal Pedagogy - 1 cr.
  • MUS 266 Choral Pedagogy - 1 cr. 

INSTRUMENTAL FOCUS 

  • MUS 241 Woodwind Techniques - 1 cr.
  • MUS 243 Brass Techniques - 1 cr.
  • MUS 245 Percussion Techniques - 1 cr.
  • MUS 252 Orchestral String Techniques - 1 cr. 

3) Applied Music Courses (9 credits) 


PRIMARY AREA (100-LEVEL) - Select four (4) credits across four (4) semesters from one of the following areas:

  • MUSA 120 Brass - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 121 Guitar - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 122 Harpsichord - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 123 Organ - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 124 Percussion - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 125 Piano - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 126 Strings - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 127 Voice - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 128 Woodwinds - 1 cr. 

Sample Primary Area: Voice students would select Applied Voice

PRIMARY AREA (300-LEVEL) - Select two (2) credits across two (2) semesters from one of the following areas:

  • MUSA 320 Brass - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 321 Guitar - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 322 Harpsichord - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 323 Organ - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 324 Percussion - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 325 Piano - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 326 Strings - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 327 Voice - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 328 Woodwinds - 1 cr. 

Sample Primary Area: Voice students would select Applied Voice

SECONDARY AREA (100-LEVEL) - Select three (3) credits across three (3) semesters from one of the following areas:

  • MUSA 120 Brass - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 121 Guitar - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 122 Harpsichord - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 123 Organ - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 124 Percussion - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 125 Piano - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 126 Strings - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 127 Voice - 1 cr.
  • MUSA 128 Woodwinds - 1 cr. 

Sample Secondary Area: Instrumental students would select Applied Voice

4) Ensembles (10 credits) 


PRIMARY ENSEMBLE - Select six (6) credits across six (6) semesters from one of the following areas: 

  • MUSE 108 Concert Choir - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 111 St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 113 Symphony Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 115 Piano Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 119 Guitar Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 129 Chamber Singers - 1 cr. 

Sample Primary Ensemble: Voice students would select Concert Choir

CHOICE ENSEMBLE - Select one (1) credit from the following areas: 

  • MUSE 101 Pep Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 105 Tenor/Bass Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 106 Chamber String Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 107 Falcon Band - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 110 Treble Choir - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 112 Brass Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 114 Percussion Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 116 Woodwind Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 117 New Music Ensemble - 1 cr.
  • MUSE 118 Jazz Ensemble - 1 cr. 

WORLD MUSIC ENSEMBLE - Select one (1) credit from the following area: 

  • MUSE 130 World Music Ensemble - 1 cr. 

LAB ENSEMBLE - Select two (2) credits across two (2) semesters from the following area: 

  • MUSE 100 Lab Ensemble - 1 cr. 

5) Music Education Courses (15 credits) 


Select each of the following courses: 

  • MUS 181 Introduction to Music Education - 3 cr.
  • MUS 281 Secondary Methods - General Music - 3 cr.
  • MUS 351 Elementary Methods - Classroom Music - 3 cr.
  • MUS 352 Secondary Methods - Music Performance - 3 cr.
  • MUS 381 Contemporary Topics in Music Education - 1 cr.
  • MUS 382 Adaptive Music - 1 cr.
  • MUS 452 Student Teaching Preparatory - 1 cr.

6) Professional Studies Courses (24 credits) 


Select each of the following courses: 

EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS

  • TED 250 Educational Psychology - 3 cr.
  • TED 252 Foundations of Diversity and Equity in Education (d) - 3 cr.
  • SPED 330 Introduction to Special Education - 3 cr.

PROFESSIONAL  EDUCATION

  • TED 422 Content Area Literacy - 3 cr.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION – STUDENT TEACHING 

  • TED 421 Student Teaching Seminar - 2 cr.
  • TED 472 OR 473 OR 474 OR 479 Student Teaching - 10 cr.

Why Study Music Education?