Music Education
Bachelor of Arts in Music Education
UAB's state-approved Music Education program prepares candidates for certification to teach music in grades P–12, with concentrations available in both choral and instrumental music. The program emphasizes comprehensive musicianship, pedagogical expertise, and effective teaching. Candidates engage in rigorous coursework in music theory, history, performance, and education, alongside extensive clinical experiences in a variety of school settings at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. These experiences are designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively teach music to students across a wide range of ages and abilities.
To be eligible for certification through UAB's program, candidates must meet several key requirements outlined by the Alabama State Department of Education. These requirements include maintaining an overall GPA of 2.50 in all coursework as well as a 2.50 in teaching field and in professional studies courses. Candidates may not earn a grade below a C in any professional studies course.
Additionally, all candidates must obtain background clearance through the Alabama State Department of Education, which includes fingerprinting and a criminal history check conducted by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Candidates must also pass all required state assessments and successfully complete a full-time internship divided between elementary and secondary grade levels. Upon completion of these requirements, UAB will recommend candidates for initial teacher certification in Alabama.
Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music and a Concentration in Music Education (Instrumental)
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Blazer Core Curriculum | 41 | |
| As a part of the Blazer Core take the following: | ||
| Local Beginnings | ||
| English Composition I | ||
| English Composition II | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
or MA 110 | Finite Mathematics | |
| Pre-Calculus Algebra | ||
Reasoning | ||
History & Meaning | ||
Creative Arts | ||
Scientific Inquiry: Natural Science with Lab | ||
Scientific Inquiry: Natural Science with Lab | ||
Thinking Broadly | ||
City as a Classroom | ||
| Music Fundamentals | ||
| Fundamentals of Music 1 | ||
| Computer Music | ||
| MU 115 | Computer Music I | 3 |
| Music Theory and Aural Skills 2 | ||
| MU 221 & MU 224 | Music Theory I and Aural Skills I 6. MU 100 must be passed with a grade of C or higher, or Music Theory Placement Test affirming equivalent proficiency as MU 100. | 4 |
| MU 222 & MU 225 | Music Theory II and Aural Skills II | 4 |
| MU 321 & MU 324 | Music Theory III and Aural Skills III | 4 |
| MU 322 & MU 325 | Music Theory IV and Aural Skills IV | 4 |
| Music History and Literature | ||
| MU 366 | Music in World Cultures | 2 |
| MU 471 | Music History and Literature to 1750 | 3 |
| MU 472 | Music Hist/Lit 1750-Present | 3 |
| Conducting | ||
| MU 329 | Conducting | 2 |
| MU 429 | Advanced Conducting/Techniques | 2 |
| Music Ensemble 3 | 7 | |
Major Ensemble: Take at least 7 hours | ||
| Symphony Band | ||
| Orchestra | ||
| Marching Band | ||
| Wind Symphony | ||
Minor Ensemble: Take remaining hours | ||
| Jazz Combo | ||
| Guitar Ensemble | ||
| Percussion Ensemble | ||
| Jazz Ensemble | ||
| Blazer Band | ||
| Computer Music Ensemble | ||
| Commercial Music Ensemble | ||
| Piano Ensemble | ||
| Applied Music | ||
| Select seven hours from Music Performance (MUP) courses designated "Private Lessons" at the 200-level or higher (each course may be repeated for credit). Four of the seven credit hours must be at the 300 level or higher: | 7 | |
| Private Lessons: Piano | ||
| Private Lessons: Flute | ||
| Private Lessons: Oboe | ||
| Private Lessons: Clarinet | ||
| Private Lessons: Saxophone | ||
| Private Lessons: Bassoon | ||
| Private Lessons: Trumpet | ||
| Private Lessons: French Horn | ||
| Private Lessons: Trombone | ||
| Private Lessons Euphonium | ||
| Private Lessons: Tuba | ||
| Private Lessons: Percussion | ||
| Private Lessons: Violin | ||
| Private Lessons: Viola | ||
| Private Lessons: Cello | ||
| Private Lessons: Bass | ||
| Private Lessons: Guitar | ||
| Private Lessons: Piano | ||
| Private Lessons: Flute | ||
| Private Lessons: Oboe | ||
| Private Lessons: Clarinet | ||
| Private Lessons: Saxophone | ||
| Private Lessons: Bassoon | ||
| Private Lessons: Trumpet | ||
| Private Lessons: French Horn | ||
| Private Lessons: Trombone | ||
| Private Lessons: Euphonium | ||
| Private Lessons: Tuba | ||
| Private Lessons: Percussion | ||
| Private Lessons: Violin | ||
| Private Lessons: Viola | ||
| Private Lessons: Cello | ||
| Private Lessons: Bass | ||
| Private Lessons: Guitar | ||
| Private Lessons: Piano | ||
| Private Lessons: Flute | ||
| Private Lessons: Oboe | ||
| Private Lessons: Clarinet | ||
| Private Lessons: Saxophone | ||
| Private Lessons: Bassoon | ||
| Private Lessons: Trumpet | ||
| Private Lessons: French Horn | ||
| Private Lessons: Trombone | ||
| Private Lessons: Euphonium | ||
| Private Lessons: Tuba | ||
| Private Lessons: Percussion | ||
| Private Lessons: Violin | ||
| Private Lessons: Viola | ||
| Private Lessons: Cello | ||
| Private Lessons: Bass | ||
| Private Lessons: Guitar | ||
| Piano Proficiency | ||
| MUP 125 | Piano Proficiency Exam | 0 |
| Performance Attendance (take for seven terms) | ||
| MUP 001 | Performance Attendance | 0 |
| Applied Methods | ||
| MUP 122 | Class Voice | 1 |
| MUP 132 | Class Woodwinds | 1 |
| MUP 134 | Class Brass | 1 |
| MUP 136 | Class Percussion | 1 |
| MUP 138 | Class Strings | 1 |
| Education Professional Studies Coursework | ||
| This course must be taken PRIOR TO admission to TEP: | ||
| EDU 200 | Education as a Profession | 3 |
| Students may take NO MORE THAN FOUR of the following courses PRIOR to admission to TEP. Students who ignore this admonition assume responsibility for their own mistakes. | ||
| EDF 362 | Foundations of Education I: Social, Historical, Philosophical | 3 |
| EPR 363 | Foundations of Education II: Psychological | 3 |
| Methods Block 1 | ||
| MU 431 | Methods of Teaching Music N-6 | 3 |
| EDR 421 | Reading in Content Areas | 1 |
| Methods Block 2 | ||
| MU 433 | Methods I: Instrumental Music | 3 |
| ECY 300 | Survey of Special Education | 3 |
| Methods Block 3 | ||
| MU 463 | Methods II: Instrumental Music | 3 |
| EPR 411 | Measurement and Evaluation in Education | 3 |
| EHS 497 | Teaching and Learning in Diverse Classrooms | 3 |
| Internship | ||
| These courses must be taken AFTER admission to TEP. | ||
| EMU 490 | Internship in Music Education 4 | 6 |
| EMU 499 | Internship Seminar in Music Education P - 12 4 | 1 |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
- 1
MU 100 must be passed with a grade of C or higher, or Music Theory Placement Test affirming equivalent proficiency as MU 100.
- 2
Each level of Music Theory and Aural Skills is co-requisite, i.e., they must be taken at the same time. A grade of "C" or better must be earned in order to proceed to the next level. After this is accomplished, a student may retake one of the two co-requisite courses for the purpose of improving their grade.
- 3
Students must participate in at least one semester hour of Music Ensemble per term for a minimum of seven terms. Music Ensembles are divided into two groups, Major Ensembles and Minor Ensembles. Music majors must complete at least six hours in a Major Ensemble, with the remaining hour in either a Major or Minor Ensemble.
- 4
Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Music and a Concentration in Music Education (Vocal/Choral)
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Blazer Core Curriculum | 41 | |
| As a part of Blazer Core take the following: | ||
Local Beginnings | ||
| English Composition I | ||
or EH 106 | Introduction to Freshman Writing I | |
| English Composition II | ||
or EH 107 | Introduction to Freshman Writing II | |
| Pre-Calculus Algebra | ||
or MA 110 | Finite Mathematics | |
Reasoning | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
Thinking Broadly | ||
History & Meaning | ||
Creative Arts | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
Scientific Inquiry: Natural Science with Lab | ||
Scientific Inquiry: Natural Science with Lab | ||
Thinking Broadly | ||
| Music Fundamentals | ||
| Fundamentals of Music 1 | ||
| Computer Music | ||
| MU 115 | Computer Music I | 3 |
| Music Theory and Aural Skills 2 | ||
| MU 221 & MU 224 | Music Theory I and Aural Skills I 6. MU 100 must be passed with a grade of C or higher, or Music Theory Placement Test affirming equivalent proficiency as MU 100. | 4 |
| MU 222 & MU 225 | Music Theory II and Aural Skills II | 4 |
| MU 321 & MU 324 | Music Theory III and Aural Skills III | 4 |
| MU 322 & MU 325 | Music Theory IV and Aural Skills IV | 4 |
| Music History and Literature | ||
| MU 366 | Music in World Cultures | 2 |
| MU 471 | Music History and Literature to 1750 | 3 |
| MU 472 | Music Hist/Lit 1750-Present | 3 |
| Conducting | ||
| MU 329 | Conducting | 2 |
| MU 429 | Advanced Conducting/Techniques | 2 |
| Music Ensemble 3 | 7 | |
Major Ensemble: Take for a minimum of 7 terms | ||
| Concert Choir | ||
Minor Ensemble | ||
| Gospel Choir | ||
| Chamber Singers | ||
| Women's Chorale | ||
| Commercial Music Ensemble | ||
| Opera Workshop | ||
| Applied Music | ||
| Select seven hours from the following courses (each course may be repeated for credit). Four credit hours must be at the 300 level or higher. | 7 | |
| Private Lessons: Voice | ||
| Private Lessons: Piano | ||
| Private Lessons: Voice | ||
| Private Lessons: Piano | ||
| Private Lessons: Voice | ||
| Private Lessons: Piano | ||
| Piano Proficiency | ||
| MUP 125 | Piano Proficiency Exam | 0 |
| Performance Attendance (take for seven terms) | ||
| MUP 001 | Performance Attendance | 0 |
| Applied Methods | ||
| MUP 132 | Class Woodwinds | 1 |
| MUP 134 | Class Brass | 1 |
| MUP 136 | Class Percussion | 1 |
| MUP 138 | Class Strings | 1 |
| Education Professional Studies Coursework | ||
| This course must be taken PRIOR TO admission to TEP: | ||
| EDU 200 | Education as a Profession | 3 |
| Take NO MORE THAN FOUR of the following courses PRIOR to admission to TEP. Students who ignore this admonition assume responsibility for their own mistakes. | ||
| EDF 362 | Foundations of Education I: Social, Historical, Philosophical | 3 |
| EPR 363 | Foundations of Education II: Psychological | 3 |
| Methods Block 1 | ||
| MU 431 | Methods of Teaching Music N-6 | 3 |
| EDR 421 | Reading in Content Areas | 1 |
| Methods Block 2 | ||
| MU 432 | Methods I: Choral Music | 3 |
| ECY 300 | Survey of Special Education | 3 |
| Methods Block 3 | ||
| MU 462 | Methods II: Choral Music | 3 |
| EPR 411 | Measurement and Evaluation in Education | 3 |
| EHS 497 | Teaching and Learning in Diverse Classrooms | 3 |
| Internship | ||
| These courses must be taken AFTER admission to TEP. | ||
| EMU 490 | Internship in Music Education 4 | 6 |
| EMU 499 | Internship Seminar in Music Education P - 12 4 | 1 |
| Total Hours | 125 | |
- 1
MU 100 must be passed with a grade of C or higher, or Music Theory Placement Test affirming equivalent proficiency as MU 100.
- 2
Each level of Music Theory and Aural Skills is co-requisite, i.e., they must be taken at the same time. A grade of "C" or better must be earned in order to proceed to the next level. After this is accomplished, a student may retake one of the two co-requisite courses for the purpose of improving their grade.
- 3
Students must participate in at least one semester hour of Music Ensemble per term for a minimum of seven terms. Music Ensembles are divided into two groups, Major Ensembles and Minor Ensembles. Music majors must complete at least six hours in a Major Ensemble, with the remaining hour in either a Major or Minor Ensemble.
- 4